l a n r u o

ASLEFThe ASSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN J FEBRUARY 2016

Sun sets on Kellingley

PAUL ROUTLEDGE mourns the closure of a colliery and the death of an industry SIMON WELLER explains what the end of contracting out means to you ANDY HUDD makes the case for Sundays in the working week

Cliff Blackwell: 70 years of Thomas The train drivers’ life on the rails the Tank Engine union since 1880 railway enginemen’s tax free saver plans

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Mick says rail ministers are reducing their options Strikes the result of breaking bad

HOULD we accept bad faith? It occurs to me that all of our current industrial issues 7 15 S are driven by people who unilaterally operate outside the collective bargaining and framework agreements we have in place. Having reacted, on behalf of our members, listened to their News wishes, balloted, and jumped through all hoops, industrially and politically, we get castigated for  Jeremy Corbyn joins us at Action for Rail 4 daring to protect our conditions and our families’ futures. So it is with great pride that I congratulate  Strike brings ATW back to the table 5 our members in ATW for their recent solidarity and  Samaritans unveil new rail suicide campaign 6 wish them, and our members on the Tube, every success in the ongoing struggles.  End of the line for Farmer Smith and WCRC? 7 On your behalf we sent messages of support to the BMA, who are going through a process we  Poll results about selling off Network Rail 8 recognise, of Jeremy Hunt announcing wholesale changes to working practices that devalue a vocational role and, according to the doctors, will make them, and patient care, worse off whilst Features 12-13 twisting the data and using the media to demonise them. One commentator on Question Time said  A day in the life of DO5 Nigel Gibson 10 they were led by radical left-wingers and the strikes  Andy Hudd: Sundays in the working week 11 are political; that smacks of desperation when talking of a group that put patients first and have  End of the mine: sun sets on King Coal. 12-13 not taken action for 40 years. Paul Routledge on the closure of Kellingley We never believed that the controllers of the colliery, the last deep coal mine in Britain vested interests, with the creation of the Rail  Simon Weller: What the new pensions 14 Delivery Group, could or would work together for legislation will mean for you the good of our industry by giving leadership; they became a mouthpiece for politically promoting  Key Worker: Cliff Blackwell 15 16 privatisation and we welcome, after many complaints, them now being banned from doing so. We argued for Directly Operated Rail to remain on the East Coast as a public comparator, due to its Regulars unrivalled success in performance, passenger satisfaction, and financial returns to the  Branch News and 100 Years of Union 16-18 government, but it seems it has been wound down and the role given to a group of privateers – Arup,  Obituaries 19 EY and Interfleet, rebranded SNC Lavalin Rail &  Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 Transit – to provide a stand-by service on retainer. I doubt we will see the success of DOR mirrored  Last Word: Thomas the Tank Engine 22 again. As Lilian Greenwood said, ‘Ministers are celebrates 70 years on the iron road reducing their options for reforming the railways  Food & Drink, Prize Crossword and 23 and undermining their own bargaining position.’ ASLEF's Legal Services 22 Redundancies in the steel industry, mainly in South Wales, but also in Corby and Hartlepool, frighten me, not only for the supply chain but for the future of manufacturing in the UK. How can we The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: talk of an industrial future without having the ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Tel: 020 7324 2400 means to deliver it? It is time to protect our industry from the subsidised dumping of goods and email: [email protected] website: www.aslef.org.uk materials and to recognise that TTIP will only make the position worse, not better. EdiTor Mick Whelan l dESignEr Michael Cronin l PrinTEr TU Ink, 107 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AB advErTiSing Ten Alps, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5BH. Contact Edwin Rodrigues on Yours fraternally 0207 657 1819 or [email protected] l ClaSSifiEd adS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400 Mick Whelan , general secretary The acceptance of an advert 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

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 3 news

fares – a direct consequence of Campaigning rail privatisation – means that the cost to commuters has risen by 25% in the last five years. for fairer fares Research shows that £1.5 billion SLEF activists were out could be saved over the next five in force at Britain’s years if the railway routes up for A railway stations on 4 renewal were returned to the January for an Action for Rail public sector. protest about rising fares as the Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: privatised train operating ‘Campaigning this morning for companies look to make fatter fairer fares as ticket prices have profits off the backs of hard- lilian increased by up to £2,000 since pressed passengers. greenwood, 2010.’ Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general Jeremy Corbyn secretary; DO6 Dicky Fisher; and and Mick QUOTE … DO8 Finn Brennan were joined at Whelan at ‘The top 1%’s share of our King’s Cross first thing in the King’s Cross nation’s income has more morning by Labour Party leader (left) and rosie than doubled since 1980 Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Winterton joins and their share of wealth Transport Secretary Lilian Tosh in donny now exceeds that of the Greenwood as well as Mick Cash poorest 50% of the of the RMT and Manuel Cortes of increases and calling for the made a Dame in the New Year population.’ – Marc Stears , the TSSA. return of the railways to public honours list, and it was still the Professor of Political ASLEF, RMT and Labour Party ownership. ‘Rosie Winterton, panto season, ‘Oh no, she didn’t.’ Theory, University members were also out in force Labour Chief Whip, joined us for ‘Oh yes, she did!’ College, Oxford at Doncaster station handing out a while,’ said EC president Tosh The 1% increase in season …UNQUOTE postcards opposing the price McDonald, adding, as she was ticket prices and other regulated Night Tube action Lobbying the Lords The decision by team has left us with ASLEF has been lobbying ASLEF’s executive no choice. Our ‘The Bill seeks to backdate members of the House of Lords committee to negotiating team last the law so 5 million trade union during the passage of the Trade announce three more met LU at ACAS on 10 members in political funds will Union Bill through the upper 24 hour strikes on November and, since have their membership house in a bid to gain some London Underground then, they have cancelled. Under the concessions. GS Mick Whelan brought TfL back to refused to talk to us provisions unions will have just said: ‘You won’t be surprised to the negotiating table despite repeated finn: ready for talks three months to re-recruit know my union has a number to try and resolve the requests. Our action, and after two those members. If this change of concerns about the Bill, dispute over pay and members have been months refusing to is enacted it should not be including its political and the introduction of extremely patient, negotiate with us, TfL retrospective; instead it should industrial consequences, and the Night Tube they have waited for invited us for talks at only apply to new members. If its wider impact on democracy service. more than three and ACAS. ‘We are ready to that is not possible, unions and civil liberties.’ Finn Brennan, half years for promised talk at any time to should be given a reasonable He told peers: ‘I don’t ASLEF’s organiser on talks on improving finally resolve this time period for transition to believe it is right for a LU, said: ‘This is not a their work/life dispute,’ said Finn. ‘It is the new system.’ Conservative government to decision we have balance. There is still time for the Mayor of use its majority in the House of taken lightly. We no indication when London and his team Commons to introduce highly TWEETS OF genuinely regret the they will receive the at TfL to stop the partisan measures that help inconvenience that pay rise that was due political posturing and THE MONTH the Conservative Party at will be caused but the last April.’ engage with us to election time. The current John Monks reminds behaviour of LU’s Hours after the EC stop London suffering government is also making it House of contribution of senior management announced industrial more disruption.’ harder to register to vote and trade unions – the weekend, are redrawing the sick pay, equal pay for women. parliamentary map to their Stephen Cavalier advantage. ‘The Trade Union Bill An affordable railway contains a clause which is that puts people deliberately designed to cut before profit. Action for Rail financial support to the Labour Party. If enacted this would Sacked by Jeremy create an overwhelming Corbyn for too much funding imbalance in our straight talking, honest political system by decimating politics. Husband. Dad. Beatles the Labour Party’s funding & curry obsessive. All my teams while leaving the Conservative play in red. Michael Dugher Party’s finances untouched.

4 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 news

Strike brings ATW back to the table

A rock solid strike by Off the rails ASLEF drivers at Arriva Trains Wales on SOUTHEASTERN bosses dropped Monday 4 January – themselves in the sticky stuff when the first day back at they blamed rush hour delays on, er, work for most people ‘too much sun.’ Hapless Southeastern this year – forced the managers tweeted: ‘We had severe company back to the congestion through Lewisham due to dispatching issues as negotiating table. a result of strong sunlight this morning.’ Passengers, ‘Following a strike perhaps predictably, found the explanation risible. ‘Leaves during which no ATW on the line,’ muttered Brian Barnett. ‘Wrong snow. Now trains ran, and ASLEF sunshine! What’s the next excuse from Southeastern ?’ members stood solid, further talks were JOHN McDONNELL took off the gloves on arranged to try and the Labour right on Channel 4 News after resolve the dispute Stephen Doughty, Kevan Jones and Jonathan over working Reynolds resigned from the Labour front bench conditions,’ said Simon following Jeremy Corbyn’s reshuffle last month. Weller, ASLEF’s ‘There’s a group within the Labour Party who national organiser. have a right-wing conservative agenda. Within Progress When, because of itself, there are some who are quite hard right, and they’ve management never accepted Jeremy’s leadership.” intransigence, these talks failed our YOUGOV asked people with which executive committee Star Wars character do they most called another 24 identify our dear political leaders. hour strike for are at the centre of aSlEf in action in Voters – who may or may not have Monday 1 February. the current dispute. Cardiff (top), been fans of the big screen sci-fi series Changes by ATW to ASLEF has also holyhead (centre), – identified David Cameron as Darth Vader; Jeremy Corbyn an agreement struck withdrawn overtime and Shrewsbury as either Obi Wan Kenobi or Yoda; and Tim Farron as Wicket following last ditch working which has (bottom) the Ewok or C3PO. May, er, the force be with you… talks to avert industrial exposed ATW’s train drivers as the action in November chronic shortage of company is unable to TRAIN journeys, in Russia, are measured not in cover its basic bread hours but in days; it takes six days to travel the and butter services. 4,000 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok. ‘In QUOTE … ATW, like most of the Western Europe people die because their space ‘We are in danger of becoming the privatised TOCs, does is cramped and suffocating,’ said the playwright political equivalent of Millwall football not employ enough and short story writer Anton Chekhov. ‘In Russia club.’ Mary Creagh , Labour Member drivers to provide the they die because the space is an endless expanse.’ of Parliament for Wakefield services it pledged, …UNQUOTE when it won its DESPITE the tree this wasn’t Father franchise, to run. Christmas at the Kellingley club with the NUM but ASLEF’s president Tosh RDG rapped for political bias McDonald. ‘Spoke at their retired Train companies have agreed to act with propriety and curb their members’ tea with lots of guys there political bias after the taxpayer-funded rail industry mouthpiece redundant today. One of the most broke the rules by sending a barrage of pro-privatisation emails and emotional things I’ve ever done. On the march through the attacked Labour during the party’s conference. The Department for village tomorrow with the ASLEF banner. F*** the Tories, Transport has rapped the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train f*** Thatcher and f*** Cameron and Osborne.’ operators, across the knuckles following complaints from Shadow Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood. A chastened RDG has TOSH has had an account at the Co-operative Bank since promised to adopt ‘a communications protocol… ensuring political leaving school. ‘But they have dumped a number of impartiality’ in its communications activity. progressive organisations so just been and closed my account and transferred everything to Nationwide. At least CONFERENCES: The Scottish TuC is at the Caird Hall in Dundee from it’s still a building society. Sad day but now having a pint in Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 April. ASLEF’s annual assembly of our local authority run pub. The more you drink the more delegates is at the Macdonald Highlands hotel, Aviemore, from good you do the community!’ Monday 9 to Friday 13 May. The Welsh TuC is at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 May. The durham Miners’ THE Tory government’s floods boss, Sir Philip Dilley, was gala is on Saturday 9 July. The Tolpuddle Martyrs’ festival , near forced to quit after he dilly-dallied over Christmas. He had Dorchester, is from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 July. The Trades union to admit that when he said he was ‘working from home’ Congress is at the Brighton Centre from Sunday 11 to Wednesday 14 while Britain was under water he was sunning himself in the September. The labour Party conference is at the BT convention Caribbean. Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour MP for Poplar & centre in Liverpool from Sunday 25 to Wednesday 28 September. Limehouse, said Dilley was ‘a disaster.’ Dilley said ‘I can’t guarantee there will never be a flood event while I’m away.’ 500 CLUB: A Bullock, with number 213, won the February draw, David Cameron decided Dilley ‘the disaster’ had to go. scooping the RMS prize money jackpot of £374.

