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Mick: ‘You are the future of rail in this country’ Look to the future now it’s only just begun 4 7

WriTE this column after another week I travelling the country where members told me we are entering an era of News uncertainty in our industry. We go from a proposal for an all- operation, with the wheels and  southern rail drivers vote yes to resolution 4 steel back together, to the current franchisee scandi model for ?; off the rails 5 leaving the bidding process. renewed calls for a  scottish-controlled railway not rejected but not  rDg runs scared of rail public ownership 6 12-13 given the courtesy of a response by those  from russia with love to the capital Tube 7 currently in power. And the conservative government reneging on promises of  mick slams DfT’s ‘catastrophic’ safety call 8 electrification at TPE, the East midlands, and Wales, and seeking to regurgitate old money under the guise of new investment about connectivity to Features Hs2. Then news – that is not news – of the break- up of the gTr franchise. Paul mcLaughlin on moJo; shazia Arshad 10 14 i have an apology to make. i did what we advise  on Labour friends of Palestine you not to do; respond to provocation on social media. But, when the rDg put out a tweet about  Ellen mellington of cirAs on confidential 11 how successful the freight sector is, it had to be reporting; simon Jenkins on station pubs shown for the lie that it is. success? Tell that to the  murder on the orient Express and other 12-13 hundreds of drivers made redundant, displaced, or snow trains coming around the bend forced into premature retirement, and the many others who fear for their futures. The freight sector  chris nutty goes to norton at Donington; 14 richard murgatroyd on White ribbon UK is in managed (or mismanaged) decline with no 15 long-term strategy by the focs or DfT. We await  Key Worker: Tom Taylor on the thrills 15 final decisions on control period six and the of driving round the nürburgring budget; and fear more cuts, in real terms. Will there be a commitment to do all the works deferred in the last five years first, as indicated in the Hendy report? if there is, look Regulars forward to lots of temporary and permanent speed restrictions!  Branch news 16 Despite all the negativity swirling round our  Philippa Edmunds wants a level playing 17 industry i remain upbeat because of the unity and field for freight; 100 years of Union solidarity shown by you, the AsLEf members, the obituaries 18-19 backbone strength and protectors of the future of  rail in this country. in all sectors – passenger,  Letters and classified Advertisements 20-21 freight, Underground, light rail and other  Last Word: christmas Books for the 22 undertakings – there have been many challenges festive fortnight and beyond in the last year and, thanks to you, we stood our 22 ground. To all the branch secretaries, local  on Track, Prize crossword, AsLEf’s 23 representatives, company councils, and Legal services and change of Address  christmas cover: Andy Bunday equivalent, our deepest thanks. To the executive committee and officers, again, when difficult The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: decisions needed to be addressed you stood firm. so, to all in AsLEf, thank you for everything you do AsLEf, 77 st John street, , Ec1m 4nn Tel: 020 7324 2400 and, in the hope of a brighter and safer future, email: [email protected] website: www.aslef.org.uk here’s to a great christmas and a prosperous and peaceful new year. Editor mick Whelan l dESignEr michael cronin l PrintEr TU ink, 5 Wythburn Place, London, W1H 7BU Yours fraternally advErtiSing AsLEf Journal, 77 st John street, London, Ec1m 4nn. contact Keith richmond on 0207 324 2407 or [email protected] l ClaSSifiEd adS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Mick Whelan, general secretary display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by AsLEf ChangE of addrESS Please post your details to AsLEf, 77 st John street, clerkenwell, London, Ec1m 4nn

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 3 news AsLEf drivers vote yes to southern deal

sLEf drivers have passengers in the region deserve.’ overwhelmingly voted The resolution to the dispute, A yes to a proposed which began in April last year, resolution to the long-running dealt with three different issues – industrial dispute with southern driver only operation, terms and the 18 month long industrial dispute on Southern railways is over railways – 731 (79.1%) voted yes conditions, and pay. and 193 (20.9%) voted no on a ‘The agreement means we will the october 2016, 2017, 2018, rail, and the privatisation of our turnout of 87.1% have a second safety-critical 2019 and 2020 pay settlements, railway, we have negotiated on a mick Whelan, general person on every train covered by dealing with our outstanding pay bi-lateral basis with each secretary, said: ‘our members on this agreement except in claim, and provides a structured company and that is what we southern, after careful exceptional circumstances. That five-year deal through to the end have done here. consideration, and long and hard person will have all the relevant of the franchise.’ ‘After one and a half years of negotiations, have voted to safety competence – including The resolution accepted by our industrial strife we wanted to find accept this resolution to our the skills to evacuate passengers drivers on southern applies only a way forward for our members industrial dispute with the in an emergency. to that company and that who work on the railway in this company. We are pleased with a ‘The agreement also confirms franchise. region, for the passengers who resolution which, we believe, the terms and conditions under ‘it’s important to stress that use southern trains, and for the works for the staff, and the which our members at southern this deal is company-specific and businesses which depend on the company, and we now look are employed. does not have implications for any service. This deal is a resolution to forward to working with southern ‘And the agreement gives our other train operating company on a dispute, not a template for rail to restore good industrial drivers a 28.5% increase in pay Britain’s railway network,’ said Britain’s railway in the 21st relations and deliver the service over the next five years. it covers mick. ‘since the break-up of British century.’

safe to operate. Urgent review needed Instead, staff have QuotE… been left alone and ‘Boris Johnson is like a puppy. The after assault on driver vulnerable in grown-ups have to follow him around, dangerous situations. cleaning up where he last crapped.’ – ASLEF has demanded tried to escape he was This cannot be Jolyon maugham Qc an urgent review of tripped, beaten and allowed to continue. …uNQuotE security at depots kicked. ‘Health and safety where Underground ‘This incident do8 finn Brennan reps are insisting that trains are stabled highlights our security arrangements Just champion overnight after an concerns about the dreadful at all depots be Tosh mcDonald, Ec assault on a Night security of depots consequences. reviewed. We also president, has been asked by Tube driver on the where trains are left ‘This is just one in a want immediate the mayor of Doncaster and Jubilee line. When the overnight,’ said DO8 series of incidents action at locations like the nUm to be the champion driver, taking a train Finn Brennan. ‘There where Stanmore where for Doncaster’s mining into sidings at have also been drivers have been drivers are particularly heritage. ‘Basically this Stanmore, responded incidents on the attacked. When the vulnerable. tosh Mcdonald consists of working with the to an automatic alarm Victoria line. If graffiti service was Management need to community, and the artist Lawrence Edwards, after the rear cab door vandals can access introduced, we were act now. Drivers, and to design a statue for the town centre to was opened, he was these locations, there promised that other staff, cannot be celebrate our mining heritage,’ says Tosh. confronted by a group is a real risk that those additional staff and expected to go into of thugs who took his planning serious police resources situations where they radio and sprayed him violent attacks may would be in place to are vulnerable to tWEEtS oF tHE moNtH with paint. When he also do so with make sure it would be serious assaults.’ Rail operators told by @UKLabour it will halt future plans to extend driver Speakers’ corner Palestine Solidarity WomAN toLd to pIck only operation if it wins the next election. Campaign, the up SuSpIcIouS bAg Alan Jones In another sign of Palestinian Forum in A passenger who reported ASLEF’s growing Britain, Friends of Al a suspicious unattended £37bn dividends paid to shareholders influence in the Aqsa, the Stop the sports bag – which she of privatised firms since 2010. Yes labour movement, War Coalition, and thought might contain a @johnmcdonnellMP @UKLabour it’s time general secretary the Muslim bomb – on her journey for public ownership! Mick Whelan and Association of from Bishop’s stortford to We own It executive committee gS Mick Whelan Britain; while Tosh London was told by greater president Tosh spoke at a Anglia, via Twitter, to ‘hand Taxi for Uber. Cabs are queuing up for McDonald gave spoke at Justice conference at it in to one of our staff’. the US corp with the employment major speeches at Now: Make it Right Congress House in georgia stone, shocked by appeal tribunal upholding the right of different events on for Palestine, a rally in London to mark the the Toc’s advice, said she drivers to paid hols, min wage, breaks, etc. Saturday 4 Parliament Square centenary of the wouldn’t dare touch it ‘in kevin maguire November. Mick organised by the Russian revolution. this day and age’.

4 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 news

has a publicly-owned is scandinavian model rail firm running a service rated as one of off the rails the future for ? the best in Europe. The findings in the RAIN fares in Scotland’s Railways – report, commissioned mEL tHoRLEY , Longsight legend, t Scotland to be published this by the TSSA, puts remembers the day he bumped into – could be cut month by the more pressure on the and was caught on camera with – by 25% if a Nordic- Common Weal think SNP government, comedian Victoria Wood, who asked style state-owned tank in . It which has been in him, ‘Mel, are you a ladies man?’ ‘I company took over would be achieved if power at Holyrood said, why are you asking, do you need ScotRail services. the Scottish since 2007, to deliver a the toilet? And she said, “Yes!” She burst out laughing and That’s the conclusion government publicly-owned they had to stop filming. As for the pic – I’m the one on the of a new report – A embraced the system railway for the people right!’ Mel, who wrote a moving tribute to Wirral legend Glen Public Future for used in Finland, which of Scotland. Southall in the November edition of the ASLEF Journal , asked for an extra copy to send to Glen’s widow. ‘One of the saddest things I have heard this year was when Val said she had cancelled Glen’s subscription to the Journal ... that’s more final for a footplateman than the curtains closing at the crematorium!’ As for Theresa May’s dreadful conference speech – when she couldn’t stop coughing, was handed a P45 ‘from Boris’ by a prankster, and the stage started falling apart – Mel wryly observes, ‘They had the odd train run into the buffers when it was Central, but I reckon that speech must be the first car crash in the old place!’

