Driving a train vs flying a plane

[drivin_me_nuts]

A while back I was speaking to an old train driver - not the diesel/electric drivers, but the 'proper steam engine drivers' (his words) about the skills required. As he was talking about the skill and concentration levels he became dismissive of people like modern pilots with all their electronic aides etc.

Not withstanding the nostalgia effect, the skills required and the levels of responsibility needed to drive a mainline steam engine were pretty substantial, but more so than a modern pilot of a large commercial plane?

[drivin_me_nuts]

Simpo Two said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

Not withstanding the nostalgia effect, the skills required and the levels of responsibility needed to drive a mainline steam engine were pretty substantial, but more so than a modern pilot of a large commercial plane?

I don't believe that controlling a device on a fixed track in two dimensions where the only variable is speed, can be as hard as controlling a device on no tracks that is free to move in all three dimensions, everything is infinitely variable and if you get it wrong you make a smoking hole in the ground.

Not so sure about the two dimensional aspect. Certainly train movement does involve an X, Y and Z axis of movement. Does the fact that everything is infinitely variable make it easier - in so far as witin a set of variable parameters there will be a numner of combinations that will work?

There are certainly a huge number of complexities involved in driving a steam loco, many of which have already been mentioned. Granted there are fewer controls, but the dynamics of human involvement are greater. Take for instance a route out of London to York running an express engine would take a considerable effort in concentration, skill and experience to make it on time - often made in the past to within seconds of the scheduled arrival times. Fewer controls, same (if not greater) risk to life and limb if a mistake is made and fewer, if no failsafe systems (other than lead plugs to drop the fire if the fireman forgets to keep the water topped up). If you get it wrong in a steam loco, indeed quite literally you do make a smoking hole in the ground!

Men in grubby overalls and years of hard earned 'road' experience, vs starched white shirts, polished glasses and years of training and experience. Are they actually that different?