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 5 news

conversations, Samaritans unveil new accompanied by images of a range of rail suicide campaign different people with their heads turned DAVID MASTERS , project officer, away from the Network Rail, at the Samaritans, lifts camera – illustrating the lid on the charity’s new suicide the sense of isolation prevention campaign some people feel when they are THIS month a new 2012. struggling to cope. Samaritans The aim of our The posters will communications new campaign is to Three of the Samaritans’ new suicide prevention posters soon become familiar campaign – called prompt behavioural on stations up and ‘We don’t just hear change and to understanding of the campaign – which Samaritans down the country. It you, we listen’ – will encourage those Samaritans, and what will be rolled out volunteers. is anticipated that the be launched across who are most at risk we do, so people see across the rail The creative work campaign will run for the rail network. The to seek help the act of calling our network on posters contains hidden two years. campaign includes whenever they are helpline as a positive and digital formats messages to G You can call us posters that will struggling to cope. It and empowering first from Tuesday 16 highlight the real free at any time, replace the existing is also designed to step in taking back February – focuses on meaning behind a from any phone, on campaign which has raise awareness, and control of their lives. the expert listening series of apparently 116 123 or visit been running since increase people’s The new service provided by everyday samaritans.org Privatising Network Rail would Simon hands out long service put passengers at risk awards in North Lanarkshire RIVATISING privatising NR could big losses, still paid Network Rail lead to a decline in out huge dividends.’ P could put safety standards and And it warns that passenger safety at notes that under NR’s the cost of future risk, and lead to higher privatised improvements will fares, according to a predecessor, Railtrack, have to be passed on new report. The paper there were far more to taxpayers or funded – Staying on the Right workplace accidents, by higher fares. ‘The Track by John Stittle, broken rails and trains cost of upgrading the Professor of ignoring emergency West Coast main line Accounting at Essex signals. ‘If NR is skyrocketed from £2.5 University – also warns devolved or sold off billion to £14.5 billion of a ‘disastrous’ return this could threaten under Railtrack’s to the days of Railtrack the substantial management.’ if NR becomes a for- improvements in The report profit company. passenger safety concludes: ‘Handing The report was made since Railtrack’s control back to the commissioned by the collapse.’ private sector would TUC’s Action for Rail It warns that pose a huge risk to campaign in response ‘money that should the taxpayer.’ Beer and badges at the to the government be spent improving Frances O’Grady, Bentley consultation, being the UK’s rail general secretary of undertaken by Nicola infrastructure will end the TUC, said: Trade Union Bill. Shaw, into the future up going to ‘Network Rail must At the end of the meeting he shape and financing shareholders’ and remain a public body. presented long service awards to of Network Rail. notes that ‘Railtrack, The last thing ANDY JONES , Motherwell G Kennedy, A Cameron and J It warns that even when posting passengers and branch secretary, reports on Foster (25 years) and J Lafferty taxpayers need is a their AGM (35) and made a retirement return to the presentation to F Keenan. Marz Colombini models Forty members of Motherwell disastrous days of aSlEf’s Kes tee-shirt – branch turned out to hear a Railtrack, which with a harvey Smith to detailed report from national resulted in years of QUOTE … the Tories’ anti-Trade organiser Simon Weller at the under-investment. ‘The modern world – not union Bill – based on the Bentley Hotel on 20 December. Privatising NR would just Britain – is a product of iconic image from the The meeting started on a sad be repeating the the railway. Trains are still famous Ken loach film. note with a minute’s silence for mistakes of the past the bedrock of social and £10 (inc p&p); email Bro W Smillie, who tragically and could lead to a economic progress.’ – Nigel [email protected] or passed away in November. Simon worryingly decline in Harris in Rail magazine visit our online shop at informed us about all the issues safety standards and …UNQUOTE www.aslef.org.uk ASLEF is currently facing, higher fares.’ including pensions and the new

6 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 news

Tangmere, a Battle of Is this the end Britain class loco built at Brighton in 1947, in its Southern railway livery as the Spitfire hop of the line for Pickers’ Special for Shepherd & neame at the faversham hop Farmer Smith? festival; a first great Western high speed HE Office of Rail and Road has begun train; and the West Coast T criminal proceedings against the railways badge of West Coast Railway Company and shame which might soon one of its drivers. be off the rails West Coast – run by David Smith, a Yorkshire farmer who, according to an article in the Daily Telegraph , ‘runs it in an authoritarian manner and treats it like his own private train set’ – is Britain’s biggest heritage operator. It runs 500 trains a year, including the famous Jacobite service from Fort William to Mallaig featured in the Harry Potter films. The company has been involved in a litany of safety incidents, but the final straw for the regulator was a near miss at Wootton Bassett on 7 March when the steam locomotive Tangmere, pulling 13 carriages between safety record. However, there have been a Bristol Temple Meads and Southend Victoria, number of incidents over the past year effectively controlled by WCRC. Our main areas ran a red light at 5.25pm and came to rest at a involving West Coast Railway Company trains. of concern are management capability; busy junction on the Great Western main line ‘The incident at Wootton Bassett junction, governance and assurance. We have received just moments after a high speed FGW where a WCRC train passed a signal at danger, concerns from a number of parties relating to passenger train, travelling at 100mph from was caused by alleged intentional misuse of a WCRC’s ability to manage the safety of its Swansea to Paddington, had passed. key safety system. This could easily have led to operation. An ORR investigation revealed that Farmer a catastrophic collision.’ ‘The ORR has serious concerns that WCRC is Smith’s staff had turned off the Train The ORR has also launched a review of no longer satisfying the conditions of its safety Protection Warning System – essential safety WCRC’s safety certificate, which it needs to certificate and that a significant risk is arising equipment designed to apply an emergency operate trains on the rail network. The future as a result. You should be aware that if the ORR brake if the driver makes an error. of steam trains running on Britain’s main lines decides to revoke WCRC’s safety certificate this Ian Prosser, chief inspector of railways at is now in serious doubt. would create serious doubt as to whether it the ORR, said: ‘The safety of staff, volunteers, Ian Bertram, principal inspector of railways, complies with the professional competence passengers and members of the public is our wrote to Farmer Smith after another serious requirements that must be met in order to absolute priority. Britain’s railways have a good safety breach, again involving TPWS continue to hold a European train operator’s tampering, this time at the Hexthorpe goods licence.’ chord, Doncaster, on 2 October. ‘This follows a similar incident, when TPWS Stay dry and warm this QUOTE … equipment was interfered with, resulting in a winter with our smart ‘In the perpetual struggle between signal being passed at danger at Wootton new black waterproof labour and capital, it is no secret which Bassett, in which a catastrophic incident nearly jacket. Price £30 (inc p&p); side has the upper hand.’ – Stephen occurred. email [email protected] Foley in FT Ambitious Wealth ‘The recent repeat incident at Hexthorpe or visit our online shop at …UNQUOTE highlights that lessons have not been www.aslef.org.uk adequately learned and risk is not being

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February 2016 l The ASLEF Jour n al 7 news

THE THINGS THEY SAY Oliver Letwin, David Cameron’s policy chief, Let’s keep our was outed as an old school racist after the release of government papers kept secret for 30 years. Letwin, as an adviser to Margaret railways safe Thatcher, blamed black people and their ‘bad moral attitudes’ for the riots on the OST people government opts for Broadwater Farm estate in north London. He – including ‘full privatisation,’ as claimed, in a memo on Downing Street M most Richard Branson has headed paper, that the violent unrest on the Conservative voters – proposed, and streets of Tottenham had nothing to do with are against selling off passenger safety will social deprivation, and haughtily dismissed state-owned Network be seriously plans to encourage black businesses by Rail. A poll, carried out compromised if NR is Cat hobbs (left) with Mick Whelan at a saying the money would be wasted because by Survation for the fragmented and sold labour Party conference fringe event on black people are only interested in the ‘disco campaign group We off. public ownership and drug trade.’ Tom Watson, Labour’s Own It, reveals that Just 24% – fewer deputy leader, forced Letwin to apologise. 59% of people than 1:4 voters – think neglect. Railtrack, a 2000. surveyed, including NR should be group of corner- Cat Hobbs, director ETCS TEST TRAIN RUNS THROUGH 51% of Tories, believe privatised and, even cutting private of We Own It, said: the organisation that among Tory voters, companies which took ‘Safety is a top priority CENTRAL LONDON manages Britain’s only 37% favour a sell- over after the Major and Railtrack A Class 313 test unit has run through central railway infrastructure off. government privatised compromised that. London completely under the control of the should remain in Rail infrastructure the railways in 1994, Let’s keep our railways European Train Control System for two public ownership. was taken back into was held responsible safe and move weekends. The move marks the culmination The research shows public ownership in for 42 deaths in towards public of six years of development on Thameslink that 67% believe that 2002 following a series collisions at Southall in ownership of the and is the first time a train on the national rail fares will become even of fatal crashes caused 1997, Ladbroke Grove whole network.’ network has run under the cab signalling more expensive if the by years of financial in 1999 and Hatfield in system in the capital. Eventually it will allow 24 trains to run in each direction every hour between Blackfriars and St Pancras.