dIckY FISHER , District 6 Organiser, known for his wickedly waspish asides, was on fine form after councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet the finnish model would slash fares for passengers in Scotland member for jobs and regeneration, breathlessly announced a £6m research & development fatigue and tiredness project to look at plans for a new ‘light rail people mover strike threat forces will also continue.’ system using pioneering modern technology – potentially AsLEf wants TfL to without a driver’ to be delivered in 2026. ‘Driverless trams commit to agreement project dreamed up by the cabinet member for jobs,’ introducing a muttered Dicky darkly. ‘Oh how ironic!’ strike action on concerned about the modern automatic Tramlink long-term impact of tram protection JEFF mAdgE , who joined as was suspended after exposure throughout system to prevent a fireman at 15, has called a halt on his the company agreed the working day. ‘We accidents by railway career after 65 years. Jeff, a to commission a fully welcome this automatically fireman in the age of steam, became a independent review independent review applying the brake if driver after the switch to diesel. But into the safety of the which we hope will a tram over speeds. steam, he says, ‘was in my blood’ and, when he retired in guardian device in deal with our The guardian device 1983, he became a volunteer on the Gloucestershire tram cabs. Drivers members’ concerns,’ does not do this. Steam Railway. Now Jeff, 80, has taken his last have complained said Do8 finn turn, handing over to youngsters ‘to keep the dream alive’. that the new Brennan. ‘The health technology, which and safety of our QuotE … RogER moSEY , a former editor of Today uses infra-red beams, passengers and ‘Charm, in a on Radio 4, then head of television news at and is designed to members is always politician, is the corporation, and now Master of Selwyn reduce the risk of our first priority. powerful.’ – College, Cambridge, has stuck his well- micro-sleeps, causes Discussions with the Hugo Rifkind polished brogues into Sarah Sands, the current editor of headaches, dry eyes company on dealing in The Times Today , saying the programme has gone soft just when it and blurred vision. with the underlying …uNQuotE should be setting the agenda. Writing in the New Statesman , Drivers are issues that cause Mosey complained of ‘Listening to huge chunks of bilge from London Fashion Week on a day when North Korea fired coNFERENcES & RALLIES another missile over Japan.’ The Scottish labour Party conference is at the caird Hall in Dundee from friday 9 to sunday 11 march. The Welsh labour Party conference ANdREW RobERtS , speaking at the is at the venue cymru in Llandudno from friday 23 to sunday 25 march. Cliveden literary festival, was asked his The Scottish trades union Congress is at the macdonald Highlands opinion of Boris Johnson’s new book about hotel, Aviemore, from monday 16 to Wednesday 18 April. Workers’ . The eminent historian Memorial day is saturday 28 April. aSlEf’s annual assembly of pointed out that The Churchill Factor is one delegates is at the marriott Hotel, , from monday 21 to friday of 1,010 biographies of the old Tory war 25 may. The durham Miners’ gala is on saturday 14 July. The horse, and added slyly: ‘It’s a really good book. Of the 14 tolpuddle Martyrs’ festival , near Dorchester, is from friday 20 to anecdotes he tells about Churchill, two of them are true.’ sunday 22 July. The 150th trades union Congress is at the manchester central convention complex from sunday 9 to Wednesday 12 september. The labour Party conference is at the Arena & convention 500 CluB: J robson, with number 85, won the november draw, centre in Liverpool from sunday 23 to Wednesday 26 september. scooping the rms prize money jackpot of £390.

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 5 news

of the rDg, which is trying, increasingly desperately, to define mick condemns its role on the railway, said: ‘This is a landmark coming together of train companies to launch “in Partnership for Britain’s superficial rDg Prosperity”, a single, long-term, exciting new plan for changing and improving the railway. icK Whelan has to deliver rail for passengers, staff ‘The plan sets out how Britain’s m slammed a superficial and businesses in Britain, but to public and partnership railway will rail Delivery group protect the interests of a select secure economic benefits to the initiative launched to counter the club of privatised train operating country and enable further fears of the train operating companies who have their snouts improvements and show companies about the popularity deep in the public trough. Mick: ‘the rail delivery group is customers and communities how of the Labour Party’s plan to bring ‘The rDg exists solely to rip off running scared of the popularity the railway is changing their local Britain’s railways back into public taxpayers and the sooner we have of public ownership’ area.’ ownership. a Labour government committed proper public service, better for Analysts said it was ‘all blow, no The gs said: ‘This is another to bringing Britain's railways back the people who use the railway, go’, a ‘smoke and mirrors’ exercise typically tendentious piece of into public ownership the better. and better for the businesses designed ‘to persuade people, in twaddle from the rail Delivery Better for the people who work which depend upon the railway.’ the face of all the evidence, that group, an organisation set up not hard every day to provide a Paul Plummer, chief executive privatisation has worked.’

Train narrowly misses AI RISkS gm-StYLE bAckLASH Experts say the growing influence of artificial wood laid on the line intelligence risks provoking a backlash on the scale of the public distaste for genetically A train narrowly missed hitting old modified Frankenstein food. Ian Sample, writing sleepers laid across the track in two in The Guardian , said: ‘AI risks provoking a public places – near coopersale common backlash as it increasingly falls into private Bridge and station road, north hands, threatens people’s jobs, and operates Weald Bassett – on the Epping ongar without effective oversight or regulatory control.’ railway. The driver managed to stop Wendy Hall, Professor of Computer Science at just short of the sleepers and Southampton University, said: ‘We have to think removed them from the track. A about all the issues. When machines can learn group of teenagers was seen near and do things for themselves, what are the the railway line earlier in the day. danger on the track of the Epping ongar railway dangers for us as a society?’ gBrf orders 50 new wagons botcHEd tRAIN-tRAm pRoJEct AtW pulls out HELd At REd LIgHt network rail chief executive mark carne says there are no more train-tram schemes in the pipeline after the failure of the botched £75 million pilot project in sheffield. carne told the commons Public Accounts committee, ‘i don’t think there’s anything on the slate to be delivered, but i think we have learnt a lot, and we have developed technology that would enable us to move ahead more quickly if people did want to pursue this.’

WomAN JAILEd AFtER mAN dIES biomass hopper gets bigger WHEN HIt bY tRAm gB railfreight is leasing 50 new lidded biomass A woman who pushed a stranger off a station wagons, each with a 70 tonne payload, arriva trains bails from the rails in Wales platform, causing him to be fatally injured, has compared with the current hopper’s 53 tonne arriva trains Wales has withdrawn from the been jailed for five years. charissa Brown- capacity, from nAcco. They will run in two sets bidding process for the Wales & Borders Wellington, 31, pushed Philip carter towards of 24 wagons, delivering 1,680 tonnes of auto- franchise. the decision by the incumbent tram tracks following an argument at loading and discharging biomass per train. operator leaves abellio, Keolis amey, and manchester victoria train station on 11 June. Mtr in the running. tfW said: ‘it is clear they mr carter, 30, was killed when he fell between [atW] have done this for their own the platform and a moving tram. Carry all your stuff – papers, keys, commercial reasons’ adding, ‘With final sandwiches – in style with our smart tenders due later this year, we have three QuotE … black documents bag. companies with world-class credentials each ‘For years funding has been squeezed, Price £10 (inc p&p); putting their own distinct cases for how they policy decisions have been erratic, and email [email protected] will deliver the ambitious objectives we set the rail network is showing signs of age or visit our online shop with the goal of delivering a step change in and strain.’ – Lord Andrew Adonis at www.aslef.org.uk rail services for passengers across Wales and …uNQuotE the Borders.’

6 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 news from russia with love Trainy on track rUssiAn-themed Tube train marking the A anniversary of the russian revolution and celebrating soviet achievements is running for three months on the circle, Hammersmith & city and District lines in London. The Heart of Russia was launched at Baker street as part of a partnership between and the moscow metro to teach passengers about each country’s endeavours in the fields of education and science. ‘The project shows that russia and the United Kingdom have many things in common,’ said Октябрьской революции: the QuotE… maxim Liksutov, deputy mayor of heart of russia went into service ‘As Donald Trump puts moscow. ‘The train has seven on 25 october America first, China can carriages, each concentrating on a seize its global moment.’ – trainy leaves gothenburg for executive of the British council, separate subject, including ballet, Larry Elliott in The Stockholm added: ‘This London Underground graphic arts, literature, cinema, Guardian train is russia’s response to the When we revealed ( Journal , architecture, space exploration …uNQuotE shakespeare train in moscow, september) that mTr Express and science. We hope that Tube which we launched to celebrate had named one of its new high passengers will like the project, shakespeare’s 400th anniversary culture, education and science is speed trains Trainy McTrainface and it will help everyone to get to during the UK-russia year of as important now as it has ever many readers checked it wasn’t know our country’s history and Language and Literature in 2016. been, and both trains are great 1 April. But the swedish culture better.’ connecting people through symbols of these connections.’ operator did ask passengers to sir ciaran Devane, chief name four trains on the gothenburg to stockholm line reopen Beeching lines pIggIES Ac/dc and, when the most popular south Western railway has commissioned Kiepe Electric to suggestion proved to be Trainy the Campaign for Better transport has refurbish 18 class 442 Piggies, stabled at Bournemouth and McTrainface , went along with it. urged transport Secretary Chris grayling to Eastleigh, for services between Waterloo and Portsmouth ‘We have listened to the voice reverse dozen of the infamous Beeching via guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. The current Dc of the people,’ said chief cuts – which closed 18,000 miles of track – traction equipment will be switched to Ac and a new commercial officer Peder to be reversed ‘to benefit local Knorr-Bremse braking system fitted. The interiors will also osterkamp as it left communities’. they include ashington- be refreshed, with charging points, customer information gothenburg central for the Blyth-newcastle; Portishead to ; the screens and new seats and carpets. capital. When Boaty Worcester to derby main line between mcBoatface won a poll in the Stourbridge and Burton; the leamside line; UK to name a new polar lewes to uckfield; Skipton to Colne; tea and coffee tastes better in a red research vessel the natural to Burton-on-trent; to and white aSlEf mug! Price £3.50 Environment research council, Preston; Wisbech to March; totton to (inc p&p); email [email protected] cursing the day it embraced hythe; Bere alston--okehampton; or visit our online shop at democracy, chose Sir David and the east-west rail link between oxford www.aslef.org.uk Attenborough instead. and Cambridge. What can you get for your new, shiny £1 coin? TBF membership... just £1 a week covers you, your partner and dependent children. 0300 333 2000 www.tbf.org.uk

Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016.

