[Beeyar Wunby]

Yo Cb and welcome to our forum.

I started my career with Connex SarfEastern at Misery Farm (Orpington) on Networker 465 & 466s. Although most of our work was slogging round the suburban routes I remember we had a single turn which worked all the way to Gillingham. It was interesting for 2 reasons...one was that Hoo Halt on the Down operated like a request Bus Stop. It was a single-car length platform, and we had to slow down on approach and look out for a freight driver flagging us down. Similarly if a driver wanted dropping off he had to come up to the cab at London and let us know, then he had to sit immediately behind the cab because you only opened the doors on the front coach, using SDO (selective door operation).

The other oddity of the turn was the unique situation of driving backwards to do a shunt at Rochester. Normally passenger train drivers aren't allowed to drive in reverse, ESPECIALLY with passengers on board but this arrangement was allowed under Local Instructions.

When you pulled into Rochester on the Down road you changed ends to the Uppity cab and a guard climbed into your Down cab. This was the only time we ever saw a guard as we were Driver Only Operation on all our other jobs.

Anyhow, when the guard completed his duties he would give you 3 on the bell, and you'd put the controller in reverse and run backwards at 20mph towards Sole Street until you pased the rear of a shunt signal. Then the signaller would set the route for Rochester and pull the dummy off, and you'd go forwards.

You just had to hope that the guard checked the (difficult to see) platform starter signal carefully, otherwise you'd be the proud owner of a rare "Category B Backwards SPAD".

A couple of my mates gained this 'honour', but I escaped it fortunately.

It would be the guard's fault of course but a driver always cops on their licence any SPAD that occurs to the train they're in charge of.

Anyway I hope you enjoy your time here.

Cheers, John