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G'day BW,
Bring back the Good ole Days.
No stinking computer in the cab.
And, yer driver saying to you, "Keep pressing that button son, I'm gunna rest me eyelids for a while".
Slogging it out on a full load up a long climb, the hogger cranking back his seat and indeed shutting his eyes.
The tailgunner would likewise be snoozing back in his caboose.
Then as soon as the loco revs altered as the top of the climb was reached, he would jump awake and begin to shut off power.
But, after the Beresfield prang in 1997 our vigilance system was altered to become random.
No longer could you simply keep thumping the button.
I was the sole union rep battling with the adaptation of the vigo system.
At the time, all other union reps were occupied with the Glenbrook inquest.
One of the results of that inquest being the implementation of the Train Stop on sticks on the Blue Mountains.
But, even today, that system is not applied to locomotives, only emu and dmu dingi.
The big knee-jerk result was the alteration of our signal rules.
Previously, an automatic stick could be passed at STOP after halting and attempting to make contact.
If unable to make contact with the signalman, then waiting one minute and proceeding at Caution speed (25 kph) until passing TWO green indications.
The knee-jerk implemented, ABSOLUTE and PERMISSIVE sticks.
And, only the signalman could instruct as to which was which.
SO, NO communication and NO GO.
It was a nightmare for a period until common sense prevailed.
Today, in cab radio communication does provide a much better system.
But, it is NOT perfect.
And, there are THREE individual systems, depending upon which network you are travelling through.
I enjoyed the good ole days.
Steve.
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