Re: Hamersly Iron info

[cjg@tik.com.au]

On 4 Dec 1998 09:59:23 GMT, "Peter Knife"
<pijik@knifecutt.fam.aust.com> wrote:

>The crews are 'away from home' for 2 days, but they work a full length run
>to one of the mines in a single shift. They stay overnight in mine area
>accommodation, then work 'home' the next day. They do not convey crew
>vehicles on the trains. Only in abnormal circumstances would a 'crew' (of
>one) be relieved on the road.
>
>Cheers
>Peter Knife
>
>David Rowe <drowe@tpgi.com.au> wrote in article <36672905.0@tpg.com.au>...
>> Gang,

 the crews (1 man, at that), are on the road for a couple of
>> days at a time. They switch off crews on the road, with the other crew
>> staying in an RV-type vehicle behind the locomotive.
>> 

 Crew numbers were reduced from 2 to 1 man in about 1993. Not long
after I left the job. In fact the likelyhood of single crewing was one
of the major reasons for my decision to leave. The move to "driver
only" operations on the main line at HI was preceeded by a concerted
boots 'n' all campaign against unions and a move to personal
employment contracts rather than a union negotiated award. This
facilitated a rostering change from 8 hour to 12 hour shifts, which in
turn , enabled drivers to run Dampier to Tom Price and Brockman
minesites and return in a single shift. Working to and from the other
mines, Marandoo and Parraburdoo is done by a mix of changeovers (
crewmen swapping trains near the half-way point ) and overnite in
barracks. In my time, and in the days of 2 man crews there was no
provision for being relieved if fatigued. There was a clause in the
award which stated that we had to work "to the completion of mainline
jobs" or similar wording. The longest shift I can recall was 21 hours
(not me), but 15-16 hours was more common. Since single crewing was
introduced, and since "duty of care" provisions in Occ Hrealth
legislation,I believe getting relief after 12 hours is not so
difficult.

 Best move I ever made, leaving. I miss the job itself, but not the
work conditions. But, having said that, the pay was very good, and I
will never regret my time in the job.

A new mine is to open some time next year at Yandicoogina near Mt
Newman . This should provide some interesting logistics, as the run is
somewhere between 600-700km, I think. Perhaps they will invest in some
of these RV's.

>On Sat, 05 Dec 1998 02:21:58 +1100, David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au> wrote:

>>Peter Knife wrote:
>>
>>> Only in abnormal circumstances would a 'crew' (of
>>> one) be relieved on the road.
>>
>>Don't they have air-strips near the railway for this purpose?
>>
>>--
>>David Johnson
>>CityRail Guard


There could be by now, but none in my time. Until about 1987 HI used
to operate a daily "site plane" between all its sites. Crews were
regularly flown around to work trains. They also used a helicopter to
get people to locations along the mainline for relief/emergency
situations. These jobs are done using 4WD vehicles now. After about
1987 the only times I travelled by plane was on Xmas Eve and Boxing
days, when the company chartered light planes to get people home for
Christmas Day and back to work after. This was not done out goodwill
but, rather, because of some ancient statute which required all
private roads in WA to be "chained off" and locked to the public for
at least one day per year. This regulation has since been removed, I
believe, and it's business as usual.

Chris.