Well I have never read anywhere in the old BR rule book or the new BR rule book of any clause where the main loco handbrake is not used and a lump of wood for want of a better description is used as a reasonable substitute. That guys is a fact. No trying to hide behind preserved banners. I have worked for the Real railway for the last 27 years, no-one is being harsh at all, if their rule book states forget the locomotive handbrake use a lump of wood, the rule book is wrong and so are the people who use it, for not questioning it. I cant speak for the privatised railways because there is so much fragmentation with training issues, I think they call that progress, I know what I would call it, but from my own company we would never leave anything unsecured either in a siding or on the main line.
Yes I totally agree with the fact that so much has been preserved and if it wasn't for the preserved railways.............
but its about time that they were all called in and a rule book imposed on them with no exceptions, you are dealing with peoples lives on a daily basis.
Isn't the GCR the railway that runs at 60MPH under exceptional operating procedures if it is this makes it worse as they should have tighter restrictive operational practices not slacker.
Oh and a further thing the coach wasn't even coupled correctly to the locomotive i.e. no continuous brake or brake van on the other end,a complete no, no.
The driver was also the PICOP person in charge of the possession another no.no
According to the RAIB report he was also acting as the guard as well, do i need to say it again no,no.
How is pointing out a catalogue of errors including a super human person who can be in 3 places at the same time be judged as harsh, come on how long is it going to be before someone gets hurt again.