Cracks in sea wall NETWORK RAIL CHIEF DENIES FIRE SALE OF ASSETS halt coastal trains Sir Peter Hendy, the new chairman of Network Rail, says the group, which is selling Southeastern cancelled services between £1.8 billion of assets, is not desperate for Folkestone and Dover Priory in Kent after funds and insists his plan to offload depots, cracks appeared in the sea wall over arches and station shops does not amount to Christmas. High speed trains were diverted to a fire sale. ‘We have to achieve £1.8 billion by Ramsgate via Canterbury West. Sinkholes up March 2019. It’s not a fire sale, it’ll be done in to 3m deep then appeared underneath the an orderly fashion. We want to get proper railway tracks that run along the top of the value for the public purse.’ wall. Network Rail said: ‘We know how important the railway is for people and our orange army Ballroom blitz is working around the clock.’ Richard Dean of The damage, which appeared on Southeastern said the solution might be ‘a Christmas Eve, was caused by the sea question of redesigning the railway.’ and the wintry weather

QUOTE… ‘Every airport suffers the odd delayed flight. In Britain, it is the runways that fail to arrive on time. No new full-length airstrip has been built to serve London since the Second under Clapham Common World War. The Conservative government promised to Beneath Clapham South Tube station, 120ft make a decision by the end of below the surface, lie an extraordinary warren retired Thornaby drivers roger Sonley, Keith 2015. Of course, it hasn’t; the of tunnels which provided shelter for 8,000 heseltine and Bob Barron receive their 50 year Department for Transport men, women and children from Nazi bombs medallions from ldC rep geoff Burton. announced there will be no falling on the capital during the Second World ruling until summer. Delaying War. They later became temporary dormitories Our woolly hat will keep you warm this the decision will smooth Zac for immigrants from Commonwealth countries winter. Price £5 (including p&p); email Goldsmith’s path to City Hall.’ before they found permanent homes. Now the [email protected] or visit our online – The Economist tunnels have been opened to the public – shop at www.aslef.org.uk …UNQUOTE although you can’t stay the night – by the London Transport Museum.

8 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 A

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www.thompsons.law.co.uk/aslef Stn ng  r  report A Day in the Life

District 5 Organiser NIGEL GIBSON reports on a busy year and offers a revealing insight into what a district officer does for members

ART of my role requires me to be lead officer in P negotiations with the nigel looks companies allocated to me by the back on general secretary. We have an another busy excellent group of company year council reps throughout ASLEF, business council and replaces and I work closely with those Richard Darke. environment. There is an members and I am always pleased elected. extensive recruitment process to be invited. C2C taking place with monthly GB RAILFREIGHT With National Express taking on training schools. ASLEF POLITICS Unfortunately, our members at the 15 year franchise the negotiated a new set of t&cs A disappointing general election GBRf have suffered from the fall in company now has to deliver on its which will bring Sundays into the result but great to see Clive Lewis coal traffic and the company commitments. That includes the working week along with other elected as MP for Norwich South council has been working closely introduction of 12 car DOO improvements to conditions and and Daniel Zeichner for with the employer to establish a working and our h&s reps have salaries to be implemented on 1 Cambridge. Our EC member fair way of dealing with the been working to ensure that any May. Howard Kaye stood in South West surpluses created. We did, system is fit for purpose. We also Surrey and admirably reduced however, secure a 2.3% increase in reached agreement on a three DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS Jeremy Hunt’s majority. I joined salaries on a one year deal. Barry year pay offer which saw the base I represented members at the ASLEF delegation to the East Hare was elected to represent salary, with Sundays already part competence, development, of England Labour Party in ASLEF on the Eurotunnel of the working week, increased to process and disciplinary hearings. Stevenage which was very well European works council. £50,000 in year 1 along with Aside from mobile phones and attended with a far greater level of improvements to t&cs including d&a failures, the most difficult are engagement from trade unions FREIGHTLINER HEAVY HAUL salary protection for drivers those when an individual has and activists clearly enthused by Our members have seen a notable removed through competency; a failed to report an incident; it is the election of Jeremy Corbyn as drop off in work following the commitment to reduce the clear that the industry as a whole leader. ASLEF held a fringe huge reduction in coal traffic, maximum turn length to 9h 30m; is taking such circumstances more meeting to discuss privatisation which formed 70% of the a reduction from an average 36 to seriously. and the benefits of a publicly company’s core work, in 2015. I 35 hour week; and the eradication owned railway. have been working closely with of starter driver rates whilst ring- DISTRICT COUNCIL business council reps and the fencing existing depot drivers in I attended all four meetings in RALLIES company to ameliorate the effects line of promotion to drivers. 2015. Delegates took the ASLEF has raised its profile at the of this loss of work. With RPI very opportunity to discuss a wide Burston strike school rally and I low members asked us to pursue ABELLIO GREATER ANGLIA range of topics: industrial; also attended the May Day march; improvements to conditions and The early part of 2015 was spent political; equality; and ASLEF Tolpuddle Martyrs’ festival; we will see the introduction of dealing with the TUPE of policy and organising. It was a London Pride; and the Durham 156 rest days pa; rest day members to LOROL and MTR great pleasure to see the District 5 Miners’ Gala. protection introducing 32/56 Crossrail with the West Anglia banner finally delivered. hour rests; and no more than inners and Chingford depot being AAD three roster changes pa. taken over by LOROL, and Gidea BRANCH MEETINGS ASLEF’s annual conference was Park and part of Ilford forming the I attended Barking main line; held in our district – at the Palace FREIGHTLINER INTERMODAL new driver base for Crossrail. Alan Bishops Stortford; Bletchley; Hotel in Southend – for the first Change of parent company – to Edwards and Steve Meredith Bristol; Cambridge; Chingford; time since the 1960s. It was a Genosee & Wyoming, a US moved over to be company Clacton; Colchester; Crewe; great success. company – has seen a focus on council reps at the respective Eastleigh; Edinburgh No 1; Ilford; safety, concentrating on companies and Steve Panks was Ipswich; King’s Cross; King’s Lynn; I have been proud to represent eradicating personal injury claims. elected as West Anglia rep to join Knottingley; Lincoln; Norwich; ASLEF and District 5 throughout The introduction of safety glasses Steve Wight and Andy Gordon. Parkeston; Peterborough; 2015 and am grateful for the and a no reverse parking policy We reached agreement on a two Shoeburyness; Saltley; Southend; support I have had from Howard are part of this but G&W seem less year pay review which increased Tilbury; Thornaby; Waterloo; and Kaye and all the reps I work with. I interested in day to day issues salaries by 3% in year one and no Worcester to report on issues believe we have an excellent such as mess room facilities and less than 2.5% in year two. affecting members and make ASLEF team, with Mick Whelan as safe walking routes. On 1 January presentations for loyalty to ASLEF. our general secretary, Simon members got a 3% increase in MTR CROSSRAIL It was sad to see the closure of Weller, our national organiser, a base salary as year three of our We have been working with MTR Parkeston, but a pleasure to see so strong executive committee and pay deal kicked in (equating to a Crossrail and Bombardier on the many past and present activists good reps who dedicate time to significant 2.1% above RPI). Andy development of the new Class there. Our 20 remaining branches further the interests of our Bullock of Saltley was elected to 345 units and the cab continue to operate on behalf of members.

10 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 Platform

Sundays in the working week

Six days ye shall labour, but on the seventh day ye shall rest. That’s what it says in Exodus. But that doesn’t apply to train drivers. Sundays as part of the working week is an emotive issue, and one with a history. Here ANDY HUDD , executive committee member for District 7, makes the case for making the Sabbath part of our working week

UR aspirations in the ASLEF charter, relating to overtime and rest days, O are clear: ‘All free time off from duty to be rostered consecutively, to be guaranteed and mandatory by the elimination of institutionalised overtime.’ Sundays in the working week is an emotive issue and one that also has a history. Prior to aSlEf’s annual assembly of delegates, privatization, our annual assembly of the policy making parliament of our delegates decided that, as a trade union, we union, decided to make Sunday part of should aspire to having Sundays included in our working week the working week. This was in response to concerns that, who wish to make a little more in because we rostered Sundays, and agreed a overtime and, in many cases, the rate of pay for them, they might be considered system works well. an implied term under our contracts of For me, though, when it employment. comes to Sundays in the working week the pros still I DON’T WORK SUNDAYS outweigh the cons. Our Being an executive committee member, policy means that I’ll have a representing District 7, it would be no surprise ‘clean’ salary that is fully to you when I say that I fully support the pensionable with those days charter and our policy on having Sundays in included in holiday and sick pay the working week, but I do so not just on the arrangements. professional level, but on a personal level, too. It also means an extra 52 rest days per year I don’t work Sundays. I haven’t done for and an increase in establishment to about six years and, before that, I only worked accommodate this. As well as an increase in stretched to the full. We are seeing increasing the Sundays that I was rostered to work. The numbers of passengers, no matter what day of main reason for this is that I have a simple the week, or time of day, we travel. family life in which Sundays and rest days are I cannot be the only one who envisages the only guaranteed days on which I will have THE REDUCED that the reduced service we currently enjoy on the opportunity to catch up with those who SERVICE ON WEEKENDS weekends is in danger of becoming a thing of are closest to me. IS IN DANGER OF the past as Saturday and Sunday blend, for Unfortunately, Sundays aren’t given the many people, into the rest of the week. same value when rostered outside of the BECOMING A working week; every other day free from duty “THING OF THE PAST PRIDE IN OUR CRAFT is worth 36 hours (unless alongside another So with this in mind there is one more point to free day when it is still worth at least 24) but think about and that is that we provide a this is not the case with Sundays. headline salary, it also gives rise to the public service; and we endeavour to do so opportunity to have a better work/life balance with a pride and professionalism that befits ENFORCED OVERTIME through the increase in guaranteed rest days our craft. So any expansion or growth in our I also don’t like the fact that (at least on paper) and improvements to rostering flexibility that industry is one we should embrace and while having a commitment to work Sundays will help achieve the coveted 36 hou”rs free Sundays outside of the working week are amounts to enforced overtime and is not from duty. precious to some we should also bear in mind always paid at a rate that reflects the sacrifice I Our industry has changed a lot since the that our railway here in Britain is changing. make. original conference decision, but the And with Sundays in the working week we I do acknowledge, however, that, for the principles are correct, and entirely relevant will guarantee an increased service with ASLEF majority, having a commitment to work does today. members on the front – this would not only be not necessarily mean that it is so. We have We are witnessing an ever-expanding good for our trade union but good for the those who give away their Sundays to those railway with the capacity of our network being railway industry as a whole.