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 7 news

significantly and network rail has mick slams DfT’s ‘catastrophic’ a greater understanding of their work which, when combined, will allow for better outcomes when decision on rail safety risk assessing level crossings and gaining suitable improvements icK Whelan has written believe could turn out to be a without the need for closure. He to rail minister Paul catastrophic decision in relation also cited Brexit as an issue. m maynard; ian Prosser, to railway safety – your decision ‘We would like to express our chief inspector of railways and to put aside the Law gravest concerns on this move as director, rail safety, at the office of commission’s report on level we do not think the assessments rail and road; and mark carne, crossings and the plans to close or technological solutions will be chief executive of network rail, many, if not all, level crossings. robust enough to achieve what expressing our concerns at the ‘We were told about this move rail Minister’s decision on level closure would. i must therefore conservative government’s by mr norton of the DfT at a crossings is wrong, says Mick inform you that where we have decision to shelve the Law recent orr rail industry health & concerns we will either not commission’s report on level safety advisory committee that being the government’s operate in those areas or operate crossing closures. meeting. He explained that whilst ultimate goal for all level crossings at decreased speeds to protect The gs wrote: ‘i am writing to this was not the end of level for the foreseeable future. He said our members, the travelling express our disgust at what we crossing closures it was the end of technology had advanced public, and other stakeholders.’ swanage-Wareham success

The first regular passenger services to run swanage to norden and started running it as a between swanage and Wareham in Dorset for tourist attraction in the 1990s. The section 45 years have exceeded expectations. The from norden to Wareham was completed this original line, which opened in 1885, was year and the trial, using upgraded 1960s diesel closed by British rail – and ripped up – in locomotives, began this summer. mark 1972. But in June the first timetabled trains ran Woolley of swanage railway said the trial along the full 10 mile route as part of a trial. showed ‘trains are the transport of the future’. swanage railway said its target footfall was more trains will run next year, between may 12,000 passengers but it attracted 13,020. and september, and the aim is to make the the first Swanage train for 45 years arrives in the volunteers built a five mile stretch from service permanent. historic market town of Wareham in dorset Stuck in cattle class tocs flush for the future rain companies have workers and you see it coming, pleased we’ve got government been ordered to use like a plume of steam. You agreement.’ By the end of the t retention tanks rather quickly learn to turn your back decade toCs will not be than flush toilets onto the and close your mouth when allowed to dispose of waste on railway track. ‘it’s disgusting,’ you’re trackside and a train is the track; carriages will have to said Mark Carne of network passing. as i know first hand. hold onto waste water until it rail. ‘i’ve been out with track it’s totally unacceptable and i’m can be emptied at the depot.

SEVEREd HEAd IN QuARRY WAS mAN kILLEd bY tRAIN A mysterious decapitated head discovered in a quarry in mepal, QuotE … cambridgeshire, in may last year, by officers from Bedfordshire ‘Brexit is England’s biggest investigating the death of natalie Hemming, believe it belonged to a policy blunder since man killed by a train 50 years ago. Police say it may have been lodged in George III fumbled away a bridge for 10 years, before coming loose when the structure was the American colonies.’ – David Brown sent the Journal this cleaned, put with debris into a skip, and dumped in the quarry. Nobel prize-winning cartoon, ‘for my railway commuter economist daniel friends,’ courtesy of a vintage copy bRExIt good bEcAuSE YouNg cAN WoRk LoNgER mcFadden of The Tip Top Book . mick Whelan Lord Philip Harris of Peckham, the Tory peer who made his money in …uNQuotE has often said that if only we had carpetright, ‘the company that always has a 60% sale’, says Brexit is ‘a cattle trucks instead of carriages good thing’ because ‘it will allow younger people to work longer hours’. then fare-paying passengers, Harris, who lives in cannes, in the south of france, and is worth £110m, drivers and guards would be said retailers ‘can only employ staff for 35 hours under EU laws.’ Our woolly hat much better off. ‘Because we have will keep you legislation – statutory protection WE’RE RIdINg oN tHE mARRAkESH ExpRESS warm this – for animals being transported, Engineers in morocco are testing trains capable of reaching 200mph – winter. Price £5 but not for passengers. Which is the top speed of – ahead of the launch of a new high-speed (including p&p); email why so many trains are not just service from casablanca to Tangier. The service, which is scheduled to [email protected] or visit uncomfortable, but seriously launch next summer, will cut the 215 mile journey between the two our online shop at overcrowded.’ ports from five to two hours. www. aslef.org.uk 8 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 The government is trying to take away your right to free or affordable legal representation if you’re injured at work or anywhere else.

Why? They’re prioritising

If government plans go ahead, nearly one million people will lose their right to free legal representation. Meanwhile it will cost the NHS and the government at least £150 million of your taxes every year and fat cat insurers will be rewarded with multimillion pound profits.

Visit www.feedingfatcats.co.uk to take action and stop the government #FeedingFatCats.

#FeedingFatCats is a campaign run by Thompsons Solicitors. Thompsons is proud to stand up for the injured and mistreated. @feedingfatcats Manifesto A voice for the voiceless ASLEF’s Ec has made a donation to the miscarriages of Justice organisation in glasgow. pAuL mcLAugHLIN , moJo’s project manager, explains what they do

oJo is a unique human rights organisation dedicated to assisting m innocent people in prison, and helping them on release. moJo was founded in 2001 by Paddy Hill, one of six innocent men wrongfully convicted in 1975 for the robert Brown spent 25 years in jail for a crime he did not commit. dCi Jack Butler, the chief pub bombing. The Birmingham investigating officer, led ‘a massive conspiracy of corrupt behaviour’, according to an internal six convictions were eventually quashed, and police inquiry, was subsequently convicted of perjury and sentenced to four years in prison they were released in 1991. Paddy made a pledge then to campaign for those he left project which provides help with legal issues, exonorees on release; a public announcement behind, to bring a voice to the voiceless. benefits advice, and housing needs; as well as of innocence is made on release; a transition moJo’s aim is to carry on his work. support addressing medical needs funded by centre is set up to give exonorees time and We deal with hundreds of inquires each the scottish government. help to reintegrate; and a fully independent year. many people thought the problem of We want the government to live up to its criminal case review commission is established miscarriages of justice in the British judicial duty of care to those whose lives have been to examine cases with the power to find new system were resolved after several high profile destroyed because of the inadequacies of our evidence if required. cases in the 1980s and ’90s. This is, sadly, not judicial system. successive governments have We currently support 55 individuals both in the case. There have been more than 6,000 accepted they have a duty of care but have prison and in the community, along with their miscarriages of justice in the UK since the failed to provide the services or resources family members, and deal with hundreds of release of the Birmingham six. But the subject required to meet the needs of victims of new inquiries every year. has faded from the political agenda. miscarriages of justice. Unfortunately, we receive only partial our work falls into two categories. We have launched a campaign – say i’m funding from the scottish government to carry supporting those in prison fighting to clear innocent – in conjunction with film maker out our work so require your support to ensure their names, and supporting those who have mark mcLoughlin and the sunny centre as a we can provide the best service possible to the had their convictions quashed and are trying result of a powerful documentary – Fallout – victims of miscarriages of justice. to put the pieces of their lives back together. made by mark which highlights the failure to Please get your branch or district to affiliate We offer those who have successfully provide aftercare support to those who have to moJo. And if you would like to arrange a fought to have their convictions overturned suffered wrongful incarceration. viewing of Fallout , in conjunction with practical support after their release from We are campaigning on four specific issues speakers from say i’m innocent, please get in prison, assisting in their reintegration back in the UK and ireland: all services available to touch. call 0141 552 0009 or email into their communities. We run an after care guilty prisoners are made available to [email protected] Keeping Palestine on the agenda

ASLEF’s Ec has made a donation to Labour Friends of palestine and the commitment to middle East which campaigns for peace and justice in the region through recognition of a Palestinian the implementation of international law and respect for human rights. state. SHAZIA ARSHAd reflects on a busy year for the organisation As we move forward we It’s not just are faced with the reality of HIS is a year of Palestinian Territories has push for the government to parliamentary work and a worsening humanitarian significant not only continued but review its position on Israeli debates that keep us busy. crisis. The 10 year blockade t anniversaries in increased. We are pushing settlement goods and we In April we took Iain on Gaza has led to NGOs Palestine – 50 years of the Labour Party to take a have been supported in McNicol, Labour Party classing the Gaza Strip as occupation, 10 years of the strong stance on illegal this by many MPs. LFPME general secretary, to unliveable. Human rights Gaza blockade and 100 settlement activity and, vice-chair Richard Burden Palestine to meet NGOs, violations across Gaza and years since the Balfour earlier this year, scores of says ‘UK businesses should community groups and the West Bank continue and Declaration. Labour MPs spoke at a not collude with illegality residents; visiting houses we raised these at our There is an increasing backbench business debate through any financial subject to demolition and events at the Labour Party need for the international on the issue in Parliament. dealings with settlements witnessing first hand the conference (kindly community to push for Shadow Foreign Secretary or through the import of separation wall that cuts supported by ASLEF) and in stronger action against Emily Thornberry said the settlement goods to the through so much of the campaigns we are human rights violations by settlements ‘are a roadblock UK’. And in this year’s Palestine. He used the visit leading, as LFPME works the Israeli government. to peace and a violation of manifesto the party again to strengthen ties between towards a just and Illegal settlement activity international law’. supported the call for an the Labour Party and Fatah equitable solution for the across the Occupied LFPME continues to end to settlements. and reaffirmed the party’s Palestinian people.

