Yahooooooooo!
Posted
#248498
(In Topic #13708)
Full Member
Passed my S.D.R. medical
No, not the search engine…After some concerns re the peepers, I passed my South Devon Railway medical yesterday with flying colours and on 19th and 24th of March have full days training in the signal box at Buckfastleigh in addition to my regular Crossing Box duties at Staverton and, hopefully, more thereafter. I've had three proper training days so far and now I'm 'going for it'.I hope to get passed out this year if possible, before I get too old and dopey to pass the exams. It's not a case of 'preservation railway "Oh, that'll do…"', as the Office of Rail Regulation oversees railway operations including Preservation Railways and ultimately if I am responsible for a loud, expensive noise that included even the slightest danger to the travelling public I could end up in court with fines and a custodial sentence.
Am I mad at 70 to try it? I just don't feel that my three-score-and-ten defines me although I'm nearly twenty years older than one of my trainers!
So far I've learned that operating the box when nothing is going wrong and the timetable bears at least some resemblance to what is hapening outside the windows is not too difficult with only 25 levers. B'leigh is well [over] interlocked so in theory you can't make a serious co&k-up. Our Signalling Inspector and Head Trainer Ian Wannel worked Newton Abbot East with 206 levers and speaks of days when he never as much as sat down in a whole tour of duty….
Well, for those of a nervous disposition, I've given you the dates to avoid!!
Keep safe,
Douglas
'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…' Aesop's Fables
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
Posted
Full Member
South Devon rails will continue to be safe and I look forward to revisiting my old haunts around Buckfastleigh before too long.
If you were to get yourself 3D modelled, you could come and populate all our signal boxes courtesy of those very nice people at Modelu and your multi tasking badge would be well and truly earned.
Well done and enjoy the continuing adventure.
Best,
Bill
Last edit: by Longchap
At 6'4'', Bill is a tall chap, then again, when horizontal he is rather long and people often used to trip over him! . . . and so a nickname was born :)
Posted
Site staff
Just because one has a certain number of years under ones belt , doesn't make them old. I try to think my 78 is just starting to get to the middle age range.
Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
Posted
Full Member
Good health and fortitude to all,
Bill
Last edit: by Longchap
At 6'4'', Bill is a tall chap, then again, when horizontal he is rather long and people often used to trip over him! . . . and so a nickname was born :)
Posted
Full Member
Jeff Lynn,
Amateur layabout, Professional Lurker, Thread hijacker extraordinaire
Amateur layabout, Professional Lurker, Thread hijacker extraordinaire
Posted
Site staff
Regards
Alan
Born beside the mighty GWR.
Alan
Born beside the mighty GWR.
Posted
Full Member
Michael
Posted
Full Member
Posted
Full Member
Age doesn't come into it and you are going where many of us fear to tread. Go for it!
The way things are going at the moment, you are no where near retirement age anyway.
Gary
__________________________________________________
I am no expert but I do what I can, when I can, with what I can.
__________________________________________________
I am no expert but I do what I can, when I can, with what I can.
Posted
Full Member
Nigel
©Nigel C. Phillips
Posted
Full Member
:cheers
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
Posted
Full Member
Well done Doug….you must be quite chuffed
Best wishes
John
Posted
Full Member
Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words…I did expect a little sarcasm but your response has, as John said, made me chuufed.
Douglas
'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…' Aesop's Fables
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
Posted
Inactive Member
Posted
Full Member
You must be absolutely cock-a-hoop with yourself. Is Kings Cross more complex or just more levers ?
Once fully qualified, will you have a regular rosta or is it random ?
'Petermac
Posted
Full Member
Bonsoir Pierre,Well done Doug and tanks for the heads up on the dates to avoid ………………….do you think I'm far enough away here ?
You must be absolutely cock-a-hoop with yourself. Is Kings Cross more complex or just more levers ?
Once fully qualified, will you have a regular rosta or is it random ?
I'll not join a regular rosta, I'll still volunteer for 1/2/3/4 days per month, and the roster clerk will assign turns as needed. There are more than enough for the Staverton Crossing box, quite a few for Buckfastleigh, and comparively few for both Bishops Bridge and Ashburton Junction [read 'Totnes Littlehempston']
Bishops Bridge is the most complex box as it controls the crossing loop on two train days as well as the adjacent P.W. yard.
I haven't heard of 'Kings Cross', was there a railway station there?
Poop-poop!
D
'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…' Aesop's Fables
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
Posted
Full Member
Grumpy Chubber
'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…' Aesop's Fables
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
Posted
Full Member
Posted
Full Member
D
'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…' Aesop's Fables
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
1 guest and 0 members have just viewed this.