It's been a couple of weeks since I've been on the road, for various reasons, but I'm back with a vengeance. Ok, maybe just a whimper! Last week saw me doing some shunting work for Freightliner out of their Millbrook depot in Southampton. It's simply taking boxes off a train, shunting them to one of 3 places and then bringing loaded boxes back from the quay to go onto another train. Not really riveting stuff but the guys working there were a good bunch and it's not really taxing work, so you could almost run on auto-pilot.
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Millbrook Depot
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As you can see, it's a simple case of parking next to the train and the gantry crane will either load a box onto your trailer or remove one.
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| 60's Crane |
One interesting fact is the crane in these pictures is nearly 40 years old.
They were first commissioned in the late 60's when the Millbrook depot was built. I say they, as there are 2 of them, still going strong although they both seem to require a lot of maintenance. Understandable after this long.
So the life of a shunter isn't too bad with an average of 11 hour days quite common, but you're not constantly rushed off your feet. Having said that, I'm not sure I would do this as a full time job as I'm guessing it becomes quite monotonous after a while.
So after having been away for a while, it transpires that I don't have much to say about the first week back. I'm hoping to get back on the road proper soon, so hopefully will have some more entertaining story's to tell. In the meantime be careful with whatever it is that you're doing.
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| Waiting to get loaded with a 40' box |
As a quick addendum to this post. Today I was doing a quick bit of work in London and took the photograph below, which seems to sum up the industry of the East End. Old and Modern. Also note the line of wagons on the left waiting to get called forward into the yard to be tipped. All Eastern European and mostly double manned. A sign of the times for British hauliers and Lorry Drivers. :(
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| Old & New |