10 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 report

Let me tell you something ELLEN mELLINgtoN , interim head of cIRAS, the confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis Service set up in 1996, reveals why train companies should listen to the concerns of railway staff

UcH of what we do at confidential reporting for safety is about m listening, without judgement, to the We’re here to listen to what you have to say health and safety concerns of people in safety- hard to achieve in practice. it requires both critical roles. parties to put aside their agendas and really Health and safety reports typically arrive at focus on what the other is trying to say. cirAs carrying a level of dissatisfaction with Listening more authentically is likely to lead previous responses. in a recent survey of more to far fewer health and safety concerns than 1,000 workers in the UK transport remaining unaddressed. But this only works if industry, 43% said that when they reported a managers respond empathically and act on safety concern they did not get good the information entrusted to them at an early feedback. stage. Training managers with the right i spoke to an operator who no longer felt interpersonal skills to listen more effectively like speaking up in the workplace. He had can therefore play an important role in seen a decade of industry change resulting in ensuring concerns are not stymied. lower wages and felt his status as a respected confidential reporting has an important member of the workforce had been role to play. of course, there is normally less of diminished. once he had vented his long- a need to report a concern confidentially if ore standing frustration, he began to talk m individuals feel listened to in their own common tendency to want to take someone and freely about some of the genuine health organisations. in an ideal world, confidential out of their dark place. But attempting to safety issues he had concerns about. reporting would not be necessary. But if the cheer somebody up can be the equivalent of ncern He held a perception that raising a co listening breaks down somewhere, or a shutting them up if they are not in right frame internally wouldn’t make any difference. listening culture isn’t present, confidential of mind. Allowing an individual to vent and , it Whether this perception was true or not reporting can bridge the divide. retrieving the express negativity is an important part of the nt at contributed to a feeling of disengageme intelligence that might otherwise be lost listening process. rive, work. He felt he was primarily there to d requires skilled listeners and cirAs prides itself Be a calm presence. This provides the ll on but that his concerns for safety would fa on its ability to listen in these circumstances. environment for someone to trust and feel ut deaf ears. i listened as best i could witho Placing the emphasis on listening, rather confident in opening up to you. it helps here if h and saying too much. Those untapped healt than asking questions, and impartiality, rather one's body language looks engaged. ile as safety issues began to surface after a wh than establishing responsibility, allows the learn the art of silence. silences are often he became more comfortable. reporter to describe openly what the concern felt to be awkward. And where there is n Listening always plays a pivotal role i is. The tips below can help foster a better awkwardness, there is anxiety. But silence, lture. establishing a good health and safety cu listening environment: properly respected and utilised, allows us the if there is a listening deficit, either at a avoid giving advice. giving advice is time to think and process thoughts and ly to personal or organisational level, it is like largely incompatible with good listening. emotions. negatively impact on the organisation. Although well-intentioned, it can disrupt the allow anger to be heard. As a rule, rs and Authentic listening, where both manage flow and may inhibit further dialogue. allowing someone a safe space to be angry y, is employees can express themselves freel Sit with them in their cave. There is a without any acting out is therapeutic. Wait until any tirade is over before asking questions on what may have triggered the anger. The anger can be effectively contained this way, the best station pubs in britain allowing any underlying feelings to emerge. SImoN JENkINS , author of Britain’s 100 Encourage dialogue on mental health. Best Railway Stations (Viking, £25), Authentic listening is especially important when it comes to breaking down the barriers reveals his favourite station taverns to talking about mental health, thus reducing THE finest must be the the best down south the associated stigmatisation. The removal of three Great Northern is the warren of bars hierarchical boundaries by using informal spectaculars – the and sitting rooms of dialogue can be the stepping stone to open Sheffield Tap; the art The Parcel Yard at Beer on tap at Sheffield station communication about mental health. nouveau York Tap; and King’s Cross where you Phoenix at Denmark beat Lady Foley’s Tea the magnificent can disappear for Hill in south London Room on the platform I You can contact CiraS by phone (0203 Centurion in hours. Lesser stations where, until recently, at Great Malvern, 142 5369); by post (freepost CiraS); or visit Newcastle; the last can seem like pubs the beer was brewed where tea comes with the website (www.ciras.org.uk). the report two designed by with platforms on the premises. For fruit cake and whisky, hotline is 0800 410 1101 and the report William Bell. Up with attached – such as the subtle charm, few can if you ask nicely. textline is 07507 285887.

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 11 agenda SnoW train CoM uP around thE B to celebrate the release of Murder on the Orient Express we take a look behind the scenes of this new version of Agatha christie’s classic murder mystery and remember other trains – in fact and fiction – working their way through snow in winter

HE nEW big budget version of Agatha suggests that loss has to be acknowledged or it christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the can provide a poison that can create another t Orient Express is playing to packed crime.’ houses in cinemas around the country. Directed Murder on the Orient Express was filmed at by Kenneth Branagh, and produced by ridley Longcross studios, between virginia Water, scott, it stars Branagh, wielding ‘the finest chertsey and cobham in , where the Bond moustache in Belgium’, as detective Hercule film Skyfall and the marvel movies Thor: The Dark Poirot, and Johnny Depp as ratchett, a World and Doctor Strange were made. businessman murdered in the middle of the istanbul station – with two tracks and a night on the famous long-distance train running platform on either side – was recreated on one of from istanbul to Paris. the studio’s enormous sound stages, as was the This classic whodunnit – there are 14 train itself, a majestic 30 tonne locomotive with suspects in rail carriages rather than a country four carriages running along a mile of track, plus house – co-stars Penélope cruz as the a second version with moveable walls for interior missionary played by ingmar Bergman in sidney shots. A rig of hydraulics and air bellows beneath Lumet’s 1974 film; Derek Jacobi as ratchett’s the carriages, as well as virtual scenery, shot in valet; Willem Defoe as an American professor; new Zealand, moving on LED screens, helped michelle Pfeiffer as a seductive widow; and Judi convince the cast they were riding on a real train. Dench as a russian princess with olivia colman A viaduct, and a 35ft high mountainside as her maid. stretching for several hundred metres, were also When the train is marooned in an avalanche – built. ‘The special effects team put in a lot of a snowdrift in the book – Poirot interviews each work,’ says executive producer matthew Jenkins. of the passengers in his hunt for the killer. ‘There were all sorts of different types of snow, ‘i like the train being enclosed in snow, the from powder to snow candles to smoke. They claustrophobia,’ says Branagh. ‘it’s a tale set in the also had to devise a way of having snow move golden age of travel; a world in which you feel past the windows without making any noise.’ the miles under your feet. Agatha christie it might, or might not, be a white christmas described her work as entertainment but she this year, but to celebrate the festive season, and leaves holes, invitations to go a little deeper. she the release of the film, here are some cinematic asks whether revenge is worthwhile – can you moments – and some real scenes – of forgive, when do you stop hurting? – and snowbound trains.

12 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 Snow trains ing BEnd

tom Courtenay as Strelnikov standing by his armoured battle train during the russian civil war in Doctor Zhivago

The Elizabethan , a Br Class 2Mt, withdrawn in 1966, sat at for more than 20 years, and finally returned after restoration to steam with the in 2004.

the Pere Marquette loco, which was the inspiration for the train featured in the movie The Polar Express , makes one of its runs from owosso A Cumberland Christmas by John Winfield. Crew to ashley, change at the Queen City hotel in Cumberland, Kenneth Branagh as Michigan, after a Maryland. a helper engine is added to aid the E8 hercule Poirot in Murder heavy snowfall. loco climb the Sand Patch grade. on the Orient Express and the crew shooting another scene

a Canadian Pacific freight train runs by the side of a snowy river in a majestic winter landscape. December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 13 Platform get your motor running East midlands trains uLR cHRIS NuttY reports on a recent study visit to see an iconic british motorbike being built at donington

HE history of the norton motorcycle company, t founded as a manufacturer of ‘fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade’ in Birmingham in 1898, could well have ended in the 1970s with the demise of norton villiers Triumph paddock of the Donington Park but, after a number of false starts, race circuit. The new factory is the norton name is back on track. housed in Donington Hall, once The firm goes from strength to the home of British midland. The strength, with new models, and two sites could not be more their racing exploits at the isle of different, and the move man TT races. A sixth place for demonstrates the growth of the Josh Brookes in the senior TT at company. it has allowed the firm this year’s event is no mean feat to expand its workforce and when you consider that they were develop the next generation of the new norton v4 1200; the aSlEf train crew go motor bikin’ at the up against the likes of Honda, motorcycle engineers by offering norton motorcycle factory; a vintage poster for the old norton suzuki, BmW, and Kawasaki. There apprenticeships to young people. dominator; and the classic norton Commando 961 Sport is still a lot of prestige to in the assembly section we saw manufacturers in winning a TT, bikes being built for customers in bikes on display. in the fabrication has never come cheap. despite the event losing its world india, America and, of course, the section Andy explained the The star exhibit of the visit was championship status back in UK. our visit coincided with that amount of work that goes into the company’s new v4 superbike, 1976. Brookes also set the fastest of norton’s Japanese distributor. one of their alloy petrol tanks: five a 200mph missile that looks lap, for a norton motorcycle, of Talk about taking coals to pieces of aluminium are cut and absolutely stunning. While it is still 130.88mph during this year’s newcastle! shaped to make a tank; this, and in development the feedback senior TT. We were shown round the the high spec equipment, like from the test rider, former British it’s four years since i last visited factory by Andy, who gave us the suspension and electrics, all put superbike rider and sometime the norton factory; then it was lowdown on norton’s isle of man together by hand, is reflected in Tv commentator steve Plater, is based in a building in the exploits, with many of the race the price, but quality, of course, very good. such is the popularity of these factory visits that when i first tried Wear a white ribbon to book a group visit for 10 people, back in may, the first date RIcHARd muRgAtRoYd , trade union i could get was september. The campaign manager for White Ribbon uk, group was made up of AsLEf explains what it’s all about – and why you members from East midland might like to wear a ribbon this month Trains and crosscountry, plus friends and family. WO women are killed each week by a East midland Trains driver Tim male partner or former partner and one Waterhouse, who was on the trip t in four will suffer domestic violence at with his wife nancy, said, ‘The new some time in their lifetime; wrecking families and norton is a small company lives. But this isn’t just a personal tragedy. Because compared with norton past, violence and discrimination against women challenge the idea that violence against women is building bespoke motorcycles impacts on all parts of society, including the just physical – because discrimination, emotional and a racing department workplace. abuse and sexual harassment at work are all concentrating on the isle of man The White Ribbon campaign was set up by men aspects of the problem, too. TT races. it was a pleasure to see, who believe this isn’t just a women’s issue. Men That’s why we have produced a campaign pack close up, their beautiful machines, have to be part of the solution. for branch officers and workplace reps which gives handcrafted and assembled by Every year on White Ribbon Day – 25 November you all the ideas and info you need to really make graduates from norton’s own – and for the next 10 days trade unionists in a splash on White Ribbon Day. apprenticeship scheme.’ workplaces across the UK show support to women Our vision is that trade unionists will actively The study visit was well experiencing violence, sexual harassment or support this day throughout the country, so it received, and we are looking to bullying. Thousands of people wear the white becomes a national demonstration of solidarity – organise another trip soon. for ribbon, take part in workplace-based educational but in offices, factories, work sites, staff canteens more details or to register please events and pledge not to commit, condone or and cafés, instead of the streets. And, with your contact AsLEf ULrs nicola Davis remain silent about the issue. help, drivers’ rest rooms, too! Please visit at [email protected] or It is very much a trade union issue that directly www.whiteribbon.org.uk to see how you can get richard swain at impacts on female colleagues. We need to involved and order campaigning material. [email protected]