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 11 agenda End of the mine – the sun sets on King Coal Kellingley colliery, the last deep coal mine in the UK, was closed just before Christmas, marking the end of an industry which turned Britain into a global power. PAUL ROUTLEDGE reflects on the disappearance of an industry which, 100 years ago, employed 1 million men, and the close relationships between railwaymen and miners

ING Coal once ruled this country’s By the 1930s coal and coke formed 65% of industry, but his reign would have been freight on rail, and while this lucrative trade K short without the princes of the began to decline in the post-war years, the footplate. For two hundred years, train drivers introduction of ‘merry-go-round’ trains in 1965 took the ‘black gold’ from colliery to factory, gave the industry a new lease of life. gasworks, docks, electricity generating stations, steelworks, fuel merchants – and motive power THE FUTURE LOOKED BRIGHT depots. From the mines of the Welsh valleys to A traffic snapshot taken in 1973 recorded that a the Kingdom of Fife, from the hills of Somerset typical week saw 228 ‘merry-go-round’ trains to the plains of south Yorkshire, from the shores move just under 200,000 tons of coal from 13 of Kent to the Forest of Dean, railways were the collieries to three Yorkshire power stations – arteries of the British economy. And coal was the Ferrybridge, Drax A, and Eggborough. lifeblood. Generations of footplatemen earned The annual input of about 19 million tons was their living from transporting it – and shovelling increased by a further five million when Drax B it into the hungry mouths of steam locomotives. came into operation. Weekly diagrams were prepared by the BR computer at Crewe, and the Christmas, and the old model of local pit to local EVERY COLLIERY HAD A RAIL LINK locomotives were serviced at the new, purpose- power station has vanished. We still burn coal, The railways were major consumers of coal, as built MPD at Knottingley. The future looked but these days it comes from abroad. It still every fireman learned, shifting tons of the stuff bright. moves by rail – as does the biomass that has on long distance journeys or just on pick-up trips All now changed, changed utterly. And not by partly replaced it. Rail remains the most to the pits. some act of God, but largely by Tory energy environmentally-friendly, cost-effective way of Every colliery – and there were thousands – policy – if it may be dignified as such. Even the moving bulk fuel around the country. had to have a rail link. The coming of the railway Freight Transport Association said: ‘The decline in Official figures disclose that coal rail freight preceded the 19th century boom in mining – coal volumes transported by rail is directly linked fell dramatically towards the end of last year – indeed, you could say it fathered the industry to UK energy policy.’ from 800,000 million tonne kilometres at the that powered Britain’s industrial revolution. When the government doubled its carbon end of 2014 to 200,000 last November. And it will The roots of this trade go back to the reign of surcharge on power products in April, fall away to nothing, assuming that the George II, the bonking, bad-tempered monarch profitability of coal-fired power stations plunged government stands by its promise to phase out who died on the pot, when even the canals were 60%, and coal by rail shipments from mines and all coal-fired generation by 2025. still in their infancy. The Middleton Railway was import terminals fell by 66% in the four weeks the first purpose-built coal route, empowered by ending 26 April 2015. COAL TRAINS HAMMERING TRACKS Act of Parliament in 1758, to construct a One of the coal routes to Fiddlers Ferry power While the miners at the doomed Kellingley waggonway into the heart of Leeds ‘for the station in the north-west of England used to colliery worked their last shift, coal trains were better supplying of coals.’ carry 20 trains a day. That dropped to two a hammering the tracks within spitting distance of It became the first to adopt steam traction in week. Knowing that a big price hike was coming, the headgear. The coal comes into Immingham 1812, with the locomotive Salamanca , and power generators had built up huge stocks on from as far away Russia and Colombia, where employed the first professional engine driver, site. strip – open-cast – mines can extract the black James Hewitt, a former pit surface labourer. He At the same time that the carbon support gold more cheaply than Britain’s deep mines. was also probably the first footplate casualty – price was axed, the government also So where there used to be a multitude of killed by a boiler explosion in 1834. dramatically abandoned a £1 billion programme short-trip runs from colliery to power station, the Despite switching from locomotive to to fund carbon-capture technology, in which the picture now is one of many fewer, but much stationary winding, Middleton set the pattern UK was a world leader. This short-sighted failure longer, journeys. that endured for centuries. Landowners keen to of judgment, severely criticised even by business Coal comes into the UK at various points. develop the minerals beneath their land built commentators, spelled the end for the nation’s Immingham is the largest, but Teesport and lines at breakneck speed to cash in on the huge coal industry. Hunterston, in Ayrshire, also figure in the profits to be made from feeding the hungry Britain’s last deep mine – Kellingley, in north diagrams. There are further signs of a run down, mills, factories and family hearths. Yorkshire – ceased production just before with an increasingly evident decrease of coal 12 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 Kellingley

hit list to only three: Worksop, which has already gone, and, in Scotland, Longannet and collieries at Gawber, Haigh and Darton. Towards Hunterston, due to close in April when the end of 1966, this turn began to see fewer Longannet power station shuts. ASLEF and fewer waggons, loaded or empty, then days prevented compulsory redundancies, using a when it didn’t run at all. On days when the turn combination of voluntary early retirement and was cancelled the crew would clock on as moving work from the south to affected areas. normal, then sit around drinking tea, playing It isn’t only footplate skills that the industry cards or reading for a couple of hours, and, if no Miners coming off shift for the loses when drivers leave the industry. Drivers of other work came in, go home again.’ last time at Kellingley, the last locomotives associated with coal depots also This became a regular occurrence and, with deep mine pit in Britain. There carry out railway maintenance. the rundown of steam, eventually came the is plenty more coal ‘With them gone, or terminally reduced, who redundancy notices. The end arrived, said Dave, underground, but the will maintain the railway?’ asks national ‘not with a bang, not even a whimper, just a Conservatives prefer to put the organiser Simon Weller. ‘Where will the sheet of foolscap telling you your services were men on the dole, a point Tosh flexibility for Network Rail to do spot or no longer required and as a couple of hundred Mcdonald, aSlEf’s EC emergency engineering come from?’ pounds in a pay packet.’ president, was keen to make in Born and bred in the railway way of life, I A similar picture of change confronts ASLEF a speech of solidarity at the can’t resist a small bout of nostalgia, because today, complicated by privatisation and Kellingley branch of the nuM the list of former motive power depots linked to competition between freight operators, who try the coal trade reads like a roll call of railway to get round TUPE protection. As Simon Weller traffic on the old Glasgow and south-western operating history: Nuneaton, Walsall, Stoke, points out, train crews are going through the route. In 2014, one train each way once an hour Sutton Oak, Kirkby, Mansfield, Coalville same pain and heartache experienced by other was typical, whereas on 16 August last year, the (naturally), Toton, Westhouses, Rose Grove, skilled workers in the 1980s through Margaret only train of the day was a Class 66 taking Agecroft, Mexborough, Barnsley, Annesley, Thatcher’s liberalisation of the market and empties northbound and returning loaded that Blyth, West Auckland, Stourton, Royston, casualisation of the workforce. evening. Normanton (‘the Crewe of the coalfields’). North Biomass, the ‘green gold,’ has picked up some of the border you had Thornton Junction in Fife, DUMMY IN A DONKEY JACKET of the slack. One diagram introduced by GBRf and Hurlford serving the Ayrshire mines. No account of this story would be complete last October takes biomass imported into the On BR Western, the Welsh valleys practically without a mention of the close links between port of Liverpool via Tuebrook sidings over the lived for coal: Aberbeeg, Aberdare, Tredegar, ASLEF and the National Union of Mineworkers. Pennines to Drax power station. One Class 66 can Merthyr, Abercynon, Treherbert and Ferndale. They often lived in the same communities, and take 25 waggons loaded with 1,600 tonnes of Some depots even had the same names as the supported each other in disputes. During the biomass pellets. collieries they served. On the coast, depots like miners’ Great Strike for Jobs in 1984-85, drivers at This is only phase one of a two year project Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport and Barry coal depots refused to man scab coal trains, and that should come to fruition with phase two in serviced not just the domestic transport of coal were docked by BR bosses. Paybill managers 2016, using four sets of Drax’s waggons to lift but a thriving export trade, too. deemed it industrial action, which meant drivers capacity to 3 million tonnes a year. It remains couldn’t claim social security assistance. This was true, however, that biomass, imported from the THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF THE 1960s stopped by an ASLEF walkout across the country. US and shipped across the Atlantic, takes half as This is by no means a comprehensive list, as it’s I also heard of imaginative action by NUM many more trains to transport – which is some compiled from memory, but it shows how pickets. One group dangled a tailor’s dummy, in compensation for ASLEF drivers. widespread was rail’s reliance on coal. A typical a donkey jacket and holding a banner, over a MPD, Wakefield, was almost entirely given over railway bridge – halting the train below. And of WHO WILL MAINTAIN THE RAILWAY? to heavy freight engines, and former British one full coal train held in a remote siding All this is a far cry from the halcyon days of Railways fireman Dave Wilson, who moved up because no driver would move it. When the time steam, though it shows that the railway can to Yorkshire from Nine Elms, recalled ‘the good came for it to be moved, the waggons were adapt to changing conditions. Long term, old days’ of the mid-1960s. empty. The coal had been used to heat striking however, the outlook for coal by rail is bleak. DB ‘At the first of the day’s deliveries, Woolley miners’ homes! Schenker demanded 235 redundancies due to [where Arthur Scargill was working!] empties Coal by rail is an integral part not just of the decline in coal traffic. Of these 120 were to be were left in one road, loaded waggons collected industrial, but also of trade union, history. The drivers, with the outright closure of seven drivers’ from another. Drop the train back onto the writing may be on the wall, but it isn’t over yet depots. guard’s van and then have breakfast. It was a and the vital contribution of coal train crews to Strong representations by ASLEF reduced this tough job! The process would be repeated at the economy should never be forgotten.

