Railway Yarns

BFCYU · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:04 pm

BFCYU · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:15 pm

PART 2.

Pre Railway Employment.

Like i said in Part 1, I was interested with the NSW Railways, esp the
Diesel Locomotives.

When I was finished up primary school at Oatley (4th class 1970)
I had to finish my senior primary & high school (secondary)
at Mortdale. (Years 5-10)

I had a free NSW school rail pass to go from Oatley- Mortdale.
I used to take the 7:45am train from Oatley.
The train itself came from the City and terminated at Oatley.
The Station Master had to work the signal box there and I used to
watch him from outside using the different type of red, blue & black levers. He also used the party line signal box telephones;
ie with the crank handle and the different ringing type to answer
that phone call. eg two longs & a short. (or party line though)
I was very fascinated with it.
From High School i could still see the railway tracks & trains
because it was parallel to each other.
Always having a look from the windows or at recess.
esp when a"goods train-freight train" going through.

See: never far from the NSW Railway tracks--
either at home or at High School!!
Destined to work for them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two Naughty Things that I should not have done.

1) At High School (early 1970's)
All the Train Drivers went on strike.
So no trains working at all.
I encouraged two of my school mates
(and with my fascination of the railway infrastructure to)
decided to walk home back from Mortdale to Oatley on the railway tracks.

The three of us walked just past the Mortdale station & signal box
with no attention from other rail staff who were still on duty.
Score 1

We also walked past on the Main Illawarra line past the Mortdale Maintenance & Storage Sheds. Still no attention from any one.
Score 2. Yes very happy

We walked through the cutting and got as far as the Oatley Down Accept or Home signal.
Oohh no. There is a young station assistant picking up paper & debris
from the tracks. (about 200 metres north of Oatley station)
He noticed us. He went straight to a signal post and used the phone there
to bring us in for punishment.
The Station Master (SM) from Oatley came running out and then
gave us the third degree.
I took the rap for it and told the SM it was my idea
and my two other mates did not give a hoot about the NSW Railways.

He thought we maybe up to no good;
eg: putting rocks or ballast on the rail line,
or interfering with signal equipment
or just vandalising etc.

Score back to Zero!!

He got our free NSW Rail Pass and got our names and High Schools I.D.
He went very cross with us and said he will contact the High School,
then proceeded to give me "clip over the ear" for doing it.

My first thoughts were like this.
NO please do not do that.
It may jeopardise my chance of getting a job
on the NSWGR and my record held against me,
not to think also the embarrassment from the School Principle
& my Parents. Embarassed

I waited from the High School principle to
put me over "the coals"
but to my great relief Smile

The SM at Oatley did not proceed
any more with it. I was very happy.

TICK One.~

2) When I was about 14 (1975)
my friend & I decided to go into the City (Sydney)
to go and watch a cinema movie.
We got on a "red rattler" at Oatley.
My best mate Laurie was with me ( but A NON RAIL FAN)
He decided to walk through the train and ended up in a spare
guards compartment--with the drivers cab door locked.

Between Tempe & Sydenham my mate decided to mess around
with the internal handbrake in side the guards compartment.
I said to Laurie--"do not do that"
He then went in to devil mode and reached for the emergency lever cock.
I was pleading with Laurie not to touch it. It's the emergency brake!!!
He ignored me and just gave it a small on & off application of it.
Immediately the train brakes came on then off for a few seconds.
The railway guard then came running from his "dogbox"
and grabbed both of us back to his compartment.
(like convicts with both his arms around our shoulders behind us)

At arrival at Sydenham station he gave us over to the SM at Sydenham.
He got all names & address, and told us this will be passed onto
the Railway Police & also the state NSW Police.
My mate Laurie decided to take the rap for it and owned up to it.
The SM told me though I was an accessory to the fact and would also be
charged too. -----talk about being so nervous & fear upon me.
"You will both being going to the Children's Court & Magistrate,
the SM informed us. So How's that for stupidity he told us."
I actually felt sick in the stomach. A real twisted stomach.
There goes my railway career ahead of me!!! Evil or Very Mad

For the next few weeks both Laurie and myself were waiting
very impatiently and with fear and bad expectations for the
NSW or Railway Police to visit or ring us.
As time went by; NOTHING!!
We gave it another two months, and again NOTHING!!.

I myself and Laurie had a 'good' suspicion
that the SM at Sydenham put the "fear of god" upon us,
and I think it worked. After three months we both agreed
that the SM decided not to go on with it.

I was so glad & happy.
I already gave my "best" mate an earful and he
conceded he was in the wrong and never do it again.
I told him if he went into a spare guards compartment I will not be going into it with him. !!! Cool

After those two incidents; I kept a "clean slate"
NO more getting into trouble,
esp the NSW Railways I wanted to work for. Wink

Tick Two~~"OFF THE HOOK"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Part Three. Railway Employment.

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:21 pm

PART THREE: Railway Employment.

Oh well; I have been to the railway sin confessional (in the Railway Church) Laughing

and now time for my Railway Employment & Experiences.

It is in about 4 sections,
Railway Stations
Signal Boxes.
Locomotive Engineman
Shunter & Train-brake examiner.

Section One: Railway Stations. WATERFALL.

I left school in 1976 and I visited the NSW Railway Head Office a couple
of times re: employment. I left my name down for either a
Trainee Locomotive Engineman or Juniour Station Assistant (JSA)
and my railway trespassing & sins were not recorded against me thank God Smile

They did tell me there was a long wait for Trainee Locomotive Engineman
and normally take them from the Traffic Branch (Stations etc) or from the Per Way branch (fettlers etc) or the workshops etc.
So that idea of a trainee engineman went out the door.
I then asked for any Railway Station vacancy and go from there.

At the time, my Dad had left Caltex and started up a company with
another person in a partnership.
The Business itself was into a venetian blind cleaning and repairs.
It had 3 different trucks to do this on site (homes or offices)
using the trucks as a mobile venture.

My Dad asked me to join him as an offsider.
The business itself become a "gold mine".
My Dad and his partner had a "trademark patent" on it
and no one else in Aust. could copy this patent.
But unfortunately the other partner was also a compulsive gambler
and he just left town with a lot of debts for my Dad to service.
He decided to sell off the Trademark Patent and had to lay myself and 5 other people off.

I wasn't angry with my Dad as I knew these things to happen.
I had a few weeks off and then rang up the Railways to see how
my application is going.
I think the "Good Man" upstairs were looking down at me.
The person from the employment section told that they were going to contact me anyway!!. They had vacancies on the stations
and asked if I was interested.

In a lightning flash I went into their office and went through the quick
interview and a basic test, then medical and THEN I WAS IN!!

They offered me the Position as a Juniour Station Assistant (JSA)
at Home Station Caringbah on what they called "General Relief Staff"
I did not know what they called a General Relief meant--
but hey! I was in the door at the age of 16 years of age.

I started officially on the 26th April 1977.
I went straight into a training school for a couple of weeks.
It was downstairs from the Sydney Country Platform Number 1.
It showed us how to sell tickets-using the old ticket machine.
How to do the book & paper work and how to do all types of parcels
and stamps with waybills.

I graduated in May 1977; and then into practical training mode at Miranda, selling the tickets and the barriers (ticket collecting).
It was a new experience for me. The NSWGR. Actually it changed it's name to the NSW Public Transport Commission which also included the NSW owned buses and ferries.