14 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 Key Worker remember days of skipping school racing cars and being cool

When gWR driver tom taylor isn’t taking a class 180 into paddington, he likes to throw his Renault clio around the demanding corners of the Nürburgring in germany. kEItH RIcHmoNd talks to him about racing cars, flying gliders and driving trains

HE legendary nürburgring, which dips and rises 300m through the tom on the limit at the ring; at a branch meeting; t breathtaking forests of the Eifel representing aSlEf at the tuC young workers’ mountains, is, with silverstone, spa, monaco conference; and a vigilant glider and monza, one of the great grand prix motor racing circuits. Just outside nürburg, in rAf he worked as an engineer servicing the course it’s not like that. i’ve put them right and, rheinland-Pfalz, it’s also one of the most machines that put straps around bundles of ironically, rory is now a trainee driver! challenging, whether it’s the original 17½ mile newspapers to be sent, often by train, around ‘i’m really happy i became a train driver. i gesamtstrecke , the 13 mile nordschleife , or the the country, before joining the railway as a really enjoy the job. i’ve always done – and 3 mile grand prix course built for modern driver. loved – shift work, it’s good money and you formula 1 cars in 1984. Drivers who mastered At one stage it looked as if Tom would get good rest days and annual leave, and it the original prodigiously long and perilously follow his father into the rAf. He was a doesn’t affect my social life.’ narrow track, with its blind crests and 73 member of the Air Training corps in Witney grahame, 58, is chair of AsLEf’s oxford bends, such as Tazio nuvolari, Alberto Ascari, from 13 to 20 and went on camp to ramstein branch, and encouraged his son to attend Juan manuel fangio, Jim clark and Jackie in germany and Akrotiri in cyprus and, at 16, meetings as soon as Tom joined the union. stewart, were dubbed the ringmeisters . won a gliding scholarship to learn to fly on a ‘Dad dragged me down,’ laughs Tom. ‘i grob vigilant T1 powered glider. thought i’d see what it was like and i really LoRdS oF tHE RINg ‘you’d take off with the engine, get up to enjoyed it and decided to get more involved.’ By a quirk of history, and highway regulations, 1500 feet, then shut off the power, and glide it was, he says, quite daunting at first but he the nordschleife has always been a one-way back into land. it was a fabulous feeling flying soon got the hang of things, was elected public toll road on which, when there is no up there in the sky but funny because i could branch secretary, and, earlier this year, racing, anyone with a street legal vehicle and take off, do a circuit, and land a glider before i attended the TUc young workers’ conference valid driver’s licence can ride the ring. These learned to drive.’ at congress House in London with Antony touristenfahrten days – a snip at €35 a lap – are Holdsworth (D6) and matt france (D8). ‘Lee enormously popular with petrolheads. mINImum WAgE James from head office was a great help. she Which is why Tom Taylor, 26, a driver with He left school ten years ago, in 2007, did an sorted everything out and encouraged us all gWr, and secretary of our oxford branch, has engineering course at college, and worked at the way along the line. for the last four or five years headed off with the co-op, before going into catering, ‘starting ‘The union is important – for train drivers his mates to race around the track. ‘i drove a on minimum wage, doing 12 hour shifts at a and for the railway – and the branch structure renault megane sport and got a real buzz out pub in Woodstock, ending up as a duty is at the heart of this union. We need strong of it,’ says Tom. ‘i did some track days at manager. branches to go forward to make a strong Bedford Autodrome – a good starter circuit ‘Then, when i was 21, my dad, who’d been a union. We need more young members, too, where you can spin and not do much damage driver for a couple of years by then, came and it’s good that Ec7 Andy Hudd and Ec1 – and Anglesey and then decided to have a home one day and said they were looking for marz colombini are encouraging young crack at nürburgring where, unfortunately, trainee drivers, why not go for testing? initially people to get involved. there are no run off areas and, if you spin, you i laughed but, the more he talked about it, the go into the barrier and it’s very expensive as more interested i became. INSuRANcE poLIcY they charge you for every metre of Armco you ‘i didn’t really know what to expect. i had ‘if we all stand strong behind the people who damage. an inkling from dad, but they’d changed negotiate our pay deals then it helps them ‘i bought a renault clio, which is road legal, things, a lot of it was new, and there was a lot deliver. i know some people see it as taking but stripped out, with a roll cage, harnesses to learn. A six week rules course back in out an insurance policy in case you have a and bucket seats, and i get a real rush out of it. college, then Paddington, Bristol, reading and sPAD. But the truth is that, if AsLEf wasn’t a Track days are not competitive, you’re not swindon. it took me 18 months to qualify. i strong trade union, then our pay and our racing against the other cars, but you are really passed out two years ago, on 26 october 2015, terms and conditions, wouldn’t be anywhere buzzing when you finish.’ and felt relieved. And excited! my first job was near as good.’ Tom was born in 1991 and brought up in Banbury to oxford, then oxford to And what do people of his age say when oxfordshire. His dad grahame served for many Paddington. And i remembered everything! i they learn how he earns his living? ‘some say years in the rAf as an engineer – ‘it was an rAf signed for class 165 turbo and class 180. it’s easy – monkeys could do it – but many household, because mum was a medic in the ‘Two of my best friends, rory and Dec, used more are interested in what a train driver does, WrAf’ – at Brize norton and then at rAf to say the trouble with train drivers is they get why i’m so young, and how they can apply to Lyneham in Wiltshire. When grahame left the paid too much and do nothing all day. of do it!’

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 15 Branch news

transport links for the Poldark – The region, an end to zero hours contracts in all upcoming e vents industries, and Angry Tide bringing in EJRA so older workers make RIppLE LANE – tHuRSdAY 7 dEcEmbER ASLEF supported the his genuine emotion, way for younger  The Ripple Lane Christmas soirée is from 13.00 at the old LT Trades empathy and hatred people. Other Club in Hornchurch. Party hats and poppers are optional. Council rally in Truro towards the Tories. speakers included TUC on 21 October. Despite not being general secretary WILLESdEN – tHuRSdAY 7 dEcEmbER Cornwall Needs a Pay from the area, people Frances O’Grady and  Rise was organised to said he wouldn’t look representatives from The 22nd Willesden 1A reunion will this year be held from 14.00 highlight the pay out of place in Poldark . Unite, PCS, NEU and to 18.00 at Watford Ex-Services & Social Club, 12-14 St Albans disparity between a He received a USDAW. Road, Watford (5 minutes walk from Watford Junction). All ex- county where the standing ovation after kerry cassidy , d7 railway personnel and partners with an association are average weekly wage arguing for better women’s rep welcome. Contact Mick Humphrys 07771 672992 for details. is £344.50 – almost £100 less than the  NoRWood JuNctIoN – SuNdAY 10 dEcEmbER national average – Our branch meeting and AGM starts at 12.30 with the retired and the rest of the UK. members’ buffet beginning at 14.00 at Railway Club. The event had to be This year with actual food! Details from Daniel Bound. moved inside due to high winds and Storm  Please send all your branch news, reports, features and Brian, giving Tosh a photographs to [email protected] chance to joke that ‘I haven’t brought my indoor voice with me’ bathgate: Starting from scratch as he boomed out a speech, like an old As a relatively new time preacher, in depot, and recently support of the reformed branch, movement. Making Bathgate 018 has had comparisons between to start again from scratch. so after our the now-defunct tosh Mcdonald, Bev Corbett, andy hudd, latest branch meeting Cornish tin mines and frances o’grady, Brian Corbett and Kerry Bathgate drivers show the coal industry the Cassidy; EC7 models our new red baseball off our newly crowd was moved by cap; and a Poldark preacher at the lectern purchased branch banner which, it’s hoped, will be used for many years to come, celebrating, and proudly showing our identity, and presiding over our meetings. graham bell Glory days Driver freddie Wells, second man Kevin Happy mitchell, and signalman Pete birthday, Kellett on a 6000 Locomotive society trip to Lostock Lee Junction. Love this Lee James, ASLEF’s one. it’s how we equalities adviser, remember the glory celebrated part one days. of her 20th birthday mel thorley , second time around Wednesday night fever for PJ, lee, tony and Longsight at the Piano Works in les at the Piano Works in Clerkenwell Clerkenwell on 20 September. In and colleagues, all a small token of our attendance was the helping to make a appreciation for the it was great to meet up General, Mick great time. The RMS work she does on with everyone again at the Whelan, district national secretary behalf of the retired fratton train crew railway officers, EC Les Muir, Tony West members and wish reunion which is going members, ASLEF and I had the her a very happy from strength to strength. branch members, pleasure of birthday. gary White , Fratton friends, comrades presenting Lee with pJ Smith , RmS

