Tag: crew

November 6th – Fed up of the traffic, I hopped onto the canal through Walsall on the way to work, and was pleased to note litter pickers at work on the canal. People often erroneously think the council is response for the state of the canals – they aren’t, it’s the Canal and River Trust who get that gig. Today, a couple of chaps were collecting rubbish into bags and small piles, which were awaiting a crew on a boat who pick it up later. 

It’s only a small crew, but they work hard and have a lot of miles to cover. I salute them for doing what must be a fairly unpleasant job in all weathers.

In the meantime, canal users could always meet them halfway and stop littering…

Thanks, folks. Top work.

April 16th – Today, passing through Tyseley, I noticed a work crew of lookouts and technicians were on the tracks as trains passed by slowly. I wondered what they were doing, and stopped to take a look. The one chap has a measuring gauge, and is checking carefully the distance between the rails around a set of points.

It never occurred to me that this was necessary, but once thought about, the geometry of the tracks must have to be perfect. It seems a whole industry of measuring equipment exists specially for the purposes of checking the tracks.

I love the way the guys work as a group – I saw five – with some being lookouts stationed with horns to warn those engaged in the task that a train may be coming.

he work practices of the railway fascinate me.