ASLEFJOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2020 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen The state of freight after the pandemic Inside: Simon Weller , Nigel Gibson , Maggie Simpson , and company council reps Paul Barber , Andy Bullock , James Glew , The train drivers ’ union since 1880 and Barry Hare on the opportunities for freight post covid-19 railway enginemen’ s tax fr ee saver plans tax fr ee savings plans for anyone who works on the railways... we don’ t mean just train drivers..! tax fr ee policies fr om 70p per day , £5 per week and £20 per month for further information call us on freephone 0800 328 9140 visit our website at www.enginemens.co.uk or write to us at Railway Enginemen's Assurance Society Limited, 727 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, B8 2LE @RailwayEnginemens Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authorit y. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authorit y. Incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 GS Mick Whelan The curfew tolls the ASLEFJOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2020 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen knell of passing day UR thoughts, as they have been O continually in recent days, are with the families, friends, colleagues, and all those impacted, by the tragedy at Stonehaven. The untimely deaths of the ‘The railway family 5 8 driver, Brett McCullough, comes together at train conductor Donald times like these’ News Dinnie, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, will live long in the l Driver Brett McCullough dies at Stonehaven 4 minds and memories of the railway family. It is at times like this that the railway family l Today’s sermon – take the train – plus Off the 5 comes together as one, operating for a greater Rails: Matthew Engel; Stewart Copeland; good, with the unions, companies, and Norman Smith and Robin Cook; Alan Parker; Network Rail all behaving with dignity, and and John Betjeman at Didcot station buffet mutual respect, to deal with the immediate l Edwin Bowlas on the last train to Silkville 6 11 aftermath, and to pave the way for an investigation, and the subsequent lessons that l Campaign for free TV licences for the over 75s 7 we will need to learn to prevent such an l Jim McMahon calls on Shapps to come clean 8 occurrence again. Now is not the time for idle speculation, Features sensationalism, or the scoring of industrial or political points. That may come later, when we l AGS Simon Weller on the state of the rail 10 have all the information and data at our freight sector after the coronavirus crisis disposal, if we need to ensure there can be no repeat so that no families have to suffer this l Maggie Simpson of the RFG says there is now 11 14 a chance for freight to prosper in the UK; and agony again. Simon Weller reports on a showdown with For those who wish, individually or through DBC over a proposed pensionable pay cap their branches, a joint fund has been set up with the RMT for the families of Brett and l DO5 Nigel Gibson; Paul Barber (FLHH); Andy 12-13 Donald with monies to be divided equally. You Bullock (FLIM); James Glew (DBC); and Barry can find details on page 4 of the Journal , on the Hare (GBRf) report on the state of freight ASLEF website, and the information will be l Julian Vaughan makes a post-election plea to 14-15 circulated, too. Labour Party members; and from flygskam to We have been responding to messages, not tågskryt in the age of the train 19 just from the UK but from right across the world, from trade unions, civil society groups, and individuals paying their respects to those Regulars who passed, and have been impacted. Such l Branch Lines 16-17 friendship and solidarity is greatly appreciated. We have all worked through this difficult l Obituaries 18-19 time but I want to put on record my thanks to l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 District Organiser Kevin Lindsay, supported by EC2 Jim Baxter, and all our representatives who l Bernard Kennedy on Bernard Mugridge, a 22 have demonstrated great professionalism proud Cornishman with a penchant for pasties during the most difficult and emotional of l On Track: Michael Portillo in father’s footsteps; 23 22 circumstances. our Prize Crossword; ASLEF’s Legal Services; Every day we continue to work on the and members’ Change of Address form challenges presented by the pandemic, and the changing economic circumstances, but those are topics and discussions for future columns. The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: Because now we want to take time to reflect on, ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN and show respect for, those who are no longer Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] with us, and consider those left behind, and the website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion fight to ensure, in future, that everyone comes 23 home from working and travelling on our railways safely. Our thoughts are continually EdiToR Mick Whelan l dESiGNER Michael Cronin l PRiNTER College Hill Press, London, SW19 4HE with you and your family at this difficult time. AdvERTiSiNG ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 020 7324 2407 or [email protected] l clASSiFiEd AdS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF Yours fraternally cHANGE oF AddRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN Mick Whelan, general secretary September 2020 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News The train was stopped by a radio message from the signaller at Carmont after a driver on Stonehaven touched the down (northbound) line reported a landslip obstructing the track between Carmont and Laurencekirk. A decision was taken to return the service to Aberdeen, and it all in the rail family was routed back over a crossover onto the down line. EVIN Lindsay, ASLEF’s organiser in According to the RAIB, ‘after travelling for Scotland, has paid tribute to Brett approximately 1.4 miles the train struck a K McCullough, the train driver who landslip covering the down line and derailed. died in the rail crash at Stonehaven, As the track curved to the right, the train Aberdeenshire, on Wednesday 12 August. continued in a roughly straight line for around ‘This tragic accident has affected everyone in 100 yards until it struck a section of bridge the railway family,’ said Kevin, ‘especially the parapet, which was destroyed. The leading family and friends of the three people who power car continued over the bridge and fell died, and the six people who were injured.’ from the railway down a wooded Brett McCullough, 45, who was married embankment, as did the third passenger with three children, and worked out of carriage. Aberdeen depot, lived not far from the scene ‘The first passenger carriage came to rest on of the crash. its roof, having rotated to be at right angles to ‘Brett was originally from Bromley, in Kent, the track. The second passenger carriage also but moved to Aberdeenshire to marry overturned onto its roof and came to rest on the first carriage. The fourth passenger Stephanie. He worked as a gas fitter up here, Kevin lindsay carriage, which had remained upright and and was servicing the boiler of an Aberdeen (right) spoke for the attached to the rear power car, also came to driver when they started to talk about the railway family when rest on the first carriage. All wheelsets of the railway, and about driving trains. Brett was he paid tribute to rear power car derailed, but it remained fascinated, successfully applied for a job, did Brett Mccullough upright.’ his training, earned his key, and entered (far right) the driver Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has asked service with ScotRail in December 2013. who died in the Stonehaven tragedy ‘He was a dedicated train driver, who loved for an interim report into the crash from the his job, and was very popular at the depot huge void in all our lives. We would like to RAIB by 1 September. The full report is unlikely with his colleagues. He was also a devoted thank the emergency services for their heroic to be published until next summer. family man who loved his wife and children – efforts in helping everyone affected by this two girls and a boy. Brett thought the world of tragedy and for all the messages of support QUOTE… them, and we all thought the world of him.’ and condolence we have received.’ ‘What Grant Shapps is proposing is Kevin helped organise a statement, on The 06.38 ScotRail service from Aberdeen nationalisation in everything but name.’ behalf of the family, put out by ASLEF: ‘Words to Glasgow Queen Street – an HST set with a – Adrian Quine , Daily Telegraph cannot describe the utterly devastating effect leading power car, four coaches, and a rear …UNQUOTE of Brett’s death on his family and friends. We power car – left on time with three train crew have lost a wonderful husband, father, and son (Brett, conductor Donald Dinnie, and another in the most awful of circumstances. Brett was conductor travelling as a passenger) and six the most decent and loving human being we passengers on board. The service would have TWEETS OF THE MONTH have ever known and his passing leaves a been busier were it not for covid-19.