16 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 100 Years of union

confirmed that Hgvs receive an annual subsidy of around give rail freight a £6.5 billion, a figure in line with two other independent pieces of research. As a result level playing field the DfT’s rail freight strategy recognised this distortion in pHILIppA EdmuNdS , manager of Freight on Rail, is september last year: ‘[We] recognise the mick Holder turns back lobbying the treasury, and the department for positive benefits of rail freight time to december 1917 transport, pushing for a proper market place and a for the UK – including its fair deal for freight in the uk environmental and air quality the wages of war, the gS in court, benefits relative to road and an eight hour day were all hot rEigHT on rail between the modes. We are freight and its impact on continues to make pressing the Treasury and the reducing road congestion. topics in the Journal 100 years ago F the case for rail and DfT to introduce a distance- These benefits are not road to be treated equitably based lorry charging system currently recognised in the FIVE SHILLINgS oN WAR WAgE while the government makes in its forthcoming review track access charging.’ The award of the committee on its rail funding decisions for which could measure the full The socio-economic costs production arrived on 20 november. it the next five year period from impact of trucks on the of Hgvs will continue to be a gives an increase of five shillings on the 2019 to 2024. economy and on society huge problem to society, the war wages of drivers, firemen, We believe that the instead of the existing old economy, the taxpayer and motormen, and cleaners, making a government needs to fashioned time-based system. the government. The largest total war wage of one pound. for recognise road costs – such as in order to highlight the Hgvs, which make up more youths under the age of 18 the increase road congestion, road extent of the market than half of all Hgv traffic, will awarded is 2/6 weekly, and the increase collisions, road damage and distortion between the two continue to use the current is in all cases payable from the first carbon dioxide and air modes, freight on rail engine technology well into week in December. We feel gratified at pollution – in any discussion commissioned research, the next decade, according to this result of our presenting much about rail freight costs using the DfT’s own mode the DfT. striking evidence on behalf of the because Hgvs only pay 30% shift benefit values, which Whereas rail freight offers footplate fraternity. The grant was long of these costs imposed on the a safer and cleaner alternative overdue, but none the less very taxpayer. to these large Hgvs; currently welcome to every loyal member of the Therefore, there is a strong a quarter of the largest Hgvs AsLE&f. it is our christmas box! case for equivalently (by which i mean 5 axles +) supporting rail through lower are doing journeys over gS LoSES LEgAL ActIoN rail freight access charges and 300km so some of this traffic The legal action against our general continued upgrades to the should be captive to rail – if it secretary ended with a verdict against strategic rail freight network is fairly treated. him. mr Bromley was asked if he would and other key routes in order have designated as blacklegs any men to allow rail to compete more of the other union who, if we had fairly with Hgvs. struck, had come to the assistance of At the moment the system the nation and worked the railway is far from fair – as the engines during the strike. To mr following points demonstrate. Bromley’s credit be it said he promptly Unlike lorry operators, rail replied that he would have so named freight operators pay such people. This reply caused separately for the use of the consternation, and no doubt proved to rail network. Lorries do not the jury what terrible people he and pay a charge – except in a our members generally are. very few specific cases – for use of the road network; the gREAt EIgHt HouRS dEmANd road network is, in effect, free What a memorable year 1917 has been! at the point of use. Law court proceedings in defence of furthermore, fuel duty for Britain needs a fairer marketplace with distance-based lorry ours have been sandwiched with war Hgvs has been frozen since charging so freight on rail can properly compete bonus claims, the great eight hours 2011 whereas access charges demand, and the arbitration on wages have increased by more than before the committee on production. 20% over rPi over the same mILEStoNE continually, and above all, there has period. i am trying to find out when Caterham opened as a drivers’ been the constant rise in membership And yet rail freight depot so i can make some commemorative badges – the all over the country. projects have high benefit 90th and 100th, as well, if it is confirmed i have the right cost ratios compared to other date. What i know, so far, is that there was a depot when the cELLuLoId HERoES transport projects; the gauge station opened in 1856. that it was closed and moved to in order to supply new members with upgrades out of Purley around 1899. the was electrified in the AsLE&f badges we have to turn southampton port increased 1928. and the motorman’s depot – Caterham depot as we from the old metal badge to one of rail’s market share from 29% know it today – opened on Sunday 17 June 1928. if anyone celluloid owing to the difficulty of to 36% within a year and had can confirm 17 June 1928 as the date when Caterham depot getting metal buttons and badges. a benefit-cost ratio of 5:1. opened, they can email me at thedeano66.da@ That is why we are googlemail.com or call me on 07930 911619. campaigning for parity dean Anderson , caterham depot

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 17 obituaries pAuL kEENAN RoN bRAdSHAW

HE LoVEd LE mANS ron Bradshaw passed away on 14 september after a short illness. He After a long battle enjoyable time on the started on the footplate as a with cancer, Paul cocoa shift he decided cleaner at Bank Hall (Kirkdale) Keenan passed away it was time for a Liverpool in 1948. After national in the early hours of change and moved to service he answered a call for Thursday 19 October. Newcastle, but never volunteer firemen and cleaners He fought his illness forgot his southern and moved south ‘on loan’ to with strength, roots, keeping in Willesden 1A steam shed. ron courage and dignity touch with friends moved to stonebridge Park and and kept his sense of down south, and Paul showed characteristic retired in 1996. A highly respected humour right to the always looking and skilled loco man, ron was end. Paul loved his forward to his annual courage during his fight with cancer also a first aid instructor who took family and it was trip to France, to see part in many first aid ron: highly respected extremely difficult for the Le Mans 24 hour and AAD rep, making competitions, leading his team to officer responsible for educating them, too, but they sports car race. At many friends along national level under the auspices young people about the railway, were brilliant, and Newcastle he worked the way. He was never of the st John Ambulance. He was and its dangers, in all 32 London there for him, on local services for a shy, happy to give his a leading figure in the railway first boroughs. in retirement he was throughout his illness. few years before thoughts and aid world, and for more than 40 very active in the 1A club and, Their laughter kept his moving onto the opinions in any years a member of British rail with wife Doreen, attended spirits up and he will links, ending meeting and, District no 1 based at Willesden. numerous trips as well as our be looking down on up driving for Virgin frequently, in the bar ron’s people skills took him regular monthly get togethers. them with a smile on East Coast before afterwards, often beyond locos and first aid when mick Humphrys and Jani his face and a huge taking ill health staying for many an he became a school safety liaison Euston , ex-1A sense of pride. retirement earlier this hour, just to be Paul started on the year. sociable. You’ll be railway at Woking in Paul was an active sadly missed, Paul, but 1980, passing his member of ASLEF and I’m sure we’ll see you bREtHREN MP12 at a young age well known and again one day for a Bro Christopher Jordan passed away on friday 20 october and taking a driver’s respected throughout ‘sociable pint’. and Bro ian locke passed away on Sunday 22 october. job at Effingham the country. He was a Steve Wakelam , phillip buxton , plymouth 162 branch secretary Junction. After an local, branch, district Newcastle

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payable to AsLEf rms 500 club. Payments need to reach the club account by 1st of every month BENEFICIARY͛S NAME ACCOUNT NUMBER For the credit of ASLEF RMS 500 CLUB ACCOUNT 2 0 2 0 1 1 9 3 and the draw takes place on 12th of every month – with the winning number, name, and prize printed on page 5 of the AsLEf Journal . AMOUNT IN FIGURES AMOUNT IN WORDS

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18 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 obituaries mARtIN mIcHAEL moRAN StAN SELWYN 48 YEARS’ SERVIcE stanley Edward selwyn has died at the age of 90. He We were so sad to lose Allan, followed in 1971 was born in Hornsey, north London, left school at Martin – fondly known and they welcomed 14 to work in a newspaper office, later joining his as Mick – on 9 August another son, John, dad at King’s cross top shed, working his way up to at the age of 77. Born ‘down south’ in 1972. become a main line fireman, then driver. He retired in Crieff, Perthshire, Mick moved on to after 48 years’ service. stan met and married his wife Mick had a happy high speed trains out vera in 1953 and they moved to Luton in 1956. she childhood and left of KX to Newcastle died just a month before stan, an easy going chap school to work as a and served 49 years Stan Selwyn who liked a flutter on the horses. roofer and chimney on the railway, Martin Michael 1927-2017 pJ Smith , RmS sweep. At 16 he joined spending his last year Moran 1940-2017 the railway at Perth as before retirement in a cleaner, moving 2005 at Bounds Green. and, finally, great- JoHN JAmES through the ranks to Mick was very grandson play. i’m sad to announce the death of JH James, my fireman on steam proud to be a Following father-in-law, on 13 october. John worked on the engines. He married railwayman and was a retirement Mick liked railway for 49 years, starting as a fireman and Mary in 1963 and they staunch member of the quiet life but working his way up to driver. He was an AsLEf settled in Crieff where ASLEF, always enjoyed his member for over 50 years, carrying on after Mick worked the Crieff supportive of fellow grandchildren and retirement, and will be missed by his wife, children, to Perth line. workers, but his family great grandchildren grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Beeching cuts was his life and rest who would run John James des Jones led to many lines days and holidays through the door and being axed, leading to were spent happily head for his knee. He redundancies, with them which looked forward to ALbERt WALkER uptoN resulting in Mick and always included lots of visits to his beloved retired driver Albie Walker Upton passed away on 4 october. Albie many colleagues train journeys! He home town of Crieff started his life on the railway at cambridge before moving to saffron transferring from Perth loved watching and loved his days at Waldon, then Bishop’s stortford, and then stratford to become a driver. to King’s Cross in 1968. football, especially Hatfield Social Club He came back to Bishop’s stortford where he remained for the rest of his It wasn’t long before Celtic, and was putting the world to working life. As with all the older drivers in the steam era this was his he was made up to involved with many rights with old life. He loved it, and when, in 1995, just before he retired, they held a driver covering youth teams, comrades. Mick was steam weekend here his son David said he was so excited and suburban lines out of spending many very well liked and left thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. As a young fireman i worked with KX. Mary, their Saturday and Sunday behind many Albie and he was a pleasure to be with, always encouraging and helpful. daughter Lorna, and afternoons watching wonderful memories. He is survived by his wife Hazel and children. two sons Michael and his sons, grandson mary moran david clark , bishop’s Stortford

tEd HIckLINg Edward ‘Ted’ Hickling (7 December 1917 to 14 september 2017), formerly a driver at sheffield midland station, will be very sadly missed. Sheral Jones

dAVE pRYkE bIg mAN stratford stalwart Dave Pryke, a big man in every way, was a good trade unionist, manning the picket lines in 1982. He was a no nonsense sort of a guy; if he thought you were wrong he would not hesitate to let you know. Well-liked by the stratford community, he will be missed by all who knew him. riP Dave. farewell to ron with Ajax at Chatham dockyard gone but always remembered. dave pizzie , RmS RoN WARd IAN alan taylor and i, representing aSlEf, attended the FLEtcHER ALEx toWNSENd sending off of the ashes of ron Ward, one of retired toton Alex Townsend, 25, was found dead in his bed gillingham’s finest aSlEf reps, on their final journey driver ian on monday 4 september by his partner. He with the help of two of his sons, the Chatham dockyard fletcher has passed out a few months ago, but was very fit, loco Ajax , and its crew. the family thanked dave passed away at with an active lifestyle, which has left his lovering for organising it and all who turned out. the age of 86. brothers at King’s cross with gTr great pJ Smith , RmS Reg Sargeant northern even more shocked. Richard Sullivan , king’s cross

