LIFE OF A SHUNTER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 45, 21 August 1925, Page 5

LIFE OF A SHUNTER

DANGERS TO THE INEXPERIENCED

EVIDENCE BEFORE BOARD OF INQUIRY.

(il miORAPB.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) PALMERSTON N., 20th August, I The Board of Inquiry into shunting conditions at railway yards continued to hear evidence to-day. This was of similar nature to that given yesterday, except in the case of Cyril Pepperel, a shunter, who said: "I should like to place on record a protest against placing inexperienced men at certain stations. Insufficient time is allowed them to become conversant with the routine of a yawl, and to acquire a general knowledge of shunting. It imposes a great deal of extra work upon the senior men, as well as increasing their anxiety. At the present time there is only one_ gang in the yard containing two experienced men. Mr. Mack (secretary of the A.S.R.S.) : "In addition to there only being _ ono ga.ng with two experienced men, is it not a fact that another gang has •• porter running as third man?" Witness : "At the present time one ( gang ha* two porters. To-morrow night there will be one gang working in the dark which will have a shunter in charge. Hia second man will be a man who has only had three weeks' experience, and this third man, although he has.been a pilot, has only had' four weeks in the yard. The shift is a heavy one, and will entail working five or six hours darkness, Anxiety for the other men in the gang increases the personal risk of the man in charge." Mr. Mack : "Has no endeavour been made to train the men as shunters?" Witness : "No; they are sent on aa .spare men. It is not possible for the shunter in charge to give personal supervision or instruction to these men. What instruction they do receive is largely from the third* man. It is »■ case of the blind leading the blind." • Questioned further by Mr. Mack, Pepperel stated that he thought a "spare" man should, have at least two months' training before being appointed fourth man ol a gang. Mr. H. L. P. Smith (a member of the board) :' "How is it that the shunting' strength' is so weak in trained men?" Witness : "There have been numerous' transfers and some promotions. Three Bhunters have gone away, and their places were filled by tablet porters." Evidence given on this point at the, previous day*s sitting of the board was ■ to the effect that no sooner had a man become experienced as a shunter than he was promoted to guard, or he was transferred to another station with which he was unfamiliar and had to spend a great deal of time learning new conditions of working. The opinion was expressed that shunters should be allowed to take their promotion through j the yard.