Who is a ‘guard’?

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July 17, 2019, 1:11 PM

The guard is responsible for assuring himself that the station master (directly or indirectly) has authorized the departure of the train from the station. The guard can also require the driver to stop the train, or to operate it under his direction, in special circumstances. For instance, in some cases if the train parts, or breaks down, or if a signal is defective the driver must consult the guard on how to proceed. The guard must usually give the driver written permission to proceed in emergency situations (e.g. working against normal traffic directions or without block protection).

The guard is usually at the rear of the train, and can operate the emergency brake in emergencies. He is also usually the person who lights the flares and sets up detonators on the tracks if the train stops because of a problem or an accident. The guard exchanges flag or lamp signals with stations on departure and when passing through.

Grades of jobs for guards include: Brakesman, Assistant Guard, Senior Brakesman, Senior Assistant Guard, Goods Guard, Senior Goods Guard, Passenger Guard, Senior Passenger Guard, Mail/Express Guard.

Although usually the guard does not have any duties on the commercial aspects of running the train, in some cases he may be in charge of selling tickets for passengers boarding at small halt stations with no ticket facilities.

There have been proposals floated at various times to do away with the use of guards on freight trains (which would make the driver in charge of the train.) In a few cases, guard-less trains are seen, although this is uncommon. Also, for short-distance movements, shunting, and where trains are piloted under special working rules, guards may not be present. (Sometimes a freight train may be run without a caboose (guard van), in which case the guard may actually be in the loco cabin, so the absence of a caboose does not indicate the absence of a guard.)

Source – IFRCA.org

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