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 19 letters

We welcome letters, either by email to [email protected] or by Royal mail to ASLEF Journal at WAGE DEALS AREN’T 77 St John Street, London, Ec1m 4NN . the writer of our star letter wins a rich range of ASLEF regalia. DONE IN A VACUUM

i write in response to recent letters the elite – the rich and powerful, the (Journal , october and november) that 1%, or however you want to term it. if Lost boys and second men aSlEf should concentrate on our the working-class is not organised in and boil in the bag drivers wages and conditions and be less politically active trade unions, and the i am writing concerning the Lost Boys which involved politically, internationally labour Party, to defend the gains recognises the ex-British rail grade of second (Colombia, Palestine, etc) and made by previous generations, and to man. Whilst i am sure this group was set up domestically, with the labour Party. shape laws and policies today, then with all good intentions, and as a bit of fun, i our wages, terms and conditions, what chance do we have of have noticed that certain members seem to etc, aren’t negotiated in a vacuum. negotiating wages, terms and look down at others in the driving grade. i Politics determines the circumstances conditions? have also been informed by drivers, at other in which these things are negotiated. if as for international issues, such as Tocs, with whom i am friends, that certain we do not act to try and shape the Colombia and Palestine, it’s nothing to members of this Lost Boys group have got world around us into one that is more do with islington dinner parties or quite nasty regarding being an ex-Br second favourable to collective bargaining, ‘virtue signalling’ (Bro tom Burns, man and not a boil in the bag. workers’ rights, dignity and security in november Journal ) to express concern my question is this, does it really matter retirement, etc, then we fight not with about or support for those who have what sort of training one received to become a one but both arms tied behind our suffered an injustice or with the qualified driver? i started my railway career on backs, and blindfolded, too. if we working-class in another country who the platform, and worked up through various retreat into our own little bubble, we are under attack and where people are grades before becoming a driver. i have leave the ground clear for the tories murdered simply for belonging to a nothing against anyone who comes straight and their backers to do their worst. trade union. it is basic working-class into the industry as a trainee driver. This is the and that would be a massive disservice solidarity, a cornerstone of the labour method of recruitment for the driving grade in to our members. movement. Who we express that place today, and there is nothing that a so- to argue that we should simply concern or support for is open for all called Lost Boy or i can do about it. indeed, we concentrate on negotiating wages and members to influence at branch level, should be welcoming new starters into the conditions is, basically, saying that and at aad, democracy being another grade rather than alienating them with rude politics should be left to other people. cornerstone of our movement. comments such as ‘anyone who did not Politics is too important to be left to Robert o’connell , Northern line undertake mP12 is a boil in the bag’. i also feel that the advertisement in last month’s Journal for the Lost Boys group should not have been allowed, seeing as the group is run, but in the long run we might keep our so divisive, and that certain individuals in this come, and those who say they will not be jobs and secure jobs for the future for group persist in ridiculing other colleagues in able to replace train drivers should look at everyone. the driving grade with this childish nonsense. all the different industries that now have Steve cresswell , Norwood Edward pearce , marylebone automated systems. Many of us came into this trade because of automation taking our old jobs. i came from the print trade, Long line of incompetents No one left to speak for me and can remember when computers first further to my letter ( Journal , september) thinking about doo, as someone new to came in, and we said they could never about why chris grayling is short-sighted in the industry, i thought of Martin niemöller, replace what we did, as it was all done by postponing or cancelling several important rail the lutheran pastor who spoke out against hand and so skilled. Within 10 years, we electrification projects – a decision that is the nazis. were all unemployed and now every house clearly fundamentally flawed – the battle first they came for the metro guards, has a computer that can do page makeup continues. i have had a positive response from and i did not speak out, because i was not a and print anything you want. Who needs the mayors of the cities affected by the metro guard. it was nothing to do with me, printers? decision as well as the mayor of manchester. but i did get more money. then they came We are not just fighting for our jobs, but The current secretary of state for Transport is a for the platform staff, and i did not speak the jobs of our children and grandchildren. menace and obviously has no grasp of railway out. i did not need them, as i had cameras taking the money is a short-term solution. operations, technologies, traction systems or to see with. then they came for the ticket We may benefit, our children will not. capabilities. He is just another on a dreary list office staff, and i did not speak out, because automation will slowly be rolled out to of incompetents. And the whole bi-modal it was nothing to do with me. i did not need replace all working-class employment. We option is a nonsense dreamed up by meddling them, they had machines to collect the are looked upon as an expensive civil servants at the DfT. money. then they came for the rest of the commodity, which they would like to do phil mortimer by email guards, and i did not speak out, because i away with. We cannot stop it, but we can was not a guard, but i did get more money. slow it down and should resist wherever then they came for me, and there was no and whenever we can. What planet is judge on? one left to speak for me. We must all wake up and say no to doo, re the story ( Journal , october) about the it’s only a matter of time before they support the guards, and take action to stop judge at Chelmsford crown court who want to replace train drivers; our turn will this automation. it may cost us in the short wondered if fare evasion is really criminal,

20 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 Classified advertisements what planet is this judge on! Be it fare Workers ‘paid too much’ evasion, shoplifting, carjacking, bag CLASS 15 locomotive (D8233) Philip Hammond, the chancellor of the enamel badge on sale to raise funds snatching, etc, it is still stealing from others Exchequer, and a multi-millionaire, reckons for restoration of the sole surviving and, therefore, a criminal offence. that public sector workers are ‘paid too much’. Class 15 loco by the Class 15 What sort of message does this send to Does this also apply, i wonder, to mPs, high- Preservation Society. £5 + £1 p&p the travelling public? this judge should go ranking civil servants, and the royal family? The from Ipswich driver Clive Whiting. Payment can back to law school aSaP. or perhaps, with comments of mr Hammond and his ilk would be sent via PayPal to [email protected] comments like this, he never went in the (friends & family to avoid fees). be laughable is we didn’t know that they mean first place. what they say. These pronouncements, from a david Rollins , brisbane, Australia ASLEF BRANCH 111 man who accumulates more personal wealth ASLEF branch 111 is 111 in a year than most people do in a lifetime, are years old and has a limited the side of discrimination utterly galling! edition numbered badge to mick Whelan, in his response to Brother Jeff morgan , Ipswich celebrate the introduction of Tyrrell’s communication regarding EJrA the Class 387 on KL services. Proceeds to the (Journal , november) says, ‘The government King’s Lynn branch welfare fund. £7.50 inc p&p taking toilets off our train from Mark Steele,1 Rosecroft, South Wootton, took away the agreed retirement age. so southern rail say they are trying to King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 3WX. where does it stop?’ Where indeed? i mean, ‘improve the service’. let me remind you really, they’ll be allowing people who are what Southern’s idea of improving the SOUTH WESTERN openly homosexual to drive trains next. oh, service for passengers is. they now run Suburban 707 limited edition but hang on, they already do. 35x30mm enamel badge £5 + trains between Brighton and Portsmouth following legislation in 1967, £1 p&p from Martin with no toilets on them. When challenged homosexuality is, thankfully, no longer a crime. Thompson (Wimbledon Park) they said people can get off the train and maybe back then, however, those individuals email [email protected] use the toilets at stations. But most stations leading and shaping union policy had a have locked their toilets because of progressive approach, and accepted and fully CLASS 40 Preservation Society vandalism. Southern say ‘ask a member of supported the joys of having a diverse range high quality enamel badges staff to open them for you’. unfortunately, of individuals carrying the union card, in the £5.50 each or £10 for both (50p another of Southern’s great ideas for same way that progressives today, no matter p&p for one badge or £1 for improving the service is to remove staff both) email [email protected] or what their political outlook, enjoy working from lots of stations. text 07788 240088. All funds with colleagues from across the spectrum, keith Wells , brighton raised will go towards the maintenance of our including those whose age is above the magic three Class 40 locos. number 68. This number merely represents the age at which the state pension will become Reports of my death… CLASS 31/ Brush type two 60 year payable for most of us. Beyond that it is, in law, i recently received news from graham force, badge at £6 inc p&p with £1 going a completely meaningless number. ex-AsLEf Huddersfield, that while on a tour of to the repaint of the last Phase One 4 As Brother Tyrrell succinctly argues, there is Britain he was asked when and how i’d died. CIG 1753. Send cheques payable to Dave East, 41 Highfield Road, Suffolk, IP1 6DD. now a conflict of interest between the several ex- and current drivers asked the same abolition of the retirement age and EJrA. it question. Well, i can assure members that i’m WOKING beggars belief that AsLEf should come down branch 50 year still alive, and still annoying rail management, commemorative badge. on the side of discrimination. as my company Aurizon has sold my Slam door & Class 455. £6 Jonathan beckett , machynlleth department to rivals Pacific national, the deal’s + £1 p&p each. Contact passing through the Australian competition Chris Smith, branch secretary, on gS Mick Whelan says: ‘an EJra is not and consumer commission, and it’s a fight to [email protected] discrimination. it is the choice of the keep our current conditions. members involved, in line with the policy i have an idea who started these malicious PROFESSIONAL ENGRAVING at made by the members of this trade union.’ rumours, but can’t prove it, but i am very much sensible prices. I can engrave anything alive! you wish, such as the ASLEF logo on the pint tankard. Contact Paul Potts by Nick clarke , Rockhampton, Queensland Rest day work and EJRA email at [email protected] i read the letter by andrew tyrrell ( Journal , november) with interest and, whilst he has Remembering times past BESPOKE CUSHIONS Hand made 40cm square cushions of a point about rest day working, and i am a thank you for printing my letter in the railway engines and carriages. £50. rest day worker, i would like to point out Journal (november) about preserving the that people who are driving trains beyond Call Abi on 07954 659849 or email me at Saltley MPd past on facebook. the [email protected] their official retirement age are also response to the videos has been blocking places in their links. extraordinary, one clip getting 7,300 views THREE BRIDGES branch strike no doubt when Brother tyrrell was a at the time of writing. My fear was that this badge 2016/17. £5 inc p&p (proceeds young second man he was waiting for a footage would be lost and i am delighted to charity) from Paul Eden (branch driver to retire, as drivers were forced to at that families are now able to see many of secretary) email [email protected]). 65, or die in service (dead man’s shoes, as it those in the top link again. was then known) in order to progress to dennis Herbert , retired driver KIRKDALE 121 limited edition driver himself. centenary badge 1917-2017 price if Brother tyrrell wishes to continue £7.50 inc p&p from branch driving trains well into his 60s, as he is now ASLEF – small craft union secretary Keith Devling. Call quite entitled to do, that is his prerogative, What an interesting letter by Liam mariscotti 07933 144768 or email but he has no right to criticise those of us (Journal , october). AsLEf is a small craft union, [email protected] who work rest days, or the union for and should concentrate more on things that To advertise please phone 020 7324 2400 sanctioning rest day working. directly affect their members. or send an email to [email protected] tony Emptage , Ramsgate david douglas , retired driver

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 21 last Word Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?

