Page 2 - More Stories of My Life on British Railways

Angerstein Wharf to Ferme Park

This was a top link job it was light loco from Hither Green Depot to Angerstein

Wharf

We then reversed into the depot and coupled up and had a hour wait due to a

late running of loading so we went up to the local pub for something to eat but it
was packed out and we could not get in as we where walking back a loud klaxon
went off and people started running all over the place. As we had shut down the

loco decided to keep well clear until we found out what the problem was. The
Fire brigade, Police & Ambulance all arrived we found out that one of the

connectors to a wagon had blown off and LPG was leaking out at a terrific rate.
So, we hang about for hour and half then told to shunt all the full wagons into

another siding pick up the damaged wagon shunt that into another siding
reconnect to the first part shunt that onto second part couple up and take

everything down to Plumstead yard normally we would just run around the
stock at Charlton but we had now lost our booked path. Ran around the wagons

at Plumtead had a brew up while we waited for a new path. By now we were
about 3 to 4 hours late and almost finished our shift. Both of us decided not to

say anything about asking for relief at Hither Green due to it being our rest day
as we were on overtime it meant double time. We arrived at Ferme Park about 5

hours late we were supposed to take a load of empty cement wagons back to
Hither Green but that was cancelled instead we went light loco back got back

about 6am booked off and caught next train home to Tonbridge. Now there was
a problem by law we should have 12 hours off, this meant could not work until

6pm but was due back on shift at 5pm rang my driver and we agreed that we
would book on at 5pm anyway. The Shed Forman was very pleased to see us as

he could not cover our shift due to others not turning up for their shift. So, we
were happy the foreman was happy and owed us a favour which was always

useful.

Next Interesting Job was for Saturday and Sunday At Charlton and Woolwich
they were putting up Premade Tower blocks over the next 6 weeks. Our job was

to take our Crompton Diesel “Class 33” light from depot to Charlton pickup 10

special wagons take them to Ferme Park pick up Loaded wagons and back to
Charlton then push them under the very high Tower cranes which picked the