NEW SHUNTERS’ LODGE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 253, 23 July 1935, Page 9

NEW SHUNTERS’ LODGE

Changing, Dining and Shower Rooms GOODS YARD FACILITIES A new "shunters’ lodge,” said to be the most complete in New Zealand, is now in use in the new railway goods yards at Wellington. In a large wooden building are rooms in which shunters, who work all round the clock, can change when going on and coming off duty, can have baths and showers, can dry and store working clothes, and have their meals.

A feature is the provision of a roomy control room for the goods yard foreman, mounted on top of the building, ami provided with big sliding windows on all sides, so that, from the eminence of Ids quarters, he will have an observation post, in daylight, at least, from which be will have'an uninterrupted view of the workings of the whole yard. Later, when experience shows the most suitable points for such an installation, a telephone system connecting the control room with the main tracks will be established, so that the foreman will he able to give prompt instructions *as to the movements of wagons and engines to shunters all over the yards. Also in the control room is a signal-box with a dozen levers, giving full control to one man in a point of vantage over the trains which are shunting. The goods shunting yard is where the goods trains are assembled after the wagons have been loaded, and this work goes on night and day. Shunters beginning or finishing duty have in the past used huts placed in various parts of the yard for changing and storing their clothes and other belongings. In future everything incidental to their comfort will be under one roof. In the lodge there is provision for 2S men. There is a large room which includes a locker for each man. in which In. may place his clothes after changing, and next to it is a large drying room with a boiler and racks, so that wet clothes may. be aired. Close to the changing room is another equipped with al! conveniences, including wash basins and shower baths connected to both hot and cold water. The dining-room has a central hearing stove mid a locker for each man, in which lie may place his lunch or supper while working. Several tables and forms are nl«> provided, and later gas will probably be connected. This room will also serve as a general assembly hall, in which official notices for the information and guidance of tho shunters) mav be exhibited.

"'riie undertaker’s room,” where the clerical work associated with the running of goods train* is done, is provided with a large table and.several forms and three tcleplciic. it is stated to he the most completely and conveniently appointed “undertaker's room” in the service. One point which gives a clue to the thought given to the designing of the lodge is provided in this room, where the telephones are of the desk type and not on brackets on the wall, so that when a call conies it is not necessary for the man stationed there to walk across the room io answer.

Near to the lodge is a small hut. known as “the lamp room.” This is where all the lamps used by men moving about tho yard at night are stored and tended. Men coming off duty will he able to clean and refill their lamps there under cover. Weighbridge houses are also provided as close ns portable to the lodge, so that men who have to weigh trucks on wet nights will not have to walk any further in the rain than can be avoided.