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 13 report

Pensions – the new position

As part of its austerity agenda, the government is proposing wide ranging changes to the state pension – and not just to the retirement age. This time, writes ASLEF’s national organiser SIMON WELLER , the Tories are picking protected status or indefeasible right. As for the cap on pensionable pay the pockets of our occupational increases, for pay reviews on or after 1 April pension schemes 2016 a pensionable pay cap of RPI plus 0.25% will be applied for each year for all members. HE Conservative government has Any increases above this cap will apply for passed pension legislation that ends future service only from the effective date. A so any dispute had the potential to be political T contracting out from 6 April, when pensionable restructuring premium will be in nature. the new single tier state pension comes in. created for that element of the pay increase When a workplace pension, like the Railway above the cap. This means that past service Can i still retire early? Pension Scheme, met certain criteria, people salary will be limited to an RPI+0.25% increase Yes. You can retire before 62 if you wish but could opt out of paying into the state second each year. pension accrued following this change will be pension; in return, employers and employees This will apply to annual pay awards as well reduced on a cost neutral basis according to paid less national insurance. So the change will as promotional increases in pay for example, how many years you leave before you are 62. mean an increase in both employers’ and guard to driver, and development moves (year Any benefits accrued before this change will employees’ NI contributions. 1 to year 2 apprentices). The fact that the cap not be reduced. Employers will be allowed to recoup their does not count for future pension accrual increased NI contributions by making changes means that a new non-pensionable element does the pensionable pay cap mean i can’t to contributions and/or benefit structures of salary is not introduced. PRPs have been have a pay rise above rPi+0.25%? without recourse to pension trustees or commonplace in the railway pension scheme No. If a pay increase is greater than RPI+0.25% committees. The amount the train operating since the first tranche of driver restructuring in it will be subject to PRS. Pensionable pay and companies are seeking to recoup across all the mid-1990s. salary remain the same. sections is, approximately, £47 million. This will lead to two savings for the We had a choice, to allow the statutory scheme. First, future service joint contribution Is this just protected members looking after override to take effect on an annual basis or rates will fall because the cap will reduce costs. themselves? come to a one-off negotiated settlement. So Second, built-in assumptions on pay increases No. While the change to early retirement what do the changes mean to me? from past valuations are higher than the cap, factors cannot be applied to the protected There are two modifications to the scheme reducing liabilities. 20% of the scheme’s membership, because of – an increase in the normal retirement age to This releases a certain amount of cash in their legal status, conferred by the Railways 62, for those who are not protected, or do not funds. This past service credit release will be Act (1993), the pensionable pay cap is applied have the indefeasible right, and a cap on released gradually and be used to reduce to all. Nor does it create a two-tier pension; pensionable pay. Moving cost neutral early contributions evenly over 12 years or more. there have been differences between retirement factors, the normal retirement age, contribution rates and benefits for protected to 62 reduces the liabilities on the scheme and Why have we agreed to these changes? and unprotected since privatisation – it is an reduces the contributions that employer and Primarily to avoid the statutory override being unfortunate fact of the RPS. employee have to pay. Moving the normal applied; coming to a negotiated settlement retirement age does not mean you cannot removes the override as an option for Will i get the full state pension as we have retire before that age; it is simply the age employers. It also has the advantage of been contracted out in the past? someone can start receiving their benefits preventing further fragmentation and dilution Because the RPS has been contracted out, without them being reduced on an early of the scheme. There is a real danger that members would always accrue the basic state retirement basis. If you choose to retire before some employers who have larger NI pension but not the second state pension. 62, a cost neutral calculation is made to contribution increases could make deeper, far Now there will only be a single tier pension of account for the fact that, by leaving earlier, you reaching changes to the benefit structures £155.65 (BSP is currently £115.95). Members will receive your benefits for longer. This is only leading to a disjointed scheme and huge will not automatically receive this higher for future service; your accrued benefits are variations in member benefits from one TOC amount because they haven’t paid for it protected. For example, if you reach 60 and to another. Also, the changes make the RPS (because of their reduced NI). No one will choose to retire and have accumulated 36 more affordable to members. receive less state pension than they would years with a CNERF of 60 and 4 years after the have under the old regime. change to 62, only 4 of your 40/60th will have Could we have fought it? reduction applied. Possibly, but we would have had to deal with it The changes we have agreed, along with Most train drivers don’t retire early so end on a company-by-company basis and the RMT, TSSA and Unite, are not where we up paying through pension contributions for a settlements would have inevitably introduced want to be, but they are the least worse benefit they don’t receive. They subsidise greater variance across the sections. These option. Applying the changes consistently and those who leave earlier (often higher paid changes are a direct result of the uniformly across the TOCs prevents further members of the scheme, such as managers). government’s changes to the state pension fragmentation and dilution of what is still a This change does not affect those who have scheme; it introduced the statutory override good pension scheme.

14 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 Key Worker A job for life

CLIFF BLACKWELL , who has just retired after nearly fifty years working on the iron road, reflects on the good, the bad, and the funny of life on the rails

HAVE recently retired after 49 years and 3 I months on the railway, having started my career at Stratford in the mid-1960s. There was a lot of variety then and, looking back, I have seen enormous change. Steam was still operating on the Southern region in the London area – but only just. There was an abundance of new diesel traction models and, over the years, the less reliable types were withdrawn, leaving the better ones to soldier on even to this day.

SUGAR BEET SPECIAL I was born in Stratford in east London and brought up in different companies, different Leyton, not far from Stratford traction, and different hairstyles, depot and Temple Mills but the song remains the same for marshalling yard – and, of course, the man at the front of the train Leyton Orient football club – and demise of parcel, paper and Royal our neighbour there was a guy Mail trains. Luton bodied van close to the called Bill Redhead, who was loco Loco hauled expresses went railway track. I was only doing a inspector at Stratford, and may from being steam heated during haulage. Also the HST 125s few miles per hour, and the first have influenced me in some way. I the winter months to ETH and appeared and most are still going wagon got past the van but the used to go train and bus spotting loose coupled/vacuum brake strong. Sadly, the APT project was second, being slightly wider did, in those days using London trains were phased out in favour scrapped although I saw it many but there was an almighty great Transport’s red and twin Rovers – of air brakes. times at Willesden whilst resting boom like an empty oil drum an early form of Oyster card – to my eyes in a quiet siding. being dropped and the second get about. FORMER GLORIES The breakup of BR saw wagon ripped the van’s body off Although I always had an Some commuter services went privatisation arrive and the rest, as the chassis, making one end point interest in the railway I never from being operated by first they say, is history. From a driver’s towards the sky with the rear end thought about it as a career on generation DMUs to similar point of view privatisation to the ground. leaving school. It was only when I electric units and, of course, there brought our salary up to was talking to a friend about jobs was the local pick-up goods train something to be proud of – REDUCED TO TEARS and he said he was a fireman on in the days when most stations though there is always room for The van’s driver came rushing up, the diesels at Stratford that I went had a yard to shunt – this work is improvement. saying it had just had a new for a visit and thought ‘Yes, that’s now history. engine, and I retorted by saying for me,’ took the entrance exam – A lot of rail-born traffic from NEEDS A NEW BODY ‘Well, it will need a new body now,’ which amounted to 20 general the London Docks disappeared I have been to a few depots in my and his response was that we had knowledge questions – and the when the docks closed and career – Stratford; Ripple Lane; swerved. By this time me and the rest is history, starting off on the marshalling yards were shut or Marylebone; Tilbury Riverside; shunter, Wayne Dunstan, were bottom rung of the ladder as a scaled down, becoming shadows Ripple Lane again and then, after reduced to tears and cleaner in July 1966. In total I have of their former glories. depot closure, back to Stratford; uncontrollable laughter. Climbing only ever had three jobs – New conceptions came in, with a redundancy move to off the shunt engine we went and apprentice electrician, Evening including 60mph block load trains Intercity Euston; Freightliner sat on a pile of coal to regain our News van boy, and the railway. and speed link air brake services. Tilbury Docks; and Freightliner composure. Then it was off to see When I started the railways Containerisation started with the Heavy Haul at Dagenham before I the foreman and file a report. I were busy with various types of new Freightliner branding raising retired in October 2015. I have never did hear the outcome. traffic flows ranging from milk, oil, train speeds to 75mph instead of enjoyed most of my time, met I have always been a member coal, steel and aggregates to the usual 45mph or below. some great people and wonderful of ASLEF and always advise new bananas and many more. There Electrification from Euston to characters in my railway career. drivers to join up. I have seen nine were even special sugar beet Glasgow came with the Shunting in Ripple Lane rail ASLEF general secretaries, workings at certain times of the introduction of the electric Scotts, head, propelling a couple of including Mick Whelan. And I wish year and I have also seen the with the Class 87s removing diesel wagons, a chap had parked his you all well for the future.

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 15 Branch news

Millerhill – active and unbowed – says we defy you

HE end of 2015 saw a T hectic few days for the members of Edinburgh No1 branch, as several redundant drivers started new positions elsewhere – they go with our best wishes for the future – whilst join us for the first a well-attended AGM time. This year we agreed a raft of items visited Hamburg; it Bobby Walker is presented with his retirement certificate for AAD. We have put was billed as a fact (top) before waving his colleagues goodbye (left); and an forward a number of finding mission to see unsuspecting John hutchison walks in (above) on his own items in recent years, how DB do things on presentation far (left) particularly in regard home territory, but to to freight. It could be be fair it was more £200 worth of included Dennis no different, as we Reeperbahn than vouchers by his Canavan, former know first hand the Bahnhof. Setting up colleagues. Bobby Labour MP for Falkirk cost of decline and camp in The Jolly was quite a character, West, Dave Hopper of mismanagement, and Roger, the famous St famous for wearing BR the Durham Miners’ now face new Pauli supporters’ bar, era uniform right until Association, and attempts to casualise we soon felt at home his last day, a regular representatives from our industry. with the locals with branch attendee with the Orgreave Truth & Branch whom we possibly a penchant for Justice Campaign, membership now sits share the same warning of the threat and the Free Colliers. at little over 30 and outlook and anti- posed by the mega Present was John my own depot, authoritarian instincts. truck, he will be Hutchison, a quiet, Millerhill, is down to a The world was missed at the depot helpful man, due to but has accepted that, diehard group of 14. certainly set to rights retire a few days later, The branch hands over a cheque to the miners Nevertheless, exactly over an afternoon of after 42 years on the who managed the half of the Millerhill knocking back glasses footplate, it’s time to apparently impossible number of 23.59 we wish him well. drivers attended; of Jack & Coke and hang up the key. – a long railway book-on turns being This year will be testimony to what bottles of Astra. Hopefully he’ll still career without rostered on a Saturday another testing time, remains an active and Returning home, it attend branch seriously falling out night. The veracity of but we must continue unbowed branch. was Bobby Walker’s meetings and drop with anyone, or that claim may be in to rise to the Next morning, 13 turn to retire, and into the bothy for a working a Sunday. doubt, but what was challenges and never of us departed for our most of the depot cup of tea now and When Sundays not in doubt was the allow ourselves to be Christmas trip, turned out to see him then. become part of the warmth of his send- weakened and including former on his last day. A Before we had working week he off, and presentation divided. Our motto is branch members who clearly emotional time to catch breath it retained protection on his last day. John is ‘We defy you’ and it’s have moved on in Bobby was presented was the Mayfield & from having to do so now free to spend never been more past years, and it was with his framed ASLEF Easthouses retired – though he would more time in the way appropriate. good to see some of retirement certificate, miners’ Christmas claim this led to a he loves best – with Hussein Ezzedine , the new ground staff engraved plaque, and party. ASLEF has a disproportionate his grandchildren, and branch secretary great history of solidarity with the mineworkers, this John hands in his remaining a source of inspiration for us key after hanging today. Members have up his footie boots attended for a number of years, but i had the pleasure to present this was my first and it John drinkwater, of Stirling was an honour to branch, with his retirement hand over a branch certificate five minutes after he cheque to another ex- became a grandad for the first Millerhill man, Mick time. John is an ex-professional Hogg, secretary of the footballer at Bradford, before Stirling during his long and retired miners. The joining the railway, and was a distinguished railway career. Edinburgh no1 on the road in hamburg excellent speakers local rep and branch chair at Kevin Lindsay

