Rambling Railwayman's Recollections - Instructor Days - OTC Southside Waterloo (Part1) 

Hi Geoff, Fantastic series. I joined the Railway in 1988 aged 16 on a YTS Track Maintenance scheme. I wanted to become a Train Driver and had the offer of a trainee position in Paddington ,when I was 18. But they wanted me to lodge up in London as I lived in Banbury. But the money was poor for a trainee and could not afford to move to London. I’m still on the Railway 34 yrs later as a signalling Installer. It’s great to get an insight in life as a driver. Kind regards Mark Clifton

Hi Geoff thank you so much for making your working life available in this format, loving every chapter looking forward to more down here in Australia

Absolutely enthralling! I'm amazed that anyone (let alone hordes of drivers and instructors) could learn all that details. Annd survive the sleep depravation that being a railwayman's life entails!

I remember that Woking 150 event. I was 6 at the time! I wish they did more things like that these days.

Wonderful stuff Geoff, good to see another picture of my course

Cyril Sweet infamous comment '' Got the Idea''. John Rutter, Fred Johnson, and then Ted Lynch from Salisbury nicknamed 'The Colonel' who was at Basingstoke. Worked with Tim Morgan and ex Eastleigh man. Interestly no Tony Blaxhill who lived at New Milton.

Good old Tony Harper. I was supposed to have him for rules at the end of my course but he was off ill that day. I had Dave Rousseau instead (oh no). He was actually alright in the end and passed me. Being a Salisbury driver in 1999 I was so glad that I didn't have to do the MP12. I could have opted for driving back in 1989 but the Clapham Crash in 88 with Johhny Rolls and losing Clive Brooker at Holton Heath the following April put me off so I went for Senior Conductor instead. It took me a while before I would go up front again and sit on the Second Man's side as we often did. Chris Foot said a 159 is basically 3 weeks learning about 1 coach with minor equipment variations. Jiffy Lemon took me for my final and after leaving Salisbury I hit a pigeon, a pheasant and a deer all before the first stop Grateley. We had a bit of an air leak due to the deer but we were maintaining main res. Chris came out with the old driver's phrase, 'air and amps, keep going', (though not a juicer of course). Quite a start to my driving career. Sadly I had to give up the job that I deeply loved due to bad IBS and retired early in 2019.

Hi Geoff, great to see this blast from the past, Happy days! Ian Foot

I never did my 40 front end turns ( official) as a trainman going driving. John Brookeshaw said you’re starting up the school. I said I haven’t done all my front end turns yet! I’ve busted my arse to get you up there he said Don’t you want to be a driver? ( busted my arse, my arse! He’d spend all his time looking in the mirror and combing his hair). Truth was I was grabbing the second man s seat on the Brighton Manchester and the Brighton Glasgow 47. And doing most of the driving. And I could have already signed the route to Reading ! I was loving it and getting paid! I knew I had to come down in the world and learn the trams but I was always a MT bloke at heart. Now firing at the bluebell and Nigel Buck is some times our guard.

This is fascinating Geoff thanks for posting.

Great video 👍👍👍

Brilliant footage Geoff I can remember you up at the training school Waterloo along with others 👍

I was an Acting and Full time Instructor at Basingstoke and Southside. from 1979 to 1986. George Bowman was my mentor. but most of the names on the 1974 roster I have worked with. Happy memories. Thanks.

Hello Geoff. I’m not sure if you’ll remember me, but I was a guard at Woking from May 1986 to August 1991. We worked together quite a lot on various turns before you left to become a trainer (and maybe at weekends in between). I also have the horrid and sad “claim to fame” as being Alex McClymont’s guard during the Clapham Junction disaster. As you correctly stated in this video, the shock and horrors Alex and I went through, and saw that day is extremely hard to describe. Almost 34 years later and that day is still regularly at the forefront of my mind. I always think of Alex. He is a good man and we got on very well. The job lost its edge a little for me after that day, but I soldiered on. Alex too I think. I haven’t seen Alex in a very long time and I hope he is still with us. I’m a signalman now, up here in Yorkshire and I’ve been in the signalling grade since January 1992. Thank you for the videos you have produced, I have enjoyed them all immensely! Seeing pics of Bill Brain has made me emotional several times. He took me under his wing and I used to call Bill my dad away from home, I thought the world of him. He will always have a very special place in my heart. I was devastated when I couldn’t obtain leave to attend his funeral. Anyway, thanks again Geoff. I hope you are well. If you see or speak to Alex please remember me to him. Warm regards Simon Fritsche, ex Woking guard. The best depot on the Southern!

Brought it all back mate

I had Mick Oakley for Drivers Rules and a very funny instructor who loved Millwall FC, for Traction Examination, Cant remember his name. Graham Arnold passed me out to Drive, Southampton to Wloo on a stopper, Basingstoke to Woking on the auto brake! Port Attach Wloo, 455 to Eff Jct for Faults and Failures, He put 10 faults on an 8 car and I found 12😆 455 back to Wloo and he gave me my key, 15.45 back to Eastleigh into Railway Club for Celebration Pint, He had a double scotch 😂

We all pitched in and Helped Alex, The Good Old Guildford/Woking/ Eff Jct Family, Ive never know Mates as nice. On the day of the Clapham Crash,I was on lates with a Staines Minder Driver. I was technically still a Trainman at Eastleigh untill I passed for driving so I did a Turn on the Saturday as a Guard prior to the Crash, I spoke with the Bournemouth Driver on that day who sadly lost his life.

wow going up Tottenham crt road to buy electronics those were they days! Not a bad first setup either

I was on that traction trainees coarse. I'm the one smiling at the front (at 5:49 mins) and the one mentioned about having a motorbike accident. Although I had to come off that coarse, I remember it very well and Geoff, you did a good job. Unfortunately I can only remember about 4 of my fellow classmates

I now know Alan Brindley as he's a Driver on the IOWSR, where I've just become a trainee fireman. Really enjoy your videos, a lot of historical events covered.

As you mention Weymouth several times I wondered if you ever drove the Weymouth harbour branch through the town? Great videos!

Been following your talks and thoroughly enjoyed them, thanks for uploading. The schematic at 27:22 is odd, there are "squiggles" at 1AA to 4AA where the wire or conductor goes back on itself forming a square, weird. I'm into electronics and can follow most of the schematic even if some of the symbols are unfamiliar, interesting stuff.