Driver Competencies

35B · 19 Mar 2021

Jamessquared a spus: ↑

Mr Drummond had something to say on that matter as well:

“Another source of danger (which drivers have found to their cost) is accepting the signals given by guards at stations.”

The context of that latter remark is that receiving the right away from a guard does not absolve the driver of the responsibility of checking that the road is set:

“I cannot too strongly urge you to consider the guard’s signal when working passenger trains as only meaning that the duties at the station with the train are completed. At the same time, I am strongly of opinion the guard should be held responsible with the driver that the fixed signals are clear before he gives the ‘all right’ signal to the driver to depart. If the designation ‘guard of the train’ means anything, it must mean he is equally responsible with the driver for its safety.”

It is interesting, given the wider railway context of the era (late Victorian / early Edwardian) that the triple requirement of “lock, block and brake” was still fairly new, and many old hands were probably still of the mindset that the driver was paramount in the safety of the train, rather than the systemic relationship between driver, guard and signalman. I wonder whether in choosing his words, Drummond was, consciously or not, replaying deep discussions about the development of the rules during his career.

Tom
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I find it interesting that, when BR looked to try to change the rulebook to give the driver full control of the train (by now fully braked, and following nasty ding, ding & away incidents), the move was strongly resisted.

LMS2968 · 19 Mar 2021

johnofwessex a spus: ↑

I understand that eventually (1970's) the rule book was changed so the guard had to check the signal was clear before giving the 'right away' after a 'ding ding and away' accident
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Always assuming he could see the signal, or there was an RA repeater provided.

Matt37401 · 19 Mar 2021

Steve a spus: ↑

About the only information I want from a guard is 'right away'. What more do I need, anyway? Go when told and stop when we get to the next signal or station. I can count the coaches on the first curve. They'd be redundant if we could think of another way to get that right away.
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Driver Competencies

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Driver Competencies

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