GSR Rule Book - 1933

17. Station Masters are responsible for--

(i.) the security and protection of the buildings and property at the station.

(ii.) the efficient discharge of duties devolving upon all employees angaged at the station or within its limits, and for promptly reporting any neglect of duty on the part of such employees.

(iii.) the general working of the station being carried out in strict accordance with the Company's regulations, and, as far as practicable, for giving personal attention to the shunting of trains and all other operations affecting the safety of the railway.

(iv.) the employees under them connecte with the operative working of the railway being in possession of a copy of these Rules, and for the proper distribution of the working time-tables, appendices, and other notices having reference to the working of the railway.

(v.) making themselves throughly acquainted with the duties of the Signalmen under their control and for frequently visiting the signal boxes to maintain proper supervision over the working.

(vi.) a daily inspection of the station, also the cleanliness and neatness of all premises (including closets and urinals), signboards, &c.

(vii.) all orders and instructions being duly recorded and complied with, and books and returns being regularly written up.

(viii.) the proper exhibition at the station and offices of the Company's Bye-laws, Carriers' Act, list of fares, statutory and other notices.

(ix.) promptly reporting complaints made by the public.

(x.) stores being properly and economically used.

(xi.) exhibiting in their offices up-to-date lists of the names and addresses of employees (including Fogsignalmen) connected with the traffic working.

18. All employees attached to a station, or employed in an area which is under the control of the Station Master, are subject to the Station Master's authority and direction in the working of the Railway.

19. Every exertion must be made for the expeditious despatch of the station duties, and for ensuring the punctuality of the trains.

20. (a) The cleaning, trimming and lighting of all lamps must be carefully and regularly performed.

Oil lamps must be taken to the appointed places to be cleaned and trimmed.

(b) Signal spectables, lenses, reflectors and glasses must be kept thoroughly clean.

21. (a) Luggage and parcels must not, where the width of the platform will admit, be left iwthin six feet of the edge of the platform; platform trollies, barrows, &c., not in use must be kept back close to the buildings or to the wall or fence at the back of the platform, with their handles so placed as to avoid the risk of persons stumbling over them. When necessary, platform trollies, barrows, &c., must be so secured as to prevent them from moving.

(b) Unauthorized persons must not be allowed to use trollies, barrows, &c.

22. Platforms, crossing places, steps, ramps and approaches to stations must, when necessary, be strewn with sand, small ballast, or ashes, or be otherwise treated to avoid accidents by slipping. Such places must also be kept free from snow.

The permanent-way staff must assist as far as possible. Small ballast or sand will be supplied on application to the Permanent-way Inspector for the district.

23. (a) Each passenger train after completing its journey, and all vehicles detached from such trains at stations as "empty," must be searched.

(b) When a compartment becomes vacant the windows must be closed when this can be done without causing delay to the train. They must also be kept closed and the ventilators open when the carriages are not in use. The windows of Guards' compartments and vans in which a Guard is not riding must also be kept closed.

24. When a passenger train is entering a station at which it is booked to stop, as well as after it has come to a stand, employees must call out clearly the name of the station and of stations at which the train stops during the journey.

At junction stations employees must also announce the changes for connecting trains.

25. (a) The doors of vehicles must be fastened before the train leaves the station, and no door must be opened to allow a passenger to alight from or enter a train before it has come to a stand, or after it has started.

(b) Passengers showing signs of their intention to alight from, or join, a train in motion, must be warned against doing so.

26. Without special authority a passenger train must not be stopped where it is not booked to call, to take up or set down passengers.

27. In the case of a passenger train booked to call only when required to take up passengers, the necessary fixed signals must, when the stop has to be made, be exhibited against it; and a competent man appointed by the Station Master must exhibit a red hand signal from the station platform, to intimate to the Driver that his train is required ot stop; such red hand signal need not, however, be exhibited where a fixed signal is in such a position that a train stopped at it is at the platform.

28. (a) Where specified trains have to be examined by Carriage and Wagon Examiners, the Station Master, before giving the signal to start such trains, must satisfy himself that the work has been completed, and that the vehicles are in order.

(b) Where Examiners are not available, steps must be taken by the Station Master to have any defect remedied, and if this cannot be done the defective vehicle must, if necessary, be detached from the train.

(c) At stations where brake-testing and gas-charging are performed, the Station Master must satisfy himself that the duties have been completed.

29. (a) When a crane is in use and the jib, or any other portion of it, obstructs or fouls any line in use for traffic purposes, or whenever, during the loading or unloading of timber, iron or other articles, any running line is liable to be fouled, the person in charge or the work must obtain the sanction of both the Station Master and Signalman and satisfy himself that the proper signals are exhibited until the operation is completed.

If the crane has to be used at a siding not protected by fixed signals, a Handsignalman must, when necessary, be provided to protect the operation in accordance with Rule 217.

(b) Except where specially authorised, timber or other articles must not be loaded or unloaded after dusk, or during fog or falling snow, if any running line is liable to be fouled by the operation.

(c) Cranes must be kept locked or otherwise secured when not in use.

(d) Timber Loaders and other persons working at a station or siding will be under the control of the Station Master, who, whilst they are so employed, must exercise the same supervision over them as over his own staff.

30. When a horse is used on the railway a man must, on the approach and during the passing of any train, hold its head, whether the horse be drawing vehicles or not.

31. (a) A privately owned engine under its own power must not be allowed upon any running line, unless authorised by the General Manager or Traffic Manager.

(b) Before any privately-owned engine, or contractor's wagon, is accepted for conveyance on its own wheels, it must be examined by the Locomotive or Wagon Department, as the case may be, and special arrangements made as to the train by which it is to travel. Guards and others concerned must satisfy themselves that this has been done before allowing the engine or wagon to travel.

32. At terminal stations, and other places where there are dead-end bays, after sunset and during fog or falling snow, and otherwise where special instructions exist, a red light must be placed on the buffer-stops of arrival lines or on any train or vehicles left on such lines so as to be plainly visible to the Driver of an incoming train.

33. (a) Clocks at stations and signal boxes must be corrected as may be necessary on receipt of the daily time signal, which is sent in accordance with the special instructions on the subject. Any defects must at once be reported.

(b) At stations where the time signal is not received the Station Master must obtain the precise time from the Guard of the first stopping train commencing its journey after 10.0 a.m. and correct the station clocks as may be necessary.

(c) When on duty each Guard must satisfy himself that his watch is correct.