Inside the railway station station itself, it had the standard mustard colour
type flooring, "brasso" ticket plate and the clock.
(most stations had that valuable collectors item of the NSW Railways Large Regulator Clock)

It was all "full on" NSW Railways.
Everything was NSW Govt. The tickets, the parcels, the paper work forms
from the Govt printer and so on.
It also had NSWGR or NSWTD.
The Station Master himself was a very cool & nice gentleman. Mr ----.
In those days any one in a higher grade than you, esp Station Masters you firstly addressed with them their surname.
I did get valuable training there for one week and then went to Caringbah
for one week to concentrate on the barriers work.
(my parents come by train one day to just have a look see at me and I collected there ticket LOL!)

After my two weeks of training the SM at Caringbah explained to me
what "General Relief" meant.
It was to fill any short or long vacancies on any railway station in Sydney.

a) because of some one else is sick or on holidays
or
b) a vacancy in a railway station with no person yet to fill that position.

He explained to me the bonus though with the time travelling from Caringbah (my home station) to any other station i was posted into.
(even if I drove there by car--I checked the rail timetables to match up
the time I started and I finished my shifts)

He had "bad news" for me with a frown on his face.
The staff relief (organisers) in the City has told him, to post me over to Waterfall (JSA) because of a vacancy there.
He was in a apologetic mood but told me to book an extra 2 hours each way in travelling time. 1 hour before the shift and another 1 hour after it.
(total of 10 hours each shift.)

Actually I was overjoyed. Wink

Waterfall was still like a "bush" railway station, and to travel from my hometown at Oatley to Sutherland by train then get onboard the
"Tin Hares" CPH rail motors. Sutho to Waterfall.

Waterfall in 1977 was then with out electric suburban trains.
(No over head wiring)
It was in a real sense a country town station.
They had a pot belly stove\wood heater in the signal box,
it had both track block & automatic system going towards Heathcote--
the Up line.
And the Track Block double line from Waterfall to Helensburgh.
Talk about railways in the "old days"
A Gunzel or rail enthusiasts delight.
A lever controlled signal box.
Heaps of signal telephones with the crank handle.
and I think a Block Telegraph device in the signal box too.
Semaphore signals in some spots
PLUS a locomotive turntable and elevated water tank in the Yard.

I was in "heaven" (told you the good man upstairs was looking down on me)
The passenger trains were either the CPH tin hares or the mostly
diesel hauled carriages. (mostly 48 class engines)
We also got the South Coast daylight express.
(Sydney to Nowra) with the Bud set carriages.

There were freight trains every where too.
442 class, 44 class, 48 class locomotives and so on.
The shifts I was doing was either day work (6AM)
or afternoon shift of (i think 1:30pm)

A real variety of train workings there.
I LOVED IT!
I was selling a only a handful tickets on each shifts,
so no worry too much with the paper work.
Cleaning the station & toilets were a breeze,
because it was rarely used!!

One particular night; it had been raining. (cold & wet)
The freight train crew on the up line pulled up short to get a "billy"
of hot water. The ASM (assistant SM) told the driver ( a big boy too)
to not waste any time as he (ASM) had already gave him the home & starting signal to get going. (another train behind it)
The driver got the message and got back into his two double header
of two 44 class engines.

Wow!! I had never seen any thing like that.
The driver (probably in protest) gave it the gun.
He must have just put it straight into eight notch throttle.
(full throttle)
Because it was dark I could actually see a large flame from the
first engine. Flame and sooty oil everywhere.
Luckily I wasn't close by otherwise i would probably covered with
oil from the 44 class exhaust stack.
The locomotive wheels were going through a workout too--
slipping & slidding on the wet tracks.
Heaps of sand going everywhere.

The ASM at Waterfall wasn't impressed.
He looked at me and just said in swear words
about drivers & fireman from the locomotive branch--
but i was enjoying the whole show.

On a different shift (daywork) I was told by the SM in charge,
to get the oil signal lights out from the shed.
Make sure he told me that the wick was cleaned and trimmed
and enough oil in the light to change them over.

He told me I am going to Helensburgh on a CPH to
service a few signal lights.
No other trains will be behind you or coming the other way.
Track Block Device Blocked & Closed.

I grabbed a few and away i went.
On the "Tin Hare"
I met the driver Mal Ritchie. (Sutherland CPH driver)
We ended (with his son too) becoming good friends.

Mal knew where to stop, and just told me to check the signal
for the oil & wick. ( and man I was getting paid for this)
Up i went with caution climbing the signal posts.
Enough time too see all the scenery of the National Park etc.
I then after surveying the site got down - for more punishement. Laughing

And so way we went to a couple of others.
Eventually arriving at Helensburgh were I met the SM there.
The SM worked the signal box and gave Mal the points crossover
and signal for us to go back to Waterfall.
Wasn't I having fun. Cool

I asked the SM at Waterfall of my chances of applying for the
full time JSA there @ Waterfall. (I was there about 3-4 months already)
I told him I did not care about the travelling expenses I was getting.
He told me a sympathetic way; I should have applied for it
only about a few weeks before hand.
Another young fellow "from the coast" was successful
in applying for it.
He showed me the "Weekly Notice" in his room
all the vacancies, but apologise for not telling me.
He thought I was after the 2 hours each day travelling money.
ie 10 hour days a shift (8+2=10)

A few weeks after that the new fellow started and I showed him around.
I was told by The SM and staff control (relief)
my next post will be at Jannali as a JSA
(for a full time vacancy--the existing JSA to a promotion elsewhere.)
This time I will keep "my ears to the ground"
if I liked working there at Jannali. Question

Next Section to come: Other Railway Stations.

NB:
I decided not to mention some of the people I used to work with,
their names and I have deleted them. Just in case people still get
"hot under the collar" using their identities with out their permission.
(Even though it is over 30 odd years ago!)

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:24 pm

PART THREE; continued.

JANNALI.

I was informed by the Railway Staff Office the details of the next shift of
mine at Jannali.
I was told to be there at 6:30am to "learn" the station.
The JSA shifts at Jannali were 6:30am & 1pm Mon-Fri.
And the Sat. shift 7am & 12:30pm.

The Jannali Railway Station itself was not the "usual" Island station
that most double track stations had. It had one platform on the down side,
and the other platform on the Up side.

The down side platform also had a small office for the JSA's; (inc parcels)
and the Up side platform had the main office for the SM's, ASM & Senior
Station Assistant. (SA Class 1)

The real peculiarity about Jannali Station was; (and still is)
if any passenger did want to go from one platform to another,
they had to exit the railway property area & walk
through the council footpaths & parks; and then over a road bridge
to the other side. ( a very long detour)
No railway steps to walk over as a short cut. Exclamation

Us rail workers had the convenience of the "boardwalk" across the railway tracks, but it was with a lot of caution. A lot of trains coming from Sutherland going top speed of about 70kmh (non stop) used to come tearing through the cutting and appear "out of nowhere"
I witnessed a couple of close calls which were to close for comfort. Rolling Eyes

When I started doing the "barrier" work on the down side during the
afternoon shift; we used to get the average once a week a train from the City, which used to have the wrong indicator sign & destination from it's origin.

There used to be one that was a fast express in the PM peak;
which I think was City, Central, Redfern, Sydenham then Jannali,
followed by another train behind it going normal stops to Hurstville and so on.

The problem was, that some time the platform staff in the City put the wrong indicator display for the train for normal stops to Hurstville;
was actually the fast express train to Jannali. The passengers got on the wrong train, AND It was all express. Exclamation

The passengers who "got" on the wrong train (for the slower) service
ended up at Jannali. "Man" I used to get abused from the irate passengers. Evil or Very Mad

To make matters worse they had to walk out the exit ramp, through the street scape, over the road bridge, and enter the City platform (Up Platform) on the other side. On the average too, they had to wait at least
10-20 minutes for the next City train service to go homebound.