16 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 100 Years of union

Dave on the Leam Leamington Spa held its AGM on Sunday 13 December. We were pleased to be joined by Mick Holder turns back Dave Calfe, EC member for District 6, plus Phil Spice and time to February 1916 Roy Woodward of the Retired Members’ Section. Dave The editor of the Locomotive Journal spoke about the Trade Union EC vice-president dave Calfe joins the leamington Spa line-up reflects on an increase in members, a Bill, changes to the political vote against conscription, and a branch fund, restrictions on facility Trains Wales. He also last year. We are a small secretary with his fingers in the till time, moving from check-off congratulated the London branch of 18 members, so the to direct debit, moves within Midland company council on fact that people take time out SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ASLE&F Freightliner, the Night Tube their re-election. Then Roy on a Sunday to visit us is very The editor writes: ‘We are pleased to report dispute, pension told us all what the RMS has much appreciated. a successful year for the Society during arrangements, and the ballot been up to. We want to say Nick Walker , branch 1915, despite the war, and the adverse for industrial action on Arriva thank you to all our visitors reporter conditions it has created. Newport sent in the entrance fees of 41 new members. Exeter promptly capped this with 50 recruits. These two branches have run a The Golden Eagle has landed neck and neck race during the year, and Exeter just won with 102 new members against Newport’s 94. Dover has also been in the running with 96. Some progress.’

SONS OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS About the Labour conference, held in London in January, the editor reports: ‘The question of compulsion or conscription ended in a vote of 1,998,000 against any form of compulsion, and 783,000 votes in favour. A majority against of 1,215,000. This, we believe, fairly represents the opinions of organised labour against The imps line up in lincoln with gS Mick Whelan, dicky fisher, nigel gibson and howard Kaye enforced military service. We quite agree that it would be quite fair to criticise some It was a pleasure to have the GS, EMT lead Scotland and the freight sector and praised single young men as to their reasons for officer Dicky Fisher, District 5 Organiser Nigel national organiser Simon Weller, who leads on non-enlistment. We refer to the sons of the Gibson, EC member Howard Kaye, and two of DBS, and Nigel Gibson, who leads on middle-class businessmen, who have our company council reps, Pete Coles and Freightliner and GBRf, for trying to save jobs on suddenly found that they are Mark Letman, at our AGM at the Golden Eagle the freight side. Our DFC has had numerous indispensable to their father’s business.’ in Lincoln. Mick Whelan gave a thorough and meetings with EMT, mainly about Sunday informative talk which was very well received. working and changes to our t&cs, but with RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS little success. Their recommendations have He discussed the issues ASLEF has faced since ‘The general secretary received complaints been sent to Dicky Fisher. Best wishes to our he has been in post and the problems we face that men who, on offering themselves, had brothers and sisters at ATW in their fight for in the future, especially with the Trade Union failed to pass the army doctors, were being better t&cs and an acceptable pay offer. Bill the Tories are hoping to get through asked by the companies’ officials to Richy Doran , branch secretary Parliament. He talked about problems in disclose the reasons for their failure. This was promptly taken up with the general managers of the railways concerned, and Retired Members’ show hits Chingford with Lord Derby. Both the general managers replied that the company had The RMS committee would like to no desire for this information, that it would thank Chingford branch for the not be used in any way against our invitation to attend their members in their railway service, and that December meeting and talk the GS could so inform our members.’ about the 500 Club, which allows us to run our weekend school, FOUR MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT and about how we represent The editor ‘regrets to have to report that ASLEF in organisations such as the the decision of the EC to prosecute any National Pensioners’ Convention. dishonest branch secretary has already We are always available to attend had to be put into operation and, at the branch meetings; please contact Leeds Quarter Sessions on 7 January, a our new national secretary Les secretary was sentenced to four months’ Muir. imprisonment in the second division.’ Spot the leyton orient fan at Chingford Peter Smith , RMS reporter

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 17 Branch news

Upcoming events

 LONGSIGHT – WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY Reunion and Steve Biddulph retirement after 46 years on the railway from 14.0 at The Platform 5, Cheadle Hulme. do2 Kevin lindsay and district 2 council say a fond farewell to  EASTLEIGH – SATURDAY 12 MARCH popular long standing company council rep ian Smith. Annual reunion from 12.0 to 18.00 at the Railway Institute, 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh.

roy luxford was thanked  CRICKLEWOOD – FRIDAY 18 MARCH for his long service and all From 12.0 at the RAFA club, Ashburnham Road, Bedford. his hard work and presented with a decanter  RAMSGATE – THURSDAY 7 APRIL and bottle of Scotch at Southeastern retired and working members’ reunion from the Brighton agM. 11.0 at the Red Arrow Club, Newington Road, Ramsgate. Steve Allison , assistant secretary  STRATFORD – SATURDAY 30 APRIL Annual reunion from 17.00 at the Railway Tavern Hotel, 131 Angel Lane, Stratford, E15. All welcome. If you require Kevin lindsay, aSlEf’s accommodation call the Railway Tavern, quoting the organiser in Scotland, Stratford reunion, on 020 8534 3123. A raffle will be held to presents gordon pay for the buffet; please put your hand in your pocket! harrington with his retirement certificate.  BRIGHTON & SUSSEX – TUESDAY 3 MAY gordon has been an h&s Informal open afternoon for all retired and working members rep, local rep, branch chair at Sussex branches from 14.00 at the Brighton Railway Club. and assistant branch Paul Edwards (07402 478278) or Paul Horan (07868 757492). secretary during his long service to glasgow  Please send your branch news and photographs to members. [email protected]

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18 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 obituaries

PHIL PLAINE A FORMIDABLE UNION SPOKESMAN WHO COULD WALK ON WATER It is with great sadness that I report the Brighton No 2 branch. He held various will also be remembered for the very active departure of Brighton ASLEF member Bro Phil positions, including branch secretary, branch part he played during the flexible rostering Plaine who passed away on 18 December at chair, LDC secretary, h&s rep, trades council dispute of 1982 and the support he mustered the age of 88. Phil’s footplate career started on delegate, AAD delegate, district council for the miners during their long and bitter 11 October 1943, following in the footsteps of representative (on which he also served as strike in 1984-85. He was a truly dedicated other family members. Phil spent his entire chair). Phil was a strong defender of all trade unionist through and through. In 1989 career at Brighton. He progressed through the footplate staff, and our conditions, and was a Phil decided to take early retirement which various footplate grades from engine cleaner formidable advocate and spokesman for his ended a family connection to the railway and fireman to engineman, in 1962 depot and the ASLEF membership. He was so industry in the Brighton area that dated right transferring to the motorman’s depot at impressive, and so well liked, that fellow back to the 1860s. Brighton. Phil became a dominant figure in members claimed he ‘could walk on water.’ Phil Paul Edwards , Brighton

COLIN GULLIVER OVERLAND TO AUSTRALIA’S IRON ROAD JOHN PALMER Colin Gulliver passed away on 12 YOUNGEST DRIVER December at the age of 73. Colin ON BRITISH RAIL came to the railway via a It is with great sorrow that I circuitous route, originally have to report the passing in becoming a teacher in 1963, and retirement of our Bro John later traveling overland to Palmer. Like many of his Australia where he first came to generation he had a nomadic the iron road as a conductor, and career; always on the move, later worked as a driver on the from depot to depot, as Melbourne tram network. On his closures and redundancy return to the UK he joined British drove him away from his home Rail at Worksop. Through the years town of Spalding. he had many different roles, gulliver’s travels: Colin on the trams But what set John apart before retiring from Doncaster down under (above) and, more recently, from his peers was his assessment centre in 1995. still sporting impressive facial hair determination that Outside the railway he was a keen redundancy was going to work member of his local CAMRA the UK. He will be missed by his for him, so from a start date of branch and also collected vintage family friends and former 3 May 1954 and having vehicles and tractors which he workmates. achieved passed man status at enjoyed displaying throughout Jon Gulliver , Shrewsbury Spalding he was on his way to Hatfield depot as a registered JOHN TURNBULL £10 TICKET TO OZ RICK PENLINGTON driver at 23. This was virtually unheard of in peacetime Retired King’s Cross driver John Turnbull died on 24 RADIO RICKY Britain and made John one of September 2015. Unfortunately, we were not the youngest drivers on British informed until the last minute, so to inform Rail. It would be easy to list the everyone was near impossible, but Les Muir and I moves John had as driver: managed to represent ASLEF at his funeral, and the Hornsey steam depot, family were pleased to see us there. When John left Finsbury Park, King’s Cross school he got a job selling ice cream and candy and, finally, Peterborough but floss, was drafted into the army, and when that in isolation doesn’t do demobbed, decided see the world. He took the offer of a justice to a fine engineman, £10 passage to Australia and then, after a while, set off again, this time colleague and stalwart of to Canada, before finally coming back to England, where he joined the Peterborough branch. His railway at King’s Cross. John spent his final days on the railway at knowledge on a range of Bounds Green. He usually attended our reunions but, two years ago, subjects was encyclopaedic; had a bad fall, broke bones, and never fully recovered. May he RIP. you could engage him on local radio ricky Pete Smith , King’s Cross politics whilst picking up tips it is with deep sadness that i to improve your herbaceous report the loss of retired borders. SIMON PRICE SADLY MISSED member rick Penlington or, as When I posted the notice of we all knew him, radio ricky. John’s death at the depot one Birmingham new Street is sorry to announce the untimely he was taken from us at such a of his ex-colleagues glanced at death of one of its newest drivers, Simon Price. Simon young age (58). ricky worked the words, thought for a died on 15 September 2015 aged just 44 and will be sadly on the Central line, then moment, and said: ‘You always missed by family and colleagues alike. Simon started his eventually got to Barking on knew you were in for a good railway career at longbridge, in the booking office, and the hammersmith & City. he day when you were booked progressed through the ranks to senior conductor at new will be sadly missed, as a great with John.’ To his widow Street where he obtained the grade of driver in January friend, and work colleague, so i Barbara, and children Ann and 2013. riP Simon. say rest in peace rick, and keep Ian, we extend our Martin Bromage-Griffiths , Birmingham New Street those messages going. condolences. Terry Laws , East Ham Simon Bell , Peterborough

