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Post by Towerman on Jun 6, 2005 0:19:07 GMT
Before the JLE let me escape working for an infraco,I was for 32 years working in fleet maintenance.When I was a very green call point man(Q8 will know what they were)working on the Vic line,I was nights at Seven Sisters and got called to the first SB on Monday morning for a report of an air leak in the middle of the train.This was before the Brixton extension opened so I rode with the train to Victoria into what is now the NB platform,while the T/Op changed ends I went to the middle,and sure enough there was a leak of air.To try to stop the leak I decided to throw the coupler switches,as a pracaution I applied the handbrake on one of the middle motor cars.In those days they were hydraulic and could hold an 8 car train on an incline.Anyway throwing the switches failed to clear the leak so I made my way to the front to advise Coburg St to arrange a stock change-over.Before I could use the carrier wave(anyone remember that)the T/Op closed the doors and pressed the start buttons,as we pulled away the train gave a terrible lurch and appeared very sluggish i ran back through the train,when I got to the middle there was a terrific screeching and sparks flying eveywhere!You've got it, I'd forgotten to release the handbrake!When I did the car was almost hitting the tunnel roof 12" flats on all wheels!I had to get the T/Op to stop the train and then change to slow manual.Train went slow manual to KX sdg to await attention of breakdown gang(ERU)and was skated back to NPk after traffic.In those days there was no such thing as a long weekend and I was back at Seven Sisters at 4pm that Monday,when I booked on with the Depot Foreman he said I've been asked to talk to you about this mornings f**k up by the Line Engineer,Oh dear I thought here it comes,supension,demotion maybe even P45 time.Consider yourself b*ll*cked he said and put the phone down.If only we still had gov'ners like that these days
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Post by q8 on Jun 6, 2005 9:02:03 GMT
 Oh I love that Mr Towerman. That was excatly the attitude in those days. "gertcha silly b*stard, wotcha done now? Well don't effing do it agin" Nowadays those at the top seem to spend a lot of time trying to look up there own rear to see if there's a bogeyman hiding in there.  Call-point men? Of COURSE I remember them. Trainmen used to call them "Hammer and string merchants" Oh it was FUN to go to work in them days wasn't it mate?
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Post by Towerman on Jun 7, 2005 20:11:39 GMT
Another classic comes to mind,in the mid 70's I was the chargehand at Ricky Sdgs,for about a month when a certain car came in it was always booked on the trouble card for bad smell in cab(no jokes about T/Ops personal habits)every time I got the cleaners to give the cab a good scrub and put down plenty of disinfectant,even though I personally couldn't smell anything.As I say this went on for about a month and I daresay the cleaners at Neasden,Uxbridge and Wembley sheds were doing the same thing when it was reported.Things came to a head when the drivers got the unions involved and I believe the car involved was "blacked" until the problem was sorted out.Neasden "stopped" the car and got a chippy to rip the floor up.Lo and behold what did they find a dead mouse or what was left of it god knows how it got there,and I still haven't got round to having my sense of smell corrected!!!!
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DWS
every second count's
Posts: 2,419
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Post by DWS on Jun 7, 2005 21:15:59 GMT
Another classic comes to mind,in the mid 70's I was the chargehand at Ricky Sdgs,for about a month when a certain car came in it was always booked on the trouble card for bad smell in cab(no jokes about T/Ops personal habits)every time I got the cleaners to give the cab a good scrub and put down plenty of disinfectant,even though I personally couldn't smell anything.As I say this went on for about a month and I daresay the cleaners at Neasden,Uxbridge and Wembley sheds were doing the same thing when it was reported.Things came to a head when the drivers got the unions involved and I believe the car involved was "blacked" until the problem was sorted out.Neasden "stopped" the car and got a chippy to rip the floor up.Lo and behold what did they find a dead mouse or what was left of it god knows how it got there,and I still haven't got round to having my sense of smell corrected!!!! Well Mr Towerman, now we know why you need to take a shower more often  |
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Post by Towerman on Jun 8, 2005 3:55:20 GMT
Re Q8's assertion that things were better on LT/LUL in the past,in many respects that's true,but one thing has improved immeasurably-working conditions.When I was a 3 shift fitter we had one rest day a week which rotated through the week ie:Mon,Mon,Mon,Tues,Tues,Tues etc,2 weeks leave(rostered) no Saturday rest days,only one Sunday off in 3,also when we finished at 23:00 Saturday we were back at 09:00 Sunday and if we didn't have a Monday rest day after finishing nights at 07:00 Monday we were back at 16:00 Monday afternoon.
