Re: Train Drivers Life Expectancy

["Graeme" <grimegrime@hotmailnospam.com>]

Yes Rod I'm sure rostering comes into it.When I did my time on the big wheel
as a Fireman all my Driver mates where into the last 5 years of their
careers.As you know the pressure of B and A roster at Dynon was different to
the goods roster,in that mostly all big wheel jobs contained high speed
passenger running for at least part of the shift.
It seemed to me at the time that these blokes should be kicking back and
enjoying a slower environment rather than what they actually got.Pressure
Pressure Pressure.
At the time one of the old boys told me that it had not always been so.When
he was a hairy arsed boy all the younger drivers did the pressure jobs but
due to the State Superannuation Scheme,this all changed.It seems that the
amount of units of super was closely entwined with the rate of pay so some
bright spark in the union came up with the idea of  a grade above the
general class driver  to increase units for a better paid retirement.Hence
the old seniority came into play for the big wheel jobs and over the years
the big wheel became your passport to heaven.
I must say that as a 20 something trainee it did not impress me that no
sooner had we had a send-off for Joe Bloggs,then he was dead.
"Rod [comtrain]" <freight_man@hotmail.com> wrote in message
3a86a425$0$16405$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:3a86a425$0$16405$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> David
> I have no statistics, but they can be made to show what ever you desire,
> anyway.
>                At Wodonga Locomotive Depot in Victoria, I have observed a
> trend that goes a
> little like this...Steam trained Drivers who spent 40 + years on the
> footplate and retired at
> 65 years average expectancy about 67.5 yrs several exceptions, but we saw
> nearly all of our
> good men, most who never had a sickie in their lives pass on in a few
years.
>                Interesting enough those who retired in ill health after
> several years on sick leave,
> and who did this before age 60, managed to survive well into their 70's
and
> some of them are still going!
>                 Downsizing of Government Railways gave many of us the
means
> of retiring early! and during
> the last 15 years many men have the opportunity of going early as 50.
> Although 55 is the norm.
> So far a dramatic improvement in our health is very obvious. It is a
little
> early to say, but it seems to me
> that most of the damage is done in those last 5 years ...60 to 65.
> Hopefully now that I am also retired, I will have time to prepare a full
> article, on this very interesting,
> condition, but I am nearly convinced, that you can repair the damage this
> life inflicts, providing, your
> Union is strong enough to maintain good rostering , and you retire before
> 60.
> Rod