Any formal complaints went to afternoon ASM on the Up platform.!
I felt real sorry for them though. Some passengers were supposed to get off anywhere from Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville, and all Stations and so on.
And had to make there own way back again from Jannali.

~~~~~~~

When I first started at Jannali; the SM (OIC) told me there was a bit of a
misunderstanding. He explained that the resident JSA went on holidays and just turned 18 years of age. He applied for an adult position
at another station (with more pay) but he decided not to take up the offer. He liked working at Jannali. (I will tell you why later)

The SM told me he would try and get him to change the other fellows mind when he come back from holidays (of 5 weeks).
As a JSA they said you can stay in that position till you are 21 years of age, but are eligible for another promotion as Station Assistant (adult) in
a different category range. Class Three, Two, One, Special or Safeworking Station Assistants. (now called Customer Service Attendants)

At Jannali itself, it was a pretty busy station. Nothing nice & quiet like
Waterfall. We used to sell a lot of tickets on the down side, and after that shift to do the "handover" with all the ticket numbers recorded in order
of the sale. After the afternoon shift you had to do both handover +
the daily "classificational book". ( a big blue ledger book for the day)
Both AM & PM shifts had to add up. If not, you had to find out why??
It was a long and tedious process, but we got used to it. Confused

But on the better side of things; after the peak hour trains; we had only one train every half hour (30 mins) to relax and do other things like
walk the platform, some cleaning and also "check out the scenery"

Now I found out why the other JSA did want to leave Jannali.
He would only get a 50 cent @ hour payrise at another station, but the other bonus was the female company type.!
At Jannali there was (is) 2 female high schools and this other fellow was well known by a lot of the senior female high school students.
They kept asking me "where is -------??"

When I finally met HIM; he wasn't a real overboard handsome bloke;
so it must have been in the "gift of the gab"
Who knows?? But when he resumed back at Jannali after his holidays
he refused to "take up" the adult S.A. class 3 at another Station.
(I think it was at Hurstville)

I suppose I don't blame him.
He lived at Jannali too.
But that was my exit for a while from Jannali.
I was still on general relief staff. Not fixed at one station.

Next Railway stations: Kirrawee, Cronulla then OATLEY (my home town!)

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:45 pm

Sorry I have not been around lately.
I had a touch of the flu.
Computer screen gives the headache worse........ Sad

Well My next adventure on The "General Relief Staff"
was my next posting at Cronulla.

I was actually a bit excited to be posted there;
being a St George & Sutherland Shire "boy".
Working only a few hundred metres from the
"famous" Cronulla Surfing beaches and golden sands...
and the teenage bikini girls...... Smile

(me being still a teenage young man.)

I was told by the relief staff telephone & wire to
report to the Cronulla SM at 1100 the following shift.

After i reported the next day at 11am; I was told it was a
"barrier & cleaning position" (as a JSA).
I thought to myself "that's cool Cool

" but then i was told
some other bad news.

I was told; After I did 2 hours at Cronulla (till 1300 or 1pm)
I then must go back "up the line" to Kirrawee-daily,
and do the single line platform & toilet cleaning,
as part of my shift till about 3pm,
them make my own way back to Cronulla
by 1600 or 4pm to then do the PM peak
"barrier duties." after my "crib break (meal break).

Oh well; cannot have it all my own way.
I made my self comfortable at both Cronulla & Kirrawee
for about one month.

In my daily schedule;
I would start at Cronulla at 11am. a bit of platform and barrier work.
(was over the moon with a lot of the "beach girls" and
they sort of felt more comfortable talking to a "man in uniform"
but alas ...no dates or even a telephone numbers!! Rolling Eyes

)

After my first two hours at Cronulla; I would get the "Up" train to Kirrawee;
and do the mandatory platform sweep (which was only a single line platform) and to "my" relief the male/female toilets where generally, nice & clean because they used to have a locked door approach---ie key only available when requested.

I would have a bit of a yarn with the senior Kirrawee SA there; and then get the train around 4pm back to Cronulla. I would then have my "crib" break
(and occasionally a quick "look see" at Cronulla beach or the shops)
and then the "Serious" barrier work at the PM (Mon-Fri) Cronulla station.

I was told to be very "smart" and wear my tie by the SM.**
There was (and still is) a lot of senior NSW Govt and Railway officials
who live at Cronulla......i soon found that out with all the
politicians and NSWGR gold pass badges being shown at me for a quick glance at the barrier.

**In summer months (spring till Autumn) it was only optional
but it was still a good idea to listen to the high class SM at Cronulla!!

At Cronulla Railway Station itself; it is the length of over 16 railway carriages (to fit it two--2 train lengths of eight carriages each).
We had to man both platform barriers with a fence or cage between each platform.
Cronulla station is the terminus on the "Sutherland to Cronulla" branch line.

At times it was or could be challenging with amount of people going through the turnsyle or barriers there at Cronulla.
But I did enjoy it while i was there.

In the late 1970's while i was there it was single line only; with two large or long crossing loops at Gymea and Caringbah stations.***
It was a single line track control from Sutherland Signal box.
They had remote "cut in" signal boxes at Gymea & Caringbah (emergency)
and also the other "in use" signal box at Cronulla which was worked by the resident SM ASM or SWSA on the backshift.

It was all the small toggle type signal box frame.

***Sutherland; Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda, Caringbah, Woolaware then Cronulla.

I met a few characters too while i was there both Rail Staff (inc drivers & guards and a few Cronulla locals.

All in all a good railway station to work at. (inc Kirrawee.) Wink

Next OATLEY: my home town.

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:04 pm

OATLEY. (Part Three continued)

I was told by the Staff Relief office my next holiday relief
was to go at Oatley. Yippie! my home town.

It was for a female station assistant who was taking
both holidays and also long service leave. (about two months)

I was told to report to the SM at Oatley at 11am.
(loving the late morning starts with a sleep in and afternoon penalty rates)

One the first day I was a bit apprehensive meeting the SM & ASM at Oatley; because of my railway misdemeanours before hand as a young teenager. BUT to my relief, they were all new Oatley station staff.
So I was off the hook.!! Smile

They Did not know me. PHEW!!

I found out they were all friendly people too at Oatley.
The SM (OIC) and the two afternoon ASM's.
I will not mention their names but treated me well and
the favour of being an Oatley local.
The SM lived at Helensburgh.
We had an "Irish" ASM who lived at Miranda
and also another ASM who lived local too. (Mortdale)

Actually the other ASM had a few stories to tell
and how he became an ASM (Assistant Station Master).
Previous before getting promoted,
he was just a "dinky di Aussie" working as a senior shunter
at Cooks River Goods Railway Yard (near the Sydney Airport).

I am not sure if he was conscripted or went as a volunteer
to Vietnam in the early 1970's while working as a shunter.
He did his time there over in "Nam".
When he came back the NSW Railways rewarded all
the "Vietnam Veterans" or "Vets" with a promotion.

He told me he "never even worked in a railway station before,
as when he started with the NSW Railways, he just started up
as a "sprag" ie a new chum shunter at Cooks River."

After he returned they put him through the full NSW safeworking school,
and then after that into the "Station Masters school" to graduate out
as an Assistant Station Master at Oatley!!! Cool

Never even sold a railway passenger ticket in his life,
before coming an ASM.

That's like the Mortdale Signal Box poster stating:
"I could not even spell sicnalmon--but now I is one"
Laughing

THE INCIDENT:

One afternoon I was manning the afternoon Oatley barriers & platform.
A train come in from the City and was waiting in the "down side"
platform for the train to depart. (Oatley platforms are on a curve too)

The barriers at Oatley are near the far end of the "Up direction"
or Northern-City end, just before the steps going down to the subway.
