Wigan Album

Linesman/Erector class 2 Mark Griffiths and trainee linesman John Smith earth up the Wavertree Parcels Sidings at Edge Hill depot, Liverpool. The application of what are termed in the trade as "local earths", render the OHl equipment safe to approach and touch of course. These it will be noted, are applied via a long insulated fibre glass pole, lest the man in charge has made a "henry halls" and the equipment is still alive. The fibre glass pole prevents the staff applying the earths from electrocuted!
Mark would eventually go onto to become the GTRM Electrification Engineer at Preston over both the OHL and Distribution departments in early privatisation days around 1996/97. He then left to take up a similar role with Serco who had the maintenance contract on the Midland main line out of St.Pancras towards Leeds. He has since disappeared off the old radar somewhat!
John started around 1988 as a trainee overhead linesman, but I think much prefered the lure of becoming a train driver to mauling with 25kV wires, and in due time around 1990, left the OHL department to join the footplate staff also based at The Branch. September 1988