jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Nov 28, 2014 20:23:23 GMT
hi roger, the reason why cleaners progressed to fireman and drivers was because they wanted to progress to fireman and drivers! the railways would have had huge difficulties employing just a 'cleaner' grade otherwise! in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s BR couldnt get anyone to do the job of cleaner unless they thought they might go up a few grades... it was/is the most awful job, and i agree i dont see how you can learn much about the mechanics and operation of a steam loco by wiping away grime with cotton waste soaked in paraffin! it's like saying a car cleaner learns how a car works!
cheers, julian
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Post by Roger on Nov 28, 2014 20:45:59 GMT
That certainly makes sense Julian, it's just the way they dress it up I find a bit daft. Your analogy of the car cleaner is very apt.
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Post by Rob on Nov 28, 2014 21:52:43 GMT
I understand how you must feel........... but it's a Hard-Earned privilege and one not given lightly of course.....Several years as a cleaner, then as a "Passed Cleaner" will see you there.........But don't despair and do keep watching those videos as they are the real thing after all...........Mention of the Duke of Gloucester reminds me of this, which has been on here just recently but I thought you might like to "Sit-in" with the crew ??...................... www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHuYeYttBb8 ---------- Watch and see what the the Driver looks at...and take note of the Fireman's technique = both feet planted square and firm with a nice, steady rate and not overloading the shovel ... Yes, I watched that video with interest a few months ago, I like the fact that the driver takes the time to explain what he's doing which is a marked difference from the other footplate videos out there. How do modern day drivers get to drive steam on the main line? Presumably there aren't many left old enough to have done so originally, and what with the various aptitude tests and whatnot most of us wouldn't get anywhere near a driving job these days. I'd have jumped at the chance to be a cleaner as a boy, I wouldn't have cared how dirty the job was! I'd probably have done it for free, too, such was my enthusiasm for anything railway related.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2014 22:38:56 GMT
hi roger, the reason why cleaners progressed to fireman and drivers was because they wanted to progress to fireman and drivers! the railways would have had huge difficulties employing just a 'cleaner' grade otherwise! in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s BR couldnt get anyone to do the job of cleaner unless they thought they might go up a few grades... it was/is the most awful job, and i agree i dont see how you can learn much about the mechanics and operation of a steam loco by wiping away grime with cotton waste soaked in paraffin! it's like saying a car cleaner learns how a car works! cheers, julian Believe me a lot is learned from cleaning Julian, rivets loose, motion loose, nuts, cotters, loose or missing, movement in parts that shouldn't move, broken springs found, the list is unending. All of these things are easily noticed after time without even having to look for them, great training for grades above! Cheers Ben
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Post by ejparrott on Nov 29, 2014 8:24:22 GMT
That's right, and it's more a case of 'turns' than 'years'. Come to the TR, if you volunteer as a cleaner every day for the year (barring the 9 day limit of course), listen and learn come the end of that year you could be a passed cleaner. Go for 3 days a year, and it's going to take you a long time to learn the job and progress. The cleaning aspect of it is just the starting point, the engines need to be clean when they go out. While you're doing that, you learn the different arrangements of the parts, and what things are called and what they do. You also check for loose nuts and bolts, missing split pins, cracks in paintwork which might indicate frame cracks or loose stretchers, and any evidence of hot boxes. Duty Shedman will be along to check them as well, but the cleaners are usually at it first, and the sooner a failure is reported the sooner it can be dealt with or a replacement engine found.
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