Oatley is an "Island type platform" ie Up line & Down line separated,
with the station platform.

I heard this sort of screeching and yelling from around the 5th last
carriage in a red rattler 8 carriage set.
I left my post at the barriers to see what was happening.
The guard on the train also took attention and gave the driver the bell code that he was leaving his "dog box" (I think it was two short bells).
(He was in the approx. 4th carriage or middle of the train)

When we both arrived the same time, most of the passengers on that carriage had decided to step off the train onto the platform.
The afternoon ASM also came out of his office to investigate the problem.

The three of us the same time found an elderly but big size gentleman
having a severe "epileptic fit" (did not realise at first).
The ASM rushed back into his office and rang the local ambulance and also the Sydney Metropolitan "traffic trouble"

Traffic Trouble used to monitor all delays in the Sydney Metrop area.
Because Oatley was on a standard Up & Down double line section, no trains could overtake it and decided to leave that train there by the emergency procedures, even though it was in the full afternoon peak rush with a train every 5-10 minutes apart.

The train driver himself come down to have a look.
We could not move the train till the ambulance officers arrived.
(all the Illawarra line trains behind it was now at a stand still)

The ambo's arrived approx 10 minutes after the phone call.
The afternoon ASM was told not to move or touch the "patient"
till they arrived.
The two ambulance officers went into the carriage to tend with the elderly gentleman. He was convulsing and "foam" coming from his mouth.

It scared the "living daylights" out of me.
I have never witnessed before a person with an epileptic fit.
To tell you the truth it was like a "horror movie"
with someone who has been "possessed"
(sorry to be rude that how it was for me).

The ambo officer gave him something to calm him down,
but it was taking it's time.
The ambo officers decided to strap him down onto a stretcher
and then wheel him away to the emergency vehicle.

The problem was the "patient" was not really responding to the
antidote, and was moving his arms around like some one who
was severely drunk. (with swinging blows going everywhere.)
Six of us, (the two ambos, the ASM, myself, & the train guard & driver)
had to try to pin his arms down to go under the stretcher straps.

It was really unbelievable the strength of one human being
while having a severe epileptic fit. Imagine that; six of us to pin him down.
We finally got him on the platform. The ambo's took the patient way
with the late arrival of the local police. (too late to really help us!!)

The train was nearly 30 minutes now at the Oatley platform.
It finally got away and with a backlog of trains now trying to get into the platform. Most passengers on the backlog train were told the details
and gave me a few sympathetic looks instead of the red angry faces Evil or Very Mad

we normally get when there is train delays.

A few weeks after the "incident" he came back "the patient"
and thanked us and apologised for making the "scene".
He told us he "run out medicine that morning"
and was on the way home to see his local doctor & chemist.
He gave us all a Box of Chocolates;
and to the ASM a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label.
The ASM had to convince him they could not accept the
Scotch Whisky though--even though it was nice and clean gesture.

WELL BACK TO NORMAL OATLEY.
I enjoyed working there.
I used to also witness the afternoon train that terminated there
and the afternoon ASM used to "work" the signal box.
He gave me a "turn" moving the levers;
and like something I was trying to do since I was a kid.

The red levers were fine (the signal lever) or the blue locking lever,
but the black lever (for the points) were very stiff and
some difficulty moving them across.
The ASM would laugh and say I need some more "milo" or vegemite.

Working at Oatley too had its advantages,
I only lived a 5 minute walk home and I recognised
a lot of the Oatley locals. ( i lived there since i was a young boy mid 1960's)

Really enjoyed myself there, but as all good things come to an end,
I was still on "General Relief Staff" duties.
The female SA came back from her break and I was told to move on.

I did one shift at Circular Quay Station (City Circle)
and another at Sydenham & Tempe stations. (all barrier ticket collecting & cleaning)
the another shift at Auburn Station on the "Main West Line"
I had a "go" at the staff control sending me that far out from my local area.
He must had some sympathy with me and said he would look after me.
He told me just go back to Oatley on a standby basis and then go from there every day till any other phone calls for if some one else is sick.
(Standby relief).

Then my dream came through.
The Juniour Station Assistant at Jannali decided to move on
(took the adult SA job at Hurstville---SA3)
With The SM Jannali's prompting.

There was a vacancy there to fill.
I went back to Jannali with open arms,
and then put my name down with the SM at Jannali
to fill the vacancy on a "permanent fixed" Station.
(no more relief staff work).
I did not even care about the travelling expenses
I would stay at Jannali on a fixed roster.
(the "white" timesheet" vs the "pink" relief staff timesheets)
I just wanted to work there again till I am at least
18 years of age. (maybe even stay till I am 21 if I have my way)

SO Back To Jannali I went............ Very Happy

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:25 pm

JANNALI---continued. (1977-79)

I was successful with the transfer to Jannali;
from the General Relief Staff to Permanent Fixed at Jannali.
(Hooray!)

I settled in very comfortable at Jannali. (thank you very much).
The hours were good. Only daywork & afternoon shifts.
6:30am & 1pm (Mon-Fri) 7am & 12:30pm (weekends)

Jannali was only three stations from my home at Oatley.
I got my licence in 1978 (17 years of age) and got myself
a "souped up" 1953 FJ Holden.
138 cubic inch motor (small extractors) Red Car paint job with 14x8 mag chrome wheels. A restored leather seating. (maybe impress the Jannali girls Hey!!) (LOL)

I would leave it at the Oatley Station carpark (employees);
and then get the train down to Jannali.
But occasionally on the Saturdays I would drive it to work at Jannali
and go out socialising from there after work.
(trying my best anyway for a teenager)

The Station Staff at Jannali were good.
We had one OIC SM.
Two afternoon ASM's
and two other JSA's on my roster.
Made good friends with them all
and still in contact with some of them now, 30 years on.

Basically like I mentioned about Jannali before;
the JSA looked after the seperated down side platform,
with it's little small wooden office-next door to the "waiting room"
and adjoining ticket window.

We had the old ticket rack to sell the train tickets
with the old date stamp device.
On the average though we still made about $30-$50 each shift.
This was recorded with the handover & classification book daily.
(good way of fine tuning my maths & additions as I never used calculators then. each shift and ticket sold must all "add up correct".

Except for the PM peak hour, most train stopping on the down side
only came every 30 minutes.
The SM & ASM were never really on our backs. (non taskmasters)
We did the basic platform & toilet cleaning between the trains.
If not just browse through the newspapers or look out the
down side "Box Rd" window--which is directly in good view
from our office. (but had mesh over it for property protection).]

A lot of the Jannali "locals" both young & old got to know me.
I met my first girlfriend there; but alas it did not last very long.
I think she was more interested in my Old 1953 FJ Holden than me.
Laughing

. But another JSA mate of mine, met a nice Jannali girl
"fell in love" and got married a couple of years later.
I went to their wedding and they are still together 30 years on,
with 3 teenage kid's a dog & cat and live in the same town that I do now.

Any of you up and coming teenagers or young Adults...(both male & female)
get a job on a Railway Station. You probably won't regret it.
A great job to meet other people.

THE TRAVELLING TRAFFIC INSPECTOR: (new chum)

At my "downside Jannali station office"
we also had a small parcel office bench to send & receive
the NSWGR & PTC railway parcels.
We had the "parcel van": once or twice a day.
It originated from Darling Harbour and went most stations on the Illawarra
line to pick up or set down parcels.

It used to come to Jannali; "mid morning":
then proceed to Sutherland and then onto Cronulla, terminate
and then back to Darling Harbour via the Hurstville Parcels & Goods Shed.

One particular afternoon; this young female "chemist attendant" came to my office to send off from small parcels around Sydney.
