Sarah Siddons driving gloves

[contrex]

Some years ago I came across a video on Youtube called 'Sarah Siddons Cab ride Sept 2011', by someone called 'Chenhusky1' and I noticed the rather spiffy gloves the driver was using. I couldn't decide whether he was using these because the controller was hard on the hands, or out of a desire not to get electrocuted. I did also once see on the TV a retired former Met driver who described how he had tried to operate a bare knife switch in the cab of one of these locos, and he said his fingers must have strayed past the wooden handle onto live metal, because the next thing he knew, he was coming round on the floor amid a strong smell of burnt hair. Any ideas?

 

[Dstock7080]

There was no need to wear gloves to operate the MET locos, except in winter of course! A heavy spring was indeed deployed in the deadman device.
Many switches and knife switches were at line voltage in pre-1938 Stock and protection was usually advised.
A long held theory why driver and guard uniform headgear was different (Guard had stiff flat topped hats, whereas drivers had soft floppy caps) was that drivers used these caps in their palm when extracting fuses etc.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Probably wearing gloves to prevent sore palms from sweat whilst holding the power controller down. On DMUs drivers often held the power controller down whilst holding a sponge cloth or similar to prevent sores and calluses.
Does Sarah get out much these days?

 

[Dstock7080]

Does Sarah get out much these days?

Currently w Eastleigh Works undergoing a lengthy and delayed refit, it was hoped to get her back for the Amersham festival weekend running but this seems doubtful

 

[jumble]

Currently w Eastleigh Works undergoing a lengthy and delayed refit, it was hoped to get her back for the Amersham festival weekend running but this seems doubtful

If anyone is interested in more details about Sarahs current plight this is well worth watching
It is however 6 week old

Friends Meeting - Met Electric Locomotives​

We present a talk by Charles Horsey on the history of Sarah Siddons and other locomotives in her class. Charles is joined by Graham Neil (LTM Heritage Trains Manager) who provides an update on the work currently being carried out to make Sarah fit for service again, hopefully in time for a special run in her centenary year.​

 

[fgwrich]

Currently w Eastleigh Works undergoing a lengthy and delayed refit, it was hoped to get her back for the Amersham festival weekend running but this seems doubtful

She's had a full repaint though, but I believe it's the tyres that require replacement now. And if anyone's wondering - she isn't visible from the outside, she's rightly stored undercover in the main shed.

 

[njr001]

Sadly, it's been confirmed that Sarah will not now be ready for the Amersham Heritage Weekend but hopefully some forum members will book a ride on the iconic 38 tube stock.

 

[E759]

Is it known when 38TS tickets go on sale for the Amersham event? Thank you.

 

[njr001]

Not known at the moment just watch the LT Museum website, the previous 2 outings this year not much advance notice has been given.

 

[E759]

Not known at the moment just watch the LT Museum website, the previous 2 outings this year not much advance notice has been given.

Thank you, will do.

 

[Trackman]

Probably wearing gloves to prevent sore palms from sweat whilst holding the power controller down. On DMUs drivers often held the power controller down whilst holding a sponge cloth or similar to prevent sores and calluses.

I've seen this on first gen DMUs and they used a cloth or whatever for the vacuum brake

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Sarah stretching her wheels on the SWD a few years back. Think this was a test run (rode in the 2 BIL) from Strawberry Hill Depot to ? Records/notes long since lost but photo's have survived.

 

[75A]

Probably wearing gloves to prevent sore palms from sweat whilst holding the power controller down. On DMUs drivers often held the power controller down whilst holding a sponge cloth or similar to prevent sores and calluses.
Does Sarah get out much these days?

I was in Brighton MT, we would tease the EMU drivers, saying they had Motormans Claw.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Sarah stretching her wheels on the SWD a few years back. Think this was a test run (rode in the 2 BIL) from Strawberry Hill Depot to ? Records/notes long since lost but photo's have survived.

That would probably have been the occasion of the Windsor open day with shuttles running to and from Staines which included L12?