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 19 letters

We welcome letters, either by COSTLY PUBLIC BURDEN OF email to [email protected] or by Royal Mail to ASLEF Journal at LEASING PASSENGER TRAINS 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN . The writer of our star letter oh dear. ra Sargeant is in a bit of a The bigger problem that nobody wins a rich range of ASLEF regalia. muddle in January’s Journal . first, to seems to have addressed is the write off Jeremy Corbyn without any ownership of the rolling stock. reason and declare that anyone who To buy this asset from the rolling believes he could win a general election stock companies would be DOO – where do we stand? is ‘living in a dream state and in urgent prohibitively expensive so we would The ASLEF charter states ‘No extension to DOO need of a reality check!’ Perhaps some remain wedded to them by the need to schemes and all current schemes to be elaboration would be useful with continue leasing their trains, many of revisited and safety risk assessed. ’The recent regard to this controversial statement? which we previously owned until they joint statement from ASLEF and the RMT says Then an assertion that it would take were given away, for next to nothing, in ‘We are completely opposed to DOO and its billions of pounds to buy the franchises the mid-1990s. forms… and our unions will not agree to the back. i think it’s been fairly clear that Even if a state owned railway was to extension of DOO under any circumstances.’ franchises will be allowed to run their own all newly built rolling stock it This otherwise welcome declaration does, course and then not be offered for would take three or four decades however, appear to quietly abandon the renewal, thus returning passenger train before the stock entering service charter commitment to revisit current DOO operations to state ownership one by during the last half of this decade schemes, a point backed up by Mick Whelan one. The process would be gradual becomes due for replacement and we whose column in January’s Journal says ASLEF throughout the 2020s but cost nothing; would rid the railway of the costly will ‘not be supporting DOO where the EC a step-by-step transition would be burden of leasing passenger trains. determines it does not fall within existing easier to manage anyway. Chris Martin , Watford agreements or is new’ – a line which could just as easily be interpreted as a resigned acceptance of – with no intention of revisiting or risk assessing – DOO on lines such as those I Travel rights in retirement be instrumental in winning important rights for retired nSg drivers but we would work over where, all too regularly, no second looking around my depot, a quick also be simplifying the existing person at all, far less a safety critical one, is calculation reveals that, within five years, complicated and sometimes contradictory anywhere to be found. the majority of drivers eligible for in-service leisure travel process. as a result, So what is the policy exactly and what does retirement will be nSg staff. unfortunately, i am certain that many grateful nSg drivers it amount to in practice? unlike their ex-Br colleagues, they will have would more easily see the benefits of Almost six years ago, when ASLEF’s no guaranteed travel rights on retiring. continued membership of the union when position on DOO was exactly the same as that Comrades, i am on a good salary with SWT, taking retirement. stated today, I stood on a picket line with mainly down to past pay deals attributable Gary Trotter , Basingstoke fellow ScotRail guards on strike in response to to aSlEf company council negotiators, plans for DOO operation on the soon to be which includes free for leisure travel for me opened Airdrie-Bathgate link (where I now and my dependants on SWT and sister Picture this drive). In contrast the drivers, almost companies, a ToC card (75% off other train I am most displeased with the picture on page unanimously sympathetic, were forced to operators), and i can even apply for fiP 20 (Letters Journal , January). I find this most work with, to choose my words carefully, international rail and ferry travel cards distressing, and did not like it when it was on ‘temporary replacement workers,’ as ASLEF (which we have used on family holidays). the television and in the papers. We should washed its hands of the issue. In conversation it is therefore ironic that, when i retire in not be publishing a picture of this little boy as, with ASLEF office holders, keen to justify their a few years’ time, and my household for some of our members who have lost young inertia, I was told quite candidly, and without a disposable income falls, predictably, to a ones, it reminds them of something most dear hint of embarrassment, that having effectively dramatically low figure compared to my that will never be replaced. I know others may agreed to DOO as a safe mode of operating salary at present, i will struggle to be able like to remind us of the plight of refugees but trains for the majority of ScotRail drivers, they to afford to continue to travel by train. this picture is just too much, and distasteful. could not now reasonably argue against it. Sometimes i wish the system was Ian Jolly , Northam ‘How can we say it’s not safe?’ they would simplified to mean, while i am still in repeat, over and over and over. railway employment, that me and my So that is what opposition to DOO, in dependants paid a small charge every time Junior doctors’ dispute practice, consisted of in 2010; hiding behind that we used any uK service (as long as This is to thank Mick Whelan for your letter the type of existing agreements Mick refers to neither my wife or children are not in full regarding the junior doctors’ dispute over rather than tackling DOO head on by time employment) in return for retention of the imposition of a new contract. The BMa revisiting them. Like people, trade unions the ToC privilege card and fiP entitlement has been inundated with messages of deserve to be judged on actions, not words. It on retirement (after a minimum period of support from doctors, other health care would be comforting, therefore, to be assured service of, say, 10 years). professionals, members of the public and that, from now, ASLEF’s actions on DOO will any discussions on change would representatives of other unions, such as live up to our statements, the unambiguous involve all uK drivers and aToC, and would yourself. as you say, no one takes industrial commitment to revisit current schemes therefore require the services of senior action lightly. included. Because as Mick highlighted, DOO is aSlEf negotiators to achieve a positive We hope to reach a contract fair and safe not getting any safer. outcome. if this were to be achieved, i for both doctors and patients. Fraser Coats , Bathgate believe that not only could aSlEf claim to Dr Mark Porter , BMA council chair

20 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 Classified advertisements

Hugh, Kevin and Scoop up to the plate when i found myself ON LOAN from British Rail hard flagging. Thanks, Si, for your help. enamel badge. Individually numbered, Although I do not officially retire until 31 Gary Warburton , Southeastern LDR, brooch fastening. £6 + £1 p&p from March – I am in the process of clearing Battersea [email protected] outstanding leave until then – I finished with ScotRail on 11 December and, through the medium of the Journal , would like to pass on a Best investment I’ve made OAKS MEMORIAL few thanks. First, thanks to EC rep Hugh I want to thank all the ASLEF members at commemorative badge honouring Bradley and DO Kevin Lindsay not only for the Barnham for all the support that they’ve 361 miners killed in an explosion ASLEF appreciation certificate and plate shown me. I was unfortunately involved in my at the Oaks colliery near (which was a nice surprise) but for all the help first incident after eight months of driving. Barnsley on 12 December 1866. £3 from over the years in my various roles in ASLEF. I Because of the nature of the incident, I was [email protected] would also like to thank all the members in facing 12 weeks’ notice. But for the support of District 2 for having faith in me, especially all my driver colleagues, staff reps, particularly LONGSIGHT badges to my comrades in the Glasgow branch who Jeff Turner and my company council reps, mark 125th anniversary. £5 + have put up with me for 28 years. Final thanks Kevin Eade, and a special mention to Paul £1 p&p. Also a bespoke tie at to John McCue, alias Scoop, with whom I have Donnelly, I would no longer be in the driving £8 + £1 p&p. Contact Jim partnered so long it’s amazing people didn’t grade. When I joined ASLEF, I didn’t know how Hopkins on 07810 564804 or talk about us! Forty-one years on the job, 33 as important being a member of a trade union [email protected] for details. a rep, have flown by, and it does not seem that would be. I do now. Clearly the best long since I started at Barrow Hill (Chris Dodd investment I’ve ever made. Thanks again. BESPOKE CUSHIONS Hand will remember those days) before moving up Mo Basma , Barnham made 40cm square cushions of to Helensburgh and then on to Yoker, where I railway engines and carriages. met some great guys, and finally Glasgow Friends in railway family £50. Call Abi on 07954 659849 or email me at Queen Street. So thanks to everyone I have [email protected] worked with and all the best for the future. I would like to thank the aSlEf committee Gordon Harrington , Glasgow for the generous cheque. it was very much appreciated, and has been a great help to ASLEF-NUM 30th anniversary of me and my family. it is very comforting to the miners’ strike. King’s Cross Where do we stand on EU? know that aSlEf works so hard to support twinned pits. Profits to Justice for With an in/out referendum on British its members in time of need. Please also Mineworkers. £5 + £1 p&p from membership of the European union pass on my sincere thanks for the collection [email protected] looming i hope that we, in aSlEf, can learn i received. i was overwhelmed by the lessons from the recent Scottish generosity of individuals and branches ISLE OF WIGHT 150th rail independence referendum. Whilst the throughout the country. i have now left dB anniversary commemorative badge. pages of this Journal provided an open and Schenker, due to my ill health, but would £4.99 inc post and packaging. balanced forum for debate i think it’s fair to like to give all my friends and colleagues in Contact Fratton driver John say that the process of making union policy the railway family my very best wishes for Glazebrook on 07823 881495 for details. was slightly less robust. i’d like to appeal to 2016 and beyond. aSlEf branches to consider organising Edward Kilbey PROFESSIONAL ENGRAvING at in/out debates over the next few months sensible prices. I can engrave anything with a view to informing ourselves of the you wish, such as the ASLEF logo on arguments and our aad a flavour of Right across the country the pint tankard. Contact Paul Potts by membership opinions. On behalf of Motherwell branch and our email at [email protected] Steven Nimmo , Edinburgh member Bro Ian McLeod, I would like to express our deepest thanks to all branches BLAND ENCOUNTER by Donald right across the country who contributed to Wightman is a comedy novel about A great asset to ASLEF our appeal for Ian. He has now returned to risqué encounters on the railways. A I’d like to thank Bill Williams for all the hard work but faces more reconstructive surgery in donation from the sale of each book work he put into DCC over the last six years. the future. The donations have greatly aided will be made to the Royal British Bill served six years before my time with him. A Ian during his treatment. Legion and Help for Heroes. Paperback walking history book, with a great sense of Andy Jones , branch secretary £7.99 ebook £3.95 from www.amazon.co.uk humour, made him a great colleague. The four day week with Sundays inside was always his COWDEN CRASH dream. I’m so pleased the last 26 working days Big thank you from Brum commemorative badges, pa were removed over our two pay deals i would like to say a big thank you to Bill price £5, to mark the 20th together, along with scrapping committed goode and all the llC at Birmingham new anniversary of the hours, is something you can be very proud of, Street for their help and support while i accident. Contact Mick Green at userg4163 mate. You have been a great asset to ASLEF was off work, and getting back to work, @aol.com if you are ex-Norwood train crew. and a real industrial warrior with a lot of fight. after a pretty bad fatality. and a belated happy new Year to all aSlEf members. Steve Burgess DCC , Southeastern CLASS 73/1 JB 50 year badges Rob Lowry , Birmingham New Street for sale. Three variations as Highs and lows of a rep shown at £5 each plus £1 p&p. Dedication and service Cheques, payable to Network My ldC partner, Simon Pearce, stepped South East Railway Society, to 41 Highfield down from his role at the end of 2015. i Following a fatality, I would like to thank the Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 6DD. would like to take this opportunity to thank Plymouth Cross Country local staff reps and him for all the work he has put in over the my colleagues for their support. I appreciate years. he and i endured the customary your dedication and service, and I know To advertise please phone 020 7324 2400 highs and lows of being reps and we got on others do, too. or send an email to [email protected] very well as a team. he would always step Neil Bramley , Plymouth