She used to come often and told me it was both cheaper and quicker than using Australia Post. (even though it only went as far as a railway station--not door to door)

She would of only be about my age of 17 and was tempted to
"ask her out", but never got the courage---silly me!! LOL)

Well; this particular afternoon, she was sending a small parcel to Penrith.
I collected it and then wrote out the "parcel waybill".
It was only a small charge of i think about .30 cents. (railway stamp)

Just as I was signing the "parcel waybill" one for her and a copy for us;
a "downside Cronulla train arrived"
I could not ask her to wait outside the office to collect the passenger
tickets; as I thought it would be rude. I cannot do two things at the same time. I would of also had to lock the office door because of the money till too.

I decided to let that train go without collecting the tickets.
I finished the parcel paperwork with the young chemist attendant;
and just has she left my office side door, a man with a suit & tie
looked through my ticket window office. I asked him "could I serve you"
he just gave me a grumpy look at me and just left the Jannali Station
without saying a word. (I did not know if he got off the train or just waiting
for the next one).

A few minutes after that the SM & ASM buzzed me on the internal phone.
"The SM had some bad news for me"
" A up & coming Traffic Inspector from the City;
viewed you,--chatting up a girl in your office,
He wants to stand you down because you were not doing
your platform duties and collecting the tickets!!"

I had real good news for him.
I told the SM the details of the parcel
with a signed parcel waybill even with the date & time!!

I then crossed the tracks to the main Up side building.
I gave the Traffic Inspector and my SM & ASM my evidence
of the parcel waybill.

The SM & ASM had big grins on their faces, Laughing

The Traffic Inspector told me
I should have asked the young female chemist attendant
to pop out side and do the ticket barriers.

NO WAY said the SM.
Would you ask any parcel client to leave an office
half way through the transaction.

The Traffic Inspector--sort of shrugged his shoulders
red faced Embarassed

and left the building and walked to far end of the platform to get the next train back to the City.

Sounds out he was only "a trainee Traffic Inspector"
but was out to make a name for himself.
We never heard or saw him again.!!

We had a good laugh & chuckle when he left the building, Cool

THE ROBBERY:

On another quiet Saturday afternoon; (On the Jannali down side)
I got the internal phone buzzer from the afternoon ASM.
(who was in the main building on the other side of the tracks)

He told me: "this is an emergency,
I have been robbed from a man with a gun & balaclava.
He is running across the road bridge and his coming
your way. Just look outside your window to get an idea
of his body type etc. The Sutherland & Railway Police
have been contacted". (emergency under counter button)

I tried to see him and he just run quickly up the main street of Jannali
(Box Rd) but could not get a real good look at him.

I then in my young & 17 year old bravado run out side to the main street
to "check him out more" He was bolting mad up the main street.
I then decided to chase more "just to get a look"
He saw me, and turned around. I hid between the PMG telephone box
and he just got out of site. I waited for a few minutes and the "coast was clear" I cautiously walked back the railway station.

In a flash the Sutherland Highway Patrol "In the Valiant Charger"
recognised me as i flagged them down. He said get in.
The excitement inside me was incredible!!.

He just told me to see if I notice him again.
BUT if i do "keep my head down"
as he may be armed. (had a gun at the main ticket window @ Jannali)
We also screeched up the main street but with no luck.
The Highway Patrolman did a few rounds of Jannali shops and local
streets but the thief was not to be found.

He took me back to the main building at the Railway Office.
When I arrived the SM & ASM were there. (SM was called back from home--as he was a Jannali local)
The Police Inspector and a few Sutherland Police interviewed me
and also the afternoon shift ASM. This went in for hours.
The Railway Police also arrived by train and wanted to get their
"part of the action". Ended up being who is in first and demarcation
between the NSW state Police and The Railway "Narks" Police.

After all the Police left; The SM (who was normally a good bloke)
told me to pick a pen off the ground.
I did and then he simulated a "kick in the backside"
of what I did chasing the thief. I was a bit red faced.

BUT He also told me;
now that kick in the backside is over,
I recommending you for an award from
the NSW Railway Commissioner in what you done
ABOVE what is DUE in your normal area of work.
(like a bravery award or something like that).

My young teenage chest was sort of "puffed up" with pride.
It was getting late in the Saturday evening.
I was soon to turn my 18th birthday; and The SM & ASM took me
down to the "Jannali Inn" (Hotel) and primed me
the rest of the night with free good cheer.
(all of us to relax & unwind after the robbery & eventful afternoon)
I ended up getting a taxi home from there
and let my FJ Holden at the Oatley Station all that night!!

To cut a long story short.
The next week; myself and the ASM went to both Sutherland and The Central Detective Police Stations to check out the "mug shots" of convicted criminals.
We both could not recognise any of them.

A few months after that "That thief" got caught at a
Cronulla laundromat in an armed hold up.
The police this time were to quick for him.
He confessed to Jannali Railway Station and about half a dozen more.

I think he got about 8 years in prison with a non parole period of 6 years.

SOME good excitement being a "Railway Porter" hey!! Shocked

NEXT:
Exit from Jannali (with regrets)
Allawah Station & Hurstville (goods shed)

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:26 pm

RAILWAY STATIONS: Continued.

I was actually "Stationed" at Jannali for about a year then
when this robbery occurred. (ie permanent fixed at Jannali)

Not long after I turned 18 years of age;
The OIC SM asked me if I would like to take
a promotion elsewhere to get a higher rate of pay.

(the reason for this; once we turned 18 as juniour station assistant JSA
we could apply for an adult position as a Station Assistant Class 3; 2 or 1
but we could also stay as JSA till we turned 21 if we liked)

I told the SM i liked working at Jannali and their was no rush.
He encouraged me to do a correspondence
"NSW Railways-Goods & Coaching Course"
It is like full passenger & ticket sales "Coaching" & documentation,
and Freight Goods documentation which are both used
as an requirement to become an Assistant Station Master (ASM).

It was in a double sided thick folder; which when completed once a week
it was sent to the City by train with their address on one side of the folder;
and my home station (Jannali) and my name on the other side of the folder. They would check my tests papers & return the folder back to me.
I think I did one level only; as I think that department of the railways
was "phased out".

One day I noticed in the NSW Railways "Weekly Notice"
They advertised for Trainee Locomotive Engineman at Eveleigh"
(near Central Station in Sydney which was all diesel passenger trains)
When my OIC SM found out that I did applied for it;
"He HIT THE ROOF; he gave me a 10-15 minute lecture about
going to the locomotive branch and silly train driver work.
Never home and 24/7 intenerant shift work etc, and no social life.
(later I found out it was all true!!--and should have listened to him! Rolling Eyes

)
He told me to stay in "The Traffic Branch" and your world is your Oyster.
He told me I could make a Traffic Inspector or District Superintendent
one day if you keep your head screwed on the right way.

He told me how he did hid "apprenticeship" as young man as
NSWGR juniour porter, adult porter, the travelled all NSW as an
assistant station master then OIC Station Master when he received
Jannali as still only a 35 year old man.
(there used to be a lot of promotional steps and grades then NSW Railways and was all seniority and he had to travel NSW to get to those grades & promotions)

He then told me he would NOT process my application-trainee engineman
and then he was concerned about me. ( I did not want to differ him)
He found out there was a vacancy at Allawah Railway Station
as an adult Station Assistant Class One (SA1)--which was a big leap frog promotion. (by-pass SA 3 & SA 2) and about $1 dollar @ hour more
He knew a lot of "tricks" and pulled the "ropes for me" to get
the position at Allawah as SA Class One for me.

I could not say "No"
It was actually on relief staff again (but not permanent fixed);