It’s the time that every Santa has a ball. does he ride a red-nosed reindeer? does he turn up on his sleigh? kEItH RIcHmoNd looks at a few of the books that have dropped on the ASLEF Journal desk in time for christmas

nDiA was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire and the railway – I 41,000 miles of it laid by 1929 – was the glue which largely held this sub-continent of several castes, lots of religions and many different languages – and which would, after independence, split into the states of india, Pakistan and Bangla Desh – together. on the write lines: christian Wolmar has written a dozen Wolmar, Eliot, findlay, critically-acclaimed books about the railway. oberman, Barnfield, some of them – like Are Trams Socialist? and tuffrey, rowland, lewis his forthcoming paperback about driverless cars – are political manifestoes and some of them – like Fire & Steam , a history of the railway in Britain, The Great Railway Revolution , & Hope (Luath Press, £12.99), is a thoughtful the story of the American railroad, and To the and entertaining personal and political Edge of the World , about the Trans-siberian memoir of the turbulent last six years. As Express – are histories of the iron road. Jeremy corbyn writes in his introduction: ‘He is in Railways & the Raj: How the Age of Steam a thinker and someone who has the heart and Transformed India (Atlantic Books, £25) he the imagination to lead people out of traces the story from before the ‘first train drudgery and isolation to a better society.’ – as well as the passionate affairs with roman clanked and puffed its way along the 21 mile Polanski, roger vadim, and Lord Lichfield. track from Bombay to Thane in 1853’ to ‘Books are a uniquely portable magic.’ – The Unstill Ones , the first collection of independence in 1947, with a final chapter on Stephen king poems by miller oberman (Princeton indian railways today. ‘The British,’ he University Press, £14.95) is an unusual but concludes, ‘never really conquered india. But Mistakes Were Made (Some in French) by fiona powerful mix of translations from old English, the railways did.’ ‘Lewis (regan Arts, £14.95) is part such as Cædmon’s Hymn , The Ruin , The Grave , autobiography, part philosophy, and part how and various riddles from the Exeter Book , and ‘Books are not absolutely dead things, but to tart up an old house in a foreign country. original poems drawing on the rhythms, as do contain a potency of life … as lively, notionally, it’s in the well-trodden tradition of well as some of the subjects, of Anglo-saxon and as vigorously productive, as those Peter mayle’s A Year in Provence ; an innocent verse. The 26 poem sequence at the heart of M fabulous Dragon’s teeth.’ – John milton , abroad falls in love with a crumbling château by Antony rowland (Arc Publications, £9.99) ‘Areopagitica set in seven and a half acres near montauban was written in the shadow of the death of in the south of france and spends a small Kieran crump raiswell in a random knife in Middlemarch , arguably the greatest 19th fortune restoring it to its former glory with the attack in manchester. rowland, like oberman, century English novel, published in help of local craftsmen who, perhaps has dug up some old English words, and instalments in 1871-72 but set forty years inevitably, come straight from central casting. writes movingly of ‘sky blues dawn against earlier, in the turbulent early 1830s, george But it’s also, more interestingly, the story of Trafford reds’ and ‘poets of the ringway / Eliot observed that ‘railways were as exciting a a life and loves. A middle-class convent- bushing over the violence.’ topic as the reform Bill or the imminent educated Essex girl – born in Westcliff-on-sea horrors of cholera’. As Juliette Atkinson, in 1946 – fiona shared a flat in London with ‘Books were his brothers.’ – patrick gale , lecturer in English at University college, Jacqueline Bisset when they were both Rough Music London, writes in her new edition of Silas models, and then actresses, at the height of Marner (oxford World’s classics, £5.99) ‘Eliot’s the swinging ’60s. Memories of West Country Railway Journeys novels are, famously, profoundly concerned fiona candidly admits she was a ‘lousy’ ‘1960-1962 by Peter Barnfield (Wild swan with historical change’ and this one – at 150 actor – ‘my enthusiasm outflanked my ability’ – Books, £14.95) is a companion piece to pages, as good an introduction to the author but featured in a string of cult movies – Memories of the Withered Arm , about the as any – analyses the effects of including The Fearless Vampire Killers , Dracula southern lines west of Exeter. narrow in scope, industrialisation on the working-classes, and Lisztomania – ‘due to the fact i was willing but an elegant exercise in nostalgia. The particularly weavers, the struggles between to take off my clothes’. she writes about her Golden Age of Yorkshire Railways by Peter the powerful and the powerless, and the husbands – Bill Hayward, Peter fonda’s best Tuffrey (great northern Books, £19.99) is a plight of the poor. friend, then Art Linson, who made Fight Club – collection of 300 photographs, most of them Those are subjects which have also famous friends – such as cary grant, Laurence taken before the outbreak of the second World exercised neil findlay, msP for Lothian, since olivier, orson Welles, oliver reed, sam spiegel, War, and many from postcards printed before he was elected to Holyrood in 2011. Socialism richard Burton, Ken russell, and roger Daltrey the first World War.

22 The ASLEF Journal l December 2017 on track Prize Crossword

Prize Crossword 140 by Tom Williams across down 3 Deal with by 1 shoes and boots A gREAt dEAL applying remedies 2 stopped like teeth 6 side-view portrait 3 Backcombs 7 Pudding 4 Additional oF SAbbAtH 8 roadside inn 5 Human trunk 9 A lift 6 Large and fleshy tRAVELLINg 12 Work together multi-seeded fruit into a dough used in pies fear there is a great deal of ‘ 14 Drag the feet 10 makes more sabbath travelling here,’ said whilst walking resilient I obadiah slope. ‘on looking at 15 opiate 11 rejection the Bradshaw , i see that there are three 18 residue from 13 Tea that is left in trains in and three out every sabbath. burnt matter the pot too long could nothing be done to induce the 19 cavity 14 Weighing- company to withdraw them? Don’t you 20 Lasting for ever machine think, Dr grantly, that a little energy 21 Excessive desire 16 in the midst of might diminish the evil?’ for food 17 give birth to a ‘not being a director, i really can’t say. Solution to Crossword 139 baby cow But if you can withdraw the passengers, across: 1 smallholding 7 order 8 Purr the company, i dare say, will withdraw 10 Dance 11 Tache 13 Effort 15 Artist 17 Untie the trains,’ said the doctor. ‘it’s merely a 18 spain 19 shut 21 Drawl 22 refrigerator name...... question of dividends.’ down: 1 shortcakes 2 Abdicate 3 Larders – Anthony trollope , Barchester 4 orange 5 Dupe 6 nor 9 rottweiler 12 Address...... Towers contrast 14 founder 16 Tea bag 18 stir 20 Hoe ...... congratulations to derek lindsay , of liverpool , who was last month’s winner...... The winner of this month’s Prize crossword will receive ...... marks & spencer vouchers to the value of £25 ......  You can see more of Tom Williams’s crosswords, word games and puzzles at Postcode...... wordgames.co.uk alan rickman dazzled as the oily and ambitious reverend obadiah Slope in Thanks for all your responses to the 139th prize crossword in the November edition of the the BBC version of anthony trollope’s ASLEF Journal . If you successfully complete this month’s crossword please send the solution to Barchester Chronicles the Editor, ASLEF Journal , 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN by 14 December

The yet unfinished and unopened railroad was in progress; and, from the very core of all this dire disorder, trailed ASLEF’s legal services smoothly away, upon its mighty course if you are being harassed at work, bullied or discriminated against, and of civilisation and improvement. But, as if your local, branch or district rep is unavailable, call the industrial yet, the neighbourhood was shy to own the railroad. one or two bold relations department at union headquarters (020 7324 2400) or email speculators had projected streets; and [email protected]. if you are arrested or interviewed by police and need one had built a little, but had stopped legal assistance – day or night – call the members’ emergency hotline on among the mud and ashes to consider 0800 587 7530. aSlEf also provides first class legal advice free for farther of it. A brand new tavern, members and dependents. redolent of fresh mortar and size, and fronting nothing at all, had taken for its sign The railway Arms; but that might be rash enterprise – and then it hoped to sell drink to the workmen. Changed your address? Please let us know! Just fill in this form – charles dickens , Dombey and Son name...... ‘shall we go and sit in the cathedral?’ he asked, when their meal was finished. Address...... ‘cathedral? yes. Though i think i’d rather sit in the railway station,’ she ...... answered, a remnant of vexation still in Postcode ...... Telephone...... her voice. ‘That’s the centre of the town life now. The cathedral has had its day!’ Branch...... membership no...... ‘How modern you are!’ – thomas Hardy , Jude the Obscure Please return coupon to: AsLEf, 77 st John street, clerkenwell, London, Ec1m 4nn

December 2017 l The ASLEF Journal 23

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