Re: " Good Guarding" was Hornsby Yard

["Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au>]

With Jane Campbell and David Johnson both informing us of their abilities
for "good guarding" maybe some people in this newsgroup can give us some
examples of "bad guarding".

I remember in the later days of the red rattlers, being on a North Sydney to
Berowra evening service.  The train arrived at North Sydney about 10 minutes
late.  In those days if a Berowra or Cowan service arrived at Hornsby 10
minutes late then there was a fair chance of it being cancelled beyond
Hornsby.  The later it arrived in Hornsby then the more chance of it being
cancelled beyond Hornsby and perhaps an early night for the crew or a longer
break between services.  Anyway, this train proceeded down the North Shore
line taking an extraordinary long time at every station.  It progressively
got later and later to timetable.  Being a red rattler with manual doors I
started looking out at the station stops, the guards indicator was set to
proceed, the signals were green and passengers had well and truely departed/
boarded before the bell would sound giving permission for the driver to
proceed.  The guard seemed to be waiting 30 seconds per stop before allowing
the train to proceed.  The train arrived at Hornsby well and truely late and
I was expecting it to be cancelled.  Unfortunately for the guard, and
fortunately for the passengers, there was no station staff with a
cancellation slip and the road ahead was set to green.  It was the shortest
stop I have ever experienced at Hornsby, the train must have been stationary
for only a few seconds before will were on our way!  At the remaining stops
the train was also barely stationary before the bell would ring to proceed.
A complete turn around to the earlier part of the journey!