but was on what they call " A Reducing Time Roster"
which meant I did 8 shifts @ fortnight at Allawah for the two other permanent fixed SA1's on their days off, (4x2 shifts) and the other two shifts @ fortnight at Hurstville Goods Shed. (freight centre).
Making the 10 day fortnight for me.

I took the "promotion" but reluctantly leaving Jannali.
The SA1 shifts at Allawah were 5:30am and 1:30pm 7 days.
It was actually selling all the main ticket window (which was very busy)
and doing the barrier (ticket collecting) when time permitted.
Before or After the peak hour rush, the Allawah SM
would relieve us of the ticket windows to do the station cleaning.

Allawah is one station before Hurstville on the City side;
but had four platforms, ie two double island station platforms.
It has the both up & down "main" line Illawarra line,
plus the two up & down "local" Illawarra lines. (Making four rail lines)
The local trains used to service Allawah going to or from the City.
They used to be the "all Stations Trains" (not express).
The four railway lines would merge into two at Hurstville Station going south.

The Monday morning was like a "Nightmare" till i got used to do it.
Always a large Que of people & passengers.
A lot of passengers would buy the "Weekly Tickets" about $3.60 then,
Allawah to the City. ($4.10 from Jannali to City)
I would be there for a few hours just selling weekly ticket after weekly ticket in a mundane rush. We had to put the weekly stamp on it for that week which was put in a notice the week for before us, so they could not be used over and over each week. (different weekly code stamp)

I had been on the railways about 2 years by then.
I had learnt the "correct way" of dealing with cash and change amounts.
Eg A $20 note tendered to us, we would put in view of the passenger on the desk near the money tray and the "spell out" the change amount.

Eg A Weekly ticket Allawah to City of $3:60. with a $20 note.
ie. 40 cents make $4 dollars; $1 dollar make $5 dollars;
another $15 dollars make $20 dollars.
So the change amount was $16:40. ( .40 + $1 + $15)

If we made an error WE HAD TO PAY OURSELVES THE wrong change.
They did not have automatic ticket machines like today.
We had to sign for each shift we did working at the ticket window.
If We make a mistake we had to pay ourselves.
All NSW Railway tickets at that time had a numbered order
and had to "ADD UP" in the end of our shift.
(Handover & Classification Book)

One particular Monday Morning;
my mind was in sort of a "trance".
A Young Lady passenger asked the normal request.
"Weekly Ticket to the City"
I got the ticket; dated it and the weekly stamped it. (Code for that week).
I then gave her change of $20. I just forgot to put the $20 Note on the desk, but put it straight into the money till.

She took her Weekly Ticket and the Change I gave her and then
bolted downstairs (Allawah Booking Office was elevated on a bridge over the Rail Platforms and the rail tracks.)
A City Train just arrived. I then realised out my "trance",
that she only gave me a $10 note not a $20.
I locket the window and rushed downstairs to grab her.
The train was about to depart; and I then challenged her.
"I asked her what note did you give me at the window."
She replied looking at her change still in her hand; "A $20"
with a silly sheepish look. "I just told her you are wrong"
and she replied to me "Tough Luck; you made the mistake not me" and then with a snug look on her face and made her way into the train.

On the end of my shift: guess what. The handover balance account
was $10 down. That woman made me pay out my own pocket the amount.
That's how it was on those days on the NSW Railways.
But I got my own back.
She lived at Allawah. On the following week on the afternoon shift,
I signalled her out and made sure she had the right weekly code number.
I also told her "I had to pay for your thieving ways out of my pocket"
She looked a bit disturbed at first. I thought to myself she may dig out
the other $10 out of her handbag /purse.
But NO.
She kept walking. I did not ever see her again though. I had a real suspicion she started getting her train journeys from Hurstville after that.
"GUILT ALL OVER HER FACE" but good riddance for me. Razz

Aahh The Joys of being a Railway Station Assistant.
But at least after that, I made sure I left the $ Note on the desk,
not into the money till and always "spelt out the money change"
no more in a rush for the passengers trying to bolt to the arriving train.
It's their fault there running late; not me. Cool

THE DRUNK:

As some a lot of people on the Railways find out;
there a lot of drunks around; esp: Friday & Saturdays nights.
On trains; on stations and also just trespassing onto
the railway lines. (not only the "sober Gunzells" LOL Laughing

)
Some like jumping the railway tracks for a short cut.
Some in an intoxicated state just like walking in or around the railway lines or rail corridor.

While I was still working at Jannali; a young teenager was hit my a fast city bound service while "jumping the tracks at Jannali."
A few hundred metres from the station towards Como.
Unfortunately he was hit "straight on" at was killed instantly.
I did not witness it but found out on the Sunday morning after the Saturday night it happened. The police were still there taking photos at daylight etc for their report.

On another Saturday night; I DID witness another but with a small twist.
(was not killed but could of)
I was on the Saturday Afternoon shift at Allawah (1:30-9:30pm)
A train guard come running up the Station steps to see me, around 8pm.
It was in mid winter time and pitch black by then.

An middle aged man decided to take a short cut or something like that at Allawah (even though we had a passenger bridge from side to another).
He had "jumped the railway fence for some unknown reason"
then crossed the down main Illawarra Line. When he did this he must have tripped over the first stock rail of the line (4 foot eight & half); then his head must of hit the other stock rail and knocked himself out cold.
When I got there he was semi-conscious and a large head wound and also bleeding from their mouth but breathing OK.
He was lying in the "middle of the tracks!"

I could "smell" the drink on him. (alcohol). But not talking just moaning.
The guard and myself moved him very gently just off the down main Illawarra line to the end of the platform.The guard himself was on the other down local line but was seen by the driver of the local service. (luckily for him because the main down is used for the fast express trains which do not stop at Allawah!!)

I rang the emergency number (ambo's) to come.
Next to him was an small overnight bag containing two bottles of wine.
One full and the other nearly empty. He had no ID on him but only his "plonk".
The ambo's came within a few minutes from St George KOGARAH; and treated his head wounds with bandages and took him to hospital. I had to write it down in the Railway diary incident.

It was just happened but did not really much take a real note of it but to say "He was lucky a fast express non-stop train did not hit him on the down Illawarra main line sprawled across the tracks"

A few onlookers were watching the man get treated by the ambo's.
One of them recognised him as being a Saturday afternoon drinker;
at the Local Allawah Hotel--just over the road from the Railway Station.
He then told me he is a bit of a "drunk" But always bumming for a cigarette or a few 20 cent pieces for the "next one."
Bit of a nuisance character at Allawah Hotel. But normally harmless.
That other fellow knew his first name; and told me he was on a invalid
pension and lived at the Hurstville Boarding House.
He had been "Barred" at both hotels at Hurstville and then made Allawah Pub his local.

The fellow went back to Allawah local and then came back with the night manager of the Pub.
He told me was loitering around the "drive through Bottle O"
but did not make a purchase. A short term later the Bottle Shop attendant found two bottles of his wine had been taken off his shelf.
The bottle shop attendant realised that because he was working alone that night and a lot of "drive through cars".
The night manager told me "the drunk must have knocked it off while the bottle o' attendant was busy serving the cars--but told me has already learnt his lesson and did want it to go anymore further with it; but he added when he recovers, he will also be "barred at the Allawah Hotel too."

Now I realise why he must have jumped the railway fence;
(which is on an embankment and rather difficult fence to climb over).
He probably did not want to be recognised around the Allawah Railway Station after his misdemeanour. Probably jump the fence and then wait for sign of the first train going back to Hurstville on The Local line and jump the tracks to get it.

I felt a bit sorry for him though.