February 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 21 last Word

Percy pulls the mail on time Gordon thunders down the line Thomas, he’s the cheeky one

It’s 70 years since Thomas the Tank Engine made his first appearance on the Island of Sodor. To mark the anniversary KEITH RICHMOND reports on the railway journey of this humble steam locomotive from one child’s bedtime story to a multi-million pound global phenomenon

HEN the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, curate of W St Nicholas’s Church, King’s Norton, just outside Birmingham, was trying to amuse his young son who was bored and in bed with measles, he began telling him stories about steam engines. But the Rev Awdry didn’t read little Christopher stories from the pages of a book; he made them up as he went along, sitting at his bedside. It wasn’t, he found, too hard. Because he had grown up just a couple of hundred yards from Box Tunnel, between Bath and products available, ranging from Chippenham, on the Great lunchboxes and duvets to potties Western main line in Wiltshire, the same story every time.”’ The rev W and iPad apps – as well as the where there was a banking Awdry wrote down the stories awdry with phenomenally popular television engine to help freight trains up on the back of old parish circulars, his most series, narrated first by Ringo Starr the hill. Listening, as a child, to the with rudimentary sketches of his popular and then Michael Angelis, in whistles between the engines, anthropomorphic locomotives, creation, Britain, and by Alec Baldwin and and the bark from the and that would have been the Thomas the Pierce Brosnan in the States, all locomotives’ exhausts as they end of it had not his wife Tank Engine contribute to what has become a fought their way for a couple of Margaret, frustrated by the limited £1 billion a year global industry. miles up the incline, Awdry had choice of children’s literature you helped me to make them. And it was Andrew Lloyd plenty of material on which to available on the shelves of the Your loving Daddy.’ Webber’s passion, as a child, for draw. He said later: ‘There was no bookshops in Birmingham, urged That, too, was successful, and Awdry’s stories that resulted in his doubt, in my mind, that steam him to send them to a publisher. was followed by books about musical Starlight Express . engines all had definite James the Red Engine , Toby the The enduring popularity of personalities. I would hear them COME OUT OF THE Tram Engine , Percy the Small Thomas the Tank Engine and the snorting up the grade and little STATION YARD Engine and many more, featuring other locomotives is curious imagination was needed to hear, Faber & Faber and Chatto & characters such as Peter Sam; Sir because the programmes, like the in the puffings and pantings of Windus turned them down but Handel; Duncan; Rusty; Annie and books, are anachronistic. This is a the two engines, the conversation Edmund Ward liked them and four Clarabel, Thomas’s coaches; and world, recognisably real in the they were having with one stories – featuring Edward the other pieces of alliterative middle of the last century, set in another: “I can’t do it! I can’t do it!” Blue Engine, Gordon the Big engineering including Terence aspic. There’s a feudal hierarchy on “Yes, you can! Yes, you can!”’ Engine, Henry the Green Engine, the Tractor, Trevor the Traction the Island of Sodor, a clear sense and Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Engine, Harold the Helicopter and of Christian mission, and the ON THE BACK OF OLD Director (who became the Fat Bertie the Bus. books are big on punishment PARISH CIRCULARS Controller after nationalisation) – The Rev Awdry wrote 26 books when rules have been broken. Edward – kind, if a little old- were published as a single in the Railway Series – pretty There are few jokes, an absence of fashioned and slow – was Awdry’s volume, The Three Railway Engines , much one a year – until 1972. He post-modern irony, and no first creation, followed by proud in 1945. The book quickly sold out died at the age of 85 in 1987. His winking at parents reading or Gordon and disobedient Henry. – 25,000 copies in six weeks – and son Christopher wrote another 14 watching with their kids. And young Christopher was Ward asked Awdry for a follow-up. books between 1983 and 1996, But perhaps that’s the point. entranced. ‘If you’re telling a story Thomas the Tank Engine was with two more in 2007 and 2011. The stories about Thomas the Tank out of your head, it doesn’t come published in March 1946 with this Engine are traditional tales which out the same every time,’ he dedicatory letter: ‘Dear £1 BILLION A YEAR offer the certainties of another remembers. ‘After a while he got Christopher, Here is your friend GLOBAL INDUSTRY age. As Eddie Redmayne said so fed up with me saying, “Well, Thomas, the Tank Engine. He But it’s not just the books, which when he voiced Ryan in the CGI that’s not how it happened last wanted to come out of his station are available in a plethora of feature film Sodor’s Legend of the time, Dad,’ that he thought, “Blow yard and see the world. These editions. Models, toys and Lost Treasure last year, ‘Nobody is this, I’ll write it all down and, that stories tell you how he did it. I merchandise – there are 1,600 better at being a train than way, I can be sure you’ll be getting hope you will like them because authorised Thomas & Friends Thomas.’

22 The ASLEF Journal l February 2016 Food & Drink by Lucy Knox Prize Crossword number 118 by Zebedee across down 1 Journalists; cuts (5) 1 Secure (wrists) (8) 4 Temporarily 2 Argentinian city (7) inactive (7) 3 Melting snow (5) TRADITIONAL 8 Lovingly brought 4 A seabed scoop (6) up (7) 5 Charity events; a PANCAKES 9 Area of expertise (5) gentleman burglar (7) 10 Table covering (5) 6 Sharp mountain Celebrate Shrove Tuesday in 11 A Horde; a Gate ridge (5) style on Tuesday 9 February Bridge (6) 7 Fuss (2, 2) 13 Former Spanish 12 Salacious (8) dictator (6) 14 (In) league (7) 15 Pressure line on a 16 Starting to weather map (6) sprout (7) 18 A symbiotic 17 Ill repute (6) plant (6) 19 Covered in 20 Europe v US creeper (5) golf cup (5) 20 Money in India (5) 22 A horned beast (5) 21 (Glass) be very Solution to Crossword 117 23 Make aware (7) full (4) across: 1 Cloche, 4 Scilla, 9 Swagger, 24 Shyness (7) 10 Mummy, 11 Octet, 12 Cholera, 13 Human 25 Boat Race team (5) rights, 18 Satanic, 20 Navvy, 22 Idiot, 23 Rootlet, 24 Middle, 25 Stream Sift 100g plain flour into a bowl. Whisk down: 1 Cosmos, 2 Op Art, 3 High tea, together 2 eggs and 300ml milk in a 5 Combo, 6 Lambent, 7 Amytal, 8 Track record, Name...... jug. Make a well in the centre and 14 Untried, 15 Gunboat, 16 Osmium, gradually whisk the liquid into the flour 17 System, 19 Natal, 21 Valve Address...... to make a smooth batter. Heat a little sunflower oil in a medium non-stick Congratulations to C Simmons ...... frying pan and ladle in enough batter of Bournemouth, dorset , ...... to cover the base, in a thin layer, who was last month’s swirling the pan. Cook until golden winner. The winner of this ...... underneath, then turn over and cook month’s Prize Crossword will for another 30 seconds or so. Repeat receive Marks & Spencer Postcode...... with the remaining batter. Tip the vouchers to the value of £25 pancakes onto plates, squeeze over a little lemon juice, sprinkle with sugar, Thanks for all your responses to the 117th ASLEF crossword in the January edition. If you and serve at once. successfully complete this month’s crossword please send the solution to the Editor, ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN by 14 February EATING YOUR PHIL If you’re on a gluten-, wheat- or dairy-free diet, you can still indulge ASLEF’s legal services yourself with chocolate cake if you are being harassed at work, bullied or discriminated against, and thanks to Phil if your local, branch or district rep is unavailable, call the industrial Vickery’s gorgeous, and exceedingly relations department at union headquarters (020 7324 2400) or email easy, Seriously Good Gluten Free [email protected]. if you are arrested or interviewed by police and need Extremely Chocolaty Loaf Cake Mix legal assistance – day or night – call the members’ emergency hotline on (£5.25 from Squires Kitchen) topped with his Gluten Free Real Chocolate 0800 587 7530. aSlEf also provides first class legal advice free for Fondant Icing (£4.50). Call 0845 617 members and dependents. in the last twelve 1810 or visit www.squires-shop.com months, £6,769,848 has been recovered in damages for members. SHAPE UP WITH LORRAINE Keep those New Changed your address? Please let us know! Year’s resolutions going with Lorraine Name...... Pascale’s brilliant book Eating Well Address...... Made Easy (Harper ...... Collins, £20). It’s packed with healthy, Postcode ...... Telephone...... nutritious and utterly delicious recipes including Spicy Baked Eggs, Easy Herby Branch...... Membership No...... Parmesan Roast Potatoes and Tasty Chocolate Brownies. Please return coupon to: ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN Here’s another benefit of being a member of ASLEF

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