Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[RED-DOG]

Tony. Do you know how the drivers felt about moving from steam to diesel?

I'm just looking at how much more comfort and less work they had when driving a diesel.

[tikay]

Tony. Do you know how the drivers felt about moving from steam to diesel?

I'm just looking at how much more comfort and less work they had when driving a diesel.

Such a complicated question, Tom.

I don't know about the lesser Railway companies, but on the GWR, rich in tradition, pride & history, there were mixed feelings.

In practical terms, yes, much cleaner, lifelong "oily overalls & cotton waste rag" Drivers suddenly were wearing what amounted to a suit & ties, collared shirt, waistcoat & everything.  

The Steam Locomotive cabs were open at the sides, but the Driver & Fireman were never cold, the boiler fire & heat saw to that. In a Diesel cab, all nicely heated, but draughts under the doors meant they stuffed newspapers & cloths in the gap to seal the draughts.  

They could smoke a ciggy on a steam loco, too, but not in a Diesel cab.

A Steam Locomotive was a bit like that lovely old lawn mower you used to have - you remember the one, you heartlessly & stupidly got rid of it in a betrayal of loyalty - because when they went wrong, a good Driver could always fettle things, coax it along, keep it running. It was a point of personal pride ALWAYS to nurse it home, even if it were sick. And you could. But when a Diesel Loco went wrong, that was that, they could not be fettled & nursed, they either worked properly or not at all, & you could not attend to defects whilst in motion.    

Quite unrelated to all this, but the best food I ever tasted in my entire life was my Dad's leftover sandwiches, which had been on the steam loco footplate all day. They were wrapped in greaseproof & newspaper, but the aroma of coal, smoke, steam & grease somehow got into the sandwiches. No food ever tasted better.

On a Diesel Loco (presumably still the case to this day) there was a thing called a "Dead Man's Handle". This had to be kept depressed at all times with either the driver's hand or foot. (Steam Locos never needed them as there were TWO men on the footplate).

These Dead Man's Handles were a proper pain, as the Driver could not move around, which he was used to doing. And so they found ways to overcome them - place a brick, or a heavy object on them.    

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/452732.stm



But all this was secondary to one other thing.....(follows)

[tikay]

The one huge difference was that it destroyed the existing Driver/Fireman relationships. (Diesels never needed a fireman).

On the GWR, a Driver - Fireman partnership might last 20 years or more.

They also did something called "double homes". This was the deal when they worked the (say) Plymouth down, then rented lodging for the night in Plymouth, usually 2 single beds in one room (to save money) in a B & B, then worked the Paddington up together.

Rinse repeat the same thing the next day, & eventually, Driver & Fireman on double homes saw more of each other than they did of their wives & families.   

So the relationship became extremely close, & the Diesel Locos destroyed all that kinship & bonding. It changed the job, & their lives, completely.   

Grandad Angell's Fireman got killed in a horrific accident at Old Oak Common one day. Don't think Grandad Angell was ever the same after that, he'd burst into tears at the very memory.

Steam had to go, of course, no doubt about it. Sad though, & that is reflected in all the Heritage Steam Railways all over the UK.

And to this day, young kids aged 1 to 5 still experience excitement when they see a train. Something about locomotives & trains appeals to all kids up until a certain age. Than they discover X Box, Championship Manager, FIFA or Mario the Plumber shite, & that's that.   

[tikay]

Incidentally, talking of Driver - Fireman relationships.

Grandad Angell's original Fireman was my Dad.

He invited my Dad home for tea, & there my Dad met Grandad Angell's Daughter.

My Dad's wife (my Mum) had died by then, & Dad ended up marrying Grandad Angell's Daughter, Elsie.

Worst thing he ever did in his whole life, for him & for me, but that's a whole other story.

Grandad Angell was a lovely, lovely, man. His Wife, Lydia, & their Daughter, Elsie, were cut from a very different cloth though.

It's odd how such contrasting folks can end up married to each other, both in the case of both Grandad Angell, & my Dad. 

Lydia Angell was a nasty, mean, vindictive woman, & so was her Daughter. Grandad Angell, & Jimmy Kendall were the complete opposite, gentle, caring, & loving people.

Anyway, let's move swiftly on.....   

[RED-DOG]

I love it when you write about train stuff cos you're passionate about it and it seeps on to the page.

[RED-DOG]

Chance is a funny thing isn't it? So many ifs.

[tikay]

Chance is a funny thing isn't it? So many ifs.

Just a bit, yeah.

It worked out ok in the end, really, but if Dad had not been paired with Grandad Angell it would have meant a completely different life for me. Maybe better, maybe worse, but deffo different.

It was all over sugar, too. My Dad loved lots of sugar in his tea, & Grandma Angell had been hoarding sugar for years. (It was on ration at the time).  So he loved visiting, as he got sugar in his tea.

On such trifling details are our whole lives affected.

[tikay]

Completely unrelated, but the current humidity here in Punta Cana is 99%

This is what "humidity" seems to mean.....

 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/weather-phenomena/humidity

And this is the current Punta Cana weather & humidity....

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=current+humidity+in+Punta+Cana


And it's horrible. Everything is damp to the touch, clothes, bedclothes, all flat surfaces. My books have all gone curly, exactly as if they had been dropped in a bath.

Insects & bitey things seem to love humidity, I've been eaten alive, I've got bites everywhere, back, neck, arms, hands, legs, ankles, feet.  

[redsimon]

Talking of books...did you buy many for the trip? I was going to comment when I saw your luggage earlier

[tikay]

Talking of books...did you buy many for the trip? I was going to comment when I saw your luggage earlier

That big suitcase was full of......hoodies.

[Nakor]

Talking of books...did you buy many for the trip? I was going to comment when I saw your luggage earlier

That big suitcase was full of......hoodies.

I remember going to Punta Cana, can't remember thinking "dang wish I had packed my Hoodie".

[tikay]

Talking of books...did you buy many for the trip? I was going to comment when I saw your luggage earlier

That big suitcase was full of......hoodies.

I remember going to Punta Cana, can't remember thinking "dang wish I had packed my Hoodie".

Ha.

It's the same as Vegas in that respect - sweltering outside, & freezing in the cardroom.

[Marky147]

Completely unrelated, but the current humidity here in Punta Cana is 99%

This is what "humidity" seems to mean.....

 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/weather-phenomena/humidity

And this is the current Punta Cana weather & humidity....

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=current+humidity+in+Punta+Cana


And it's horrible. Everything is damp to the touch, clothes, bedclothes, all flat surfaces. My books have all gone curly, exactly as if they had been dropped in a bath.

Insects & bitey things seem to love humidity, I've been eaten alive, I've got bites everywhere, back, neck, arms, hands, legs, ankles, feet.  

Other than that, a good trip



My mate has just won a package for the PP do, and I'll enjoy telling him he has that to look forward to.

[Kev B]

I love it when you write about train stuff cos you're passionate about it and it seeps on to the page.

^^^ This ^^^ Sashing read Tikay.

[The Camel]

What sort of lowlife would have a personalised number plate AND park in a disabled spot?

Click to see full-size image.

I'm thinking I would detest a person like that.