Being a "wino or alcho" normally has a sad story in the past
to get them to that state.
I never noticed him again so he probably went the other way to
Penshurst Pub for his "liquid refreshments" when he got over the "near miss".

HURSTVILLE GOODS SHED.
Every fortnight I had to go two days there to fill in the two spare days.
I actually liked it there.
It more informal than the stations.
The hours were pretty nice. 7AM to 3PM.
I would drive from Oatley and leave my FJ Holden in the "Hurstville Yard".
I could see first hand the minature "dolly" signals there.
(the type with the retractable short arm).

I also saw my first look at hand shunting movements,
without even a locomotive attached.
The other "goods station assistant" Ian .....
showed me how to it.
He explained to me "At night the local diesel goods trip train leaves
four coupled up covered goods vans there"
In the morning Ian had to seperate them with "the auto lever pin";
bleed the air out of the air reservoir and let the handbrake off the vehicle
he wanted to move. It was pretty flat siding, so Ian had to use a "pinch bar to get the process moving" COOL HEY Cool

Sometimes he had to keep "pinching them" if they had "squarer wheels!"

After each goods van was Full of freight;
he would send down another to get loaded up.
(A total of four a day)
It did get busy at times; but also had it dull periods
so Ian and the other head goods station Assistant and myself
had a great yarns in the "Hurstville Goods Shed"
Both of them started on the Stations but decided to take the
"Freight Goods Shed" away from the silly passengers! Laughing

All day work too--Mon to Fri.

A lot of road side couriers also used the Goods Trains as a sort of sub contracter of moving freight around Sydney, NSW or Australia.
Done on the Cheap I think!
Hurstville also had a large Parcel Office and on the same siding
but I never had much contact with them. I was a "Goods'y Station Assistant" for the day not a parcel boy!!

THE NEXT MOVE:
SAFE WORKING STATION ASSISTANT ie SIGNALMAN
DUNHEVED

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:02 pm

While working at Allawah for about 6-8 months;
I started to get unsettled.

While working at Jannali;
I used to witness the "big": freight or coal trains
climbing with strain up the Como-Sutherland Hill.
They used to be in full throttle or eight notch,
but from the platform level only. (only one view)

At Allawah; I could actually see the "roof" of them
with their exhaust stack or a different view from the
Allawah booking office bridge.

A lot of them used to slow down or stop on the Illawarra Down Line
at the Hurstville "Down Accept Signal", meaning I could see it all
from the Allawah Booking Office Bridge.

I could feel my "locomotive diesel train appetite" inside me.!

Just prior before my 19th birthday (1980) I reapplied for
"The Locomotive Branch as a Trainee Engineman" again
at Eveleigh.

My OIC SM at Allawah was a bit surprised but just processed it
and went in the "despatch bag" to the City by train.

About a fortnight later I received a letter confirming my acceptance
as a "Trainee Engineman" (but at a lower hourly rate of pay).

MY SM at Allawah must have decided to ring my prevoius SM a Jannali
about this situation (behind my back); and then next thing the SM from Jannali rocks up to Allawah to have a long talk to me.

He again convinced me "not to go on with The Trainee Engineman job
at Eveleigh" and told me "Why don't I apply for a Safe Working Station Assistant (SWSA) jobs that are advertised in the Weekly Notice."
He told me "it is only one step away from then becoming an
Assistant Station Master (ASM) and told me you will be soon 19 years of age (as the min age of a SWSA)
He also told me reluctantly;
"If you DO decide to transfer over to the Locomotive Branch
as a Trainee Engineman--don't go to Eveleigh as you will never get on the road as an engineman; you will be in the shed for ages there doing locomotive cleaning; go to Enfield DELEC which is the fastest depot in NSW to become a Trainee Locomotive Engineman with training & experience".

I remembered all of that.

He then showed me the NSW Rail Weekly Notice for the Safe Working Station Assistants jobs. (3 vacancies)
Dombarton (on the Illawarra Mountain line, Moss Vale to Unanderra)
Whipporie (north of Grafton @ Staff Station Crossing Loop -before Casino)
the other at Dunheved (on the St Mary's to Ropes Creek line in western Sydney).

He convinced me to "rip up the Locomotive Transfer"--I then had to advise the Staff Office too. And I then applied for the three positions for the SWSA in any category order (no preference). I did not mind going "bush" if I got the Dombarton or Whipporie Stations (signal boxes); bit excited too if I went to the rural NSW. I also applied for Dunheved.

A few weeks later: I was successful at Dunheved.
I did not do any research about Dunheved only to look on a railway map where it was. (ie did not check out the hours of duty or other pro & cons)
I just went in "full barrells loaded" to get promotion and next step to become a young "assistant station master" by my 21st birthday.
Or If I liked; becoming a fully fledged Signal Man (grade)

A safe working station assistant has many roles.
Basically they are the lowest paid signalman (signaller);
but also may or must do other railway station duties if required,
eg selling tickets, barrier-ticket collecting, cleaning and also hand signaller (flag man as a traffic officer if needed)

The official signalman grades DO NOT do station work;
except signal box roles and tidy-clean signal box if no "telephone boys" are there".
So as a SWSA you are a railway "jack of all trades, but master of none"
But decided to take the promotion at Dunheved and left Allawah.
(and Hurstville Goods Shed).

It was only about .50 cents more @ hour than my SA1 at Allawah;
but who cares, A PROMOTION for me in a quiet little station & signal box.
(did not realise it was all Mon-Fri daywork and no penalty rates;
and had to work a 8 hour shift over 10 hours & 2 hour unpaid meal break.
I ended up "losing money" overall.!!)

I went into training at the Sydney Safe Working School.
Because the position was "full time fixed" at Dunheved,
the safe working requirements for that signal box was
NSW "Track Block & Automatic"
Some of the other applicants did all NSW Rail "All Systems".
(including the exciting Electric Staff & Instruments and Ordinary Staff & Ticket which is used on single line systems)

I completed the course in a couple of weeks (Inc handsignaller-flagman too) and then was told by telegraph wire to report to the OIC
Station Master at St Mary's the following Monday at 6:35am.

I "did not know" what I was getting myself into. Shocked

NEXT DUNHEVED.

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.

BFCYU · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:35 pm

By this time I had sold my "souped up 1953 FJ Holden
and "pranged" my original Special 1955 FJ Holden
on Canterbury Rd @ Punchbowl near the old "Sundowners Hotel" Embarassed

So I got myself a 1959 FC Holden.

Living at Oatley to get to Dunheved was a pretty long journey;
via back of Liverpool; up Mamre Rd which in 1980 was no Expressways
around and took around 80-90 minutes for me in the old 59 FC Holden.

I arrived very early at St Marys Station to meet & greet the SM there;
(as the wire telegram told me).
BUT alas Confused

he was a very indifferent person to say the least.

Just told me "the way out of the door and Dunheved up the road"
--he was that sort of person who wouldn't even give you the time of day!
(tell you the truth one one the worst railwayman I ever worked with--)

So just checked my road map again and arrived at Dunheved Railway Station
on time for the first train to go from St Marys to Ropes Creek via Dunheved.

The relief SWSA sort of gave me a bit of a mock laugh.
"Why did you take Dunheved? it has been vacant for a long time;
and you will find out real soon why??

The hours (6:35am to 4:35pm Mon-Fri and no penalty rates etc plus no OT
or travelling expenses that he was on.
He was on General Relief Staff as a SWSA and was getting about 2 hours extra a day in travelling money and also booked the full ten hours a day
on his time sheet for his full shift. (relief staff did not have unpaid meal breaks)---so he was laughing all the way to the bank.

WHAT A SUCKER i was. no research or homework!! Evil or Very Mad

BUT there was more he told me about the SM at St Marys.
(which I was already finding out about).

I said to myself "What have I got myself into" HELP!!!

But at least my other buddy "Ivan" who we did the safeworking school together he took the Ropes Creek signal box (Station) vacancy the same time i did for Dunheved;
so at least we were in it together!! Laughing

(better two on a sinking ship than one)

Because it was so far to travel from my place at Oatley (plus a 10 hour work day) I decided to board & lodge at my Relatives place at Penrith.