Nowdays I have 53 days leave a year which I can take when I like(within reason)104 rest days a year and our gov'nor pays for all our domestic expenses tea,milk,sugar.He pays for our TV and the licence,and if we ask for things like blinds,new faxes/copiers/printers he usually comes across.So,Q8 some things have improved.Unfortunately the calibre of most of the present senior managers leaves a lot to be desired.
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Post by q8 on Jun 8, 2005 6:48:07 GMT
Re Q8's assertion that things were better on LT/LUL in the past,in many respects that's true,but one thing has improved immeasurably-working conditions.When I was a 3 shift fitter we had one rest day a week which rotated through the week ie:Mon,Mon,Mon,Tues,Tues,Tues etc,2 weeks leave(rostered) no Saturday rest days,only one Sunday off in 3,also when we finished at 23:00 Saturday we were back at 09:00 Sunday and if we didn't have a Monday rest day after finishing nights at 07:00 Monday we were back at 16:00 Monday afternoon.
Nowdays I have 53 days leave a year which I can take when I like(within reason)104 rest days a year and our gov'nor pays for all our domestic expenses tea,milk,sugar.He pays for our TV and the licence,and if we ask for things like blinds,new faxes/copiers/printers he usually comes across.So,Q8 some things have improved.Unfortunately the calibre of most of the present senior managers leaves a lot to be desired.
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Yes Mr T, I thoroughly agree with all you have said above but the some things are "missing" too. TRUST - between the guvnor and the worker for one. CO-OPERATION between departments without hassling about responsiblities and cost first. SATISFACTION - by everyone at the end of a day. ANTICIPATION - by all and sundry of a peaceful and enjoyable days work. SECURITY - I.E. knowing you can work all day without the fear that someone is going to put your lights out, and above all CONTENTMENT - with the the job in general.
EDIT. I might add RESPECT - When everyone down from the Chairman treated all the rest on the job as colleagues regardless of their grade. They even used to come out of the office from time-to-time and spend a week "slumming" so-to-speak with those lower down the ladder than they were
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Post by Towerman on Jun 8, 2005 21:50:07 GMT
This is one specifically for Q8 re the Depot Foreman concerned with my little faux pas at Victoria,as an ex DR man from the eastern end you may have known him as he used to work at Upminster Depot,it was Vic Bruty,one of the old school,shaven head in the days when it wasn't fashionable,old style shirts with detachable collars and a roll up hanging out of the side of his mouth at all times.Unfortunately he's no longer with us but he was what's known in this neck of the woods as a diamond geezer.
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Post by Towerman on Jun 8, 2005 21:52:20 GMT
Don't get me wrong Q8 for all the dodgy rosters I'd still rather be working inthe 60's or 70's than today.
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Post by q8 on Jun 8, 2005 22:45:05 GMT
is one specifically for Q8 re the Depot Foreman concerned with my little faux pas at Victoria,as an ex DR man from the eastern end you may have known him as he used to work at Upminster Depot,it was Vic Bruty,one of the old school,shaven head in the days when it wasn't fashionable,old style shirts with detachable collars and a roll up hanging out of the side of his mouth at all times.Unfortunately he's no longer with us but he was what's known in this neck of the woods as a diamond geezer.
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Oh yeah I knew Vic! I used to be on the guard shunters panel and also did tower work with Vic Saunders and Seston/Siebert and a few others.
Vic called a spade a spade (no racism) If you were wrong he told you so if you were right he'd stand by you until the stars fell. May he rest in peace, They could do with a few Guvnors like that nowadays.
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Oh I love that Mr Towerman. That was excatly the attitude in those days. "gertcha silly b*stard, wotcha done now? Well don't effing do it agin"
