Back to the coalface

Well folks, I'm now back at work properly and have completed my first full job which, I'm pleased to report, passed without incident. It was quite odd being back at the pointy end after such a long time off, but I've had plenty of opportunity to settle back into the routine before being allowed out on my own. In addition to the front-end turns that I did last week, I had the pleasure of a driver manager for company for the first half of yesterday's job. I was due a ride anyway as part of my post-qualification assessment as well as a post-incident ride, so the two were combined and both despatched at the same time.

Although I feel that I've dealt with the after effects of the fatality quite well, it has still left a discernable mark. I noticed yesterday that I have become very sensitive to and aware of people on station platforms, level crossings and footbridges. Consequently I was getting quite "horn happy" and blowing up at anything (including a plastic bag blown across Windmill Lane Crossing). I'm hoping that I'll get used to people being around the railway the more that I drive, but at the moment I shall continue to employ a "better safe than sorry" approach and will continue to whistle whenever I feel the need.

It doesn't help that fatalities are currently a hot topic of conversation among my colleagues at the moment as, unfortunately, there have been quite a few on our lines. In the five weeks since my incident we have averaged one incident per week with six people losing their lives, which is an incredibly high number for such a short space of time. We've also been under the media spotlight again as a direct consequence of the double fatality at a crossing near Angel Road. Since that particular incident, a number of drivers have reported seeing people loitering on the crossing and on the lineside which only increases the risk of another incident at the same location.

Today and tomorrow I have the same job, which includes a train prep in the carriage sidings. In one respect I'm quite looking forward to this, as I haven't done a full train prep since the traction course last summer. I'm just glad that it's on the beginning of the job, so I shall be going in early to make sure I've plenty of time.