ie Monday night till Thursday night and drive back to Oatley Friday nights.

My uncle (Was/IS) a very intelligent man and did night time law school
himself. (now a solicitor) But he had no TV in his home (and my other young cousins I shared the place with.) He wanted them to become very good students and TV was an evil detour. So I was in bed by 8:30pm with nothing else to do but either read a book or sleep.

At Werrington; as part of my daily SWSA duties I had to check the
level crossing lights & bells. The female station assistant asked me once
"why I was so bright eyed and bushy tailed person"
I told her my predicament at Penrith and my excess sleep;
and she laughed why i was always a "White clear Eyed Person" Laughing

I started to settle into Dunheved though.
There was SUPPOSED to be a NSWGR (PTC) pushbike each for myself and Ivan at Ropes Creek to ride the official pushbikes to Dunheved or Ropes Creek respectively; BUT found out they were "souverners" years ago; and the OIC SM at St Marys did not care one hoot either!

Took our cars instead. (Twice in one day) to our stations & signal boxes,
for the AM & PM trains.

In the end I started "hitching a ride" with trip train No-5 or T127 on the 48 class engine going there and back to Dunheved.
The more i was on the 48 class; the more I wanted to transfer over to the Locomotive Branch--this time at Enfield.--but that is the next move story.

Here is the extract from "Dunheved"
I took a transfer from the Illawarra line as station assistant;
to a "promotion" as *safe working station assistant in 1979 (1980 actually!
to Dunheved. (not knowing what I got myself into).

After doing all the 3 weeks safe working training; and first day on the job
i found out the hours of duty was M-F 0635-1635 (6:35am-4:35pm)
and with a two hour lunch break.

This was to coincide with the 3 passenger trains a day.
Train No. P1 & P3 in the morning and (??) one in the afternoon.
This was a marshalled train as two red rattler carriages & two parcel vans.
They were mostly Blacktown train crew (driver & guard)
There was also a diesel shunting trip train
called "5 trip or T127" with Richmond diesel drivers on it. (Pat Teirney)
It used to go into my "loop siding" off the down main. (mid morning)
The "48" class diesel would run around their train; (to go back the other way) and the old brakevans used to be on both ends. (NVGA or NVJA)
and after they had their religious crib break-you could never break that rule;!
I would sent back on the up line (towards St Marys) and they would
shunt the Sims Metal siding. I would give the freight train guard a hand there at Sims'ys. I would open up the ground frame; the guard shunt it.

As a *SWSA I found out you were " a jack of all trades" there;
from operating the signal box (about a 30 red, blue & black lever frame);
to selling passenger tickets (& doing all the clerical paper work),
and doing the station cleaning-and checking the signal lights on the old semaphore-quadrants that they were not broken etc, and any other signal wires etc which needed attention.

BUT at least it was a "solo" railway station-ie working by yourself.

With the passenger trains there was no real story to tell.
P1 went from St Marys then Dunheved @ 0645 to Cochrane & terminated at Ropes Creek. (with Ivan my other signalman mate there who we did the safe working school together)
Ivan at Ropes Creek then sent it back to St Marys via me at Dunheved and then did another loop return (P3) there & back on the branch line.
and then went back to Blacktown. (I think it used to leave Dunheved @0815 or 0820)

It used to take people to the industrial area around St Marys (Dunheved) and to the Commonwealth area at Cochrane and Ropes Creek.
There used to be a "special school" for intellectually handicapped students
at Dunheved; and while they were waiting for the train (afternoon);
I used let some of them sometimes "play" with the spare signal levers and old crank signal telephone.
(Gee; those people would never had enough fun from the signal box and their laughter would always make a bad day-good again!!)

My mate Ivan had to go through a Commonwealth Police check point
to travel by car to get to Ropes Creek. (because of munitions factory)
They were serious officers there; but they got to know both of us; and a friendly "let us through" with out stopping us. (i had an old '59 FC holden!)

Once a week T127 would bring a munitions covered van (bogie covered van) i think they were a "BPV" van with padlocks on the doors.
Big red/white "explosive" dangerous goods posted on both sides.

I would leave it on No. 3 or 4 siding in the Dunheved Yard.
The munitions fellas had there old shunting tractor and would pick it up from our Yard. They would then proceed with it down to the munitions factory with "their fireworks on board)

That is when the fun started.

I would always ring the munitions people but they were never in a hurry to pick it up.
One day after I rang them My Station Master from St Marys was waiting for me at the Dunheved Station at 0635.
I thought what have i done wrong??
I found out that the munitions people were taking there time to pick it up and that night-some kid's or teenagers let the handbrake off (the air was probably already bled out or they knew the release valve wire!) and away it went; all gravity grade fall down to the munitions factory!!

It went through the cyclone fence-gate and smashed the door of the factory. (It was all yard working for about 2km to the factory and no "jack" points -derails and all trailing points Dunheved Yard to them.)
Hey; it wasn't my fault; I did ring them the day before.
Luckily the BPV was unloaded, and no fireworks anywhere.

After consultations with my Station Master and the munitions factory we decided to put a chain & padlock over the handbrake spider wheel and pawl. But this was found out later to be in vain.
About a month after that the same thing happened again.
Some vandals broke the padlocks off; but fortunately, the BPV "run out speed" this time and just rested in the yard.

After that incident I would wait for the munitions shunting tractor to come & pick it up. (they were told no more delays there pick it up).

There is another "story or yarn" and I am not sure how true it is.
A relief signalman told me once about the Indian Pacific train on the St Marys to Ropes Creek branch line.

He told me "The Famous Indian Pacific" used to run 3 times a week from Central (Sydney) on its 4000 km journey to Perth.
On one occasion it was late departing Central on time (1515-3:15pm)
At the elevated signal box at St Marys (all toggle switch type) the regular signalman had a trainee with him that particular shift.
He forgot about the "most important train" in Australia because it was running very late.
He left the signal box for a short time and gave it over to the trainee.

Just after the signalman left "train control-traffic" rang the trainee and told him to "hold" (stop) the suburban train on the down suburban line" (No 3 platform) and they will send the Indian Pacific around it on the down main (back platform or No.4) to catch up on time, ie run around the Sydney suburban train waiting on No. 3.

The trainee set the points & signals around the suburban train; but in a headstrong rush he also set it for the points & road for the Ropes Creek branch line. (which is just after the down main going west)
The driver of the Indian Pacific went through the "two yellows" turnout and then went straight for the Ropes Creek branch line. He realised it was too late when the "Indian" was going for Dunheved. (already went over the points)

The fireman came at speed straight for the signalbox and "Max" the resident signalman was rushing back up the steps to the elevated signalbox too.
There was a delay for about 20 minutes as the Indian Pacific with a train load of probably a mixture of International & Australian passengers had to propel back over the points and back to the turnout signal.

Imagine that: The most important train in Australia now going for a sleepy old branch line; headed straight for Dunheved & Ropes Creek.
Well; it was a Commonwealth Branch line anyway,! they owned it all the way from the St Marys junction to Dunheved (munitions) and Ropes Creek branch line.

The relief signalman "Thommo" who told me this yarn said the resident signalman "Max" and the Indian Pacific train driver both received the NSW Railways "Bung" and a $10 fine each.

I suppose I could go on forever of my NSW Railways experience at Dunheved and a locomotive engineman at Enfield and last work station at Botany Yard as shunter/train examiner but I would be here forever.

Regards BFCYU

End of extract.

I will dig up more too or add some more till I move on till the next move
to Enfield DELEC as a Trainee Engineman Cool

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.