Trainee train drivers wanted...
Discussion
naturals said:
I fly for a living so there's a lot of overlap (mates who are train drivers moan about the same stuff).
I missed my own brother's wedding because of work. I made it to the reception after my wife sped down the motorway with me in the passenger seat getting changed out of my uniform.
Nearly missed the arrival of my daughter because work wanted to send me to Milan (when that was the epicentre of Covid) the day before her due date.
The number of people I fly with who are divorced is insane. These careers take a *really* understanding family.
But, even with all the downsides, it's still worth doing?I missed my own brother's wedding because of work. I made it to the reception after my wife sped down the motorway with me in the passenger seat getting changed out of my uniform.
Nearly missed the arrival of my daughter because work wanted to send me to Milan (when that was the epicentre of Covid) the day before her due date.
The number of people I fly with who are divorced is insane. These careers take a *really* understanding family.
naturals said:
The Mad Monk said:
But, even with all the downsides, it's still worth doing?
Yeah, I'd say so. It's a fantastic career. My wife is extremely understanding which makes it a lot easier.ChocolateFrog said:
Got to the point where I feel like I have to put one hand over my ear to stop the new information pushing out the stuff I learnt 2 weeks ago
Hearing horror stories of DTMs getting a bit over zealous at the first progress report from the course ahead doesn't help
It does not let up. The course and the volume.of information you need to digest, understand and remember is relentless. Hearing horror stories of DTMs getting a bit over zealous at the first progress report from the course ahead doesn't help
Trainees don't want to be trainees as long as is necessary and TOCs don't want people not being a useful commodity to crewing as it takes. Hence the course can feel rushed. Tbh it would be better if the process was a 24 month thing (tbh it is, if you count PQA years as training years) but the classroom stage could be slower. I hope your mechanical minded or traction can be tricky. I saw a few in my group just completely not get traction, coming from 15 years an engineer, it was the easiest bit for me lol.
demic said:
Just wait until you start having dreams (nightmares?) about them
Already am.I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
Vickers_VC10 said:
It does not let up. The course and the volume.of information you need to digest, understand and remember is relentless.
Trainees don't want to be trainees as long as is necessary and TOCs don't want people not being a useful commodity to crewing as it takes. Hence the course can feel rushed.
Which is a bit of pisstake when the apprenticeship fund basically covers my first year salary. Trainees don't want to be trainees as long as is necessary and TOCs don't want people not being a useful commodity to crewing as it takes. Hence the course can feel rushed.
ChocolateFrog said:
demic said:
Just wait until you start having dreams (nightmares?) about them
Already am.I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
I know I've said it already somewhere on here, but it will all sink in, try not to get stressed or worried about it. It will all click into place once you start doing ride outs and handling. Route learning itself can be quite boring (depending on where you're based obviously) but once you've got a couple of routes under your belt a certain level of job satisfaction kicks in.
Chin up!
Edited by P5BNij on Tuesday 9th February 13:01
I'm currently a train maintenance technician and also a depot shunter meaning I take outbounds with the mainline drivers upto the first signal, the idea of being a mainline driver seems more appealing as I get alittle older and the heavy maintenance takes longer to recoup from on off periods.
The funny start and finish hours is off putting but the pay increase sound alike it makes up for that !
The funny start and finish hours is off putting but the pay increase sound alike it makes up for that !
ChocolateFrog said:
Already am.
I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
You'll be surprised how easy it is to pick out your own markers on a 'featureless' route on the face of it. Distance in miles isn't really that important so much as line speed, gradient and braking distance, and you'll get your own markers based on that and how you drive personally. There's the odd distance sign for some stations but I think I pay more attention to certain houses and trees more than those...I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
P5BNij said:
ChocolateFrog said:
demic said:
Just wait until you start having dreams (nightmares?) about them
Already am.I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
I know I've said it already somewhere on here, but it will all sink in, try not to get stressed or worried about it. It will all click into place once you start doing ride outs and handling. Route learning itself can be quite boring (depending on where you're based obviously) but once you've got a couple of routes under your belt a certain level of job satisfaction kicks in.
Chin up!
Edited by P5BNij on Tuesday 9th February 13:01
The ex conductors on the course are getting themselves in a right old tiss about next weeks assessments.
They're busy trying to pull in favours from as many DTMs as they know to get a bit of insider info.
forrestgrump said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Already am.
I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
You'll be surprised how easy it is to pick out your own markers on a 'featureless' route on the face of it. Distance in miles isn't really that important so much as line speed, gradient and braking distance, and you'll get your own markers based on that and how you drive personally. There's the odd distance sign for some stations but I think I pay more attention to certain houses and trees more than those...I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
ChocolateFrog said:
forrestgrump said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Already am.
I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
You'll be surprised how easy it is to pick out your own markers on a 'featureless' route on the face of it. Distance in miles isn't really that important so much as line speed, gradient and braking distance, and you'll get your own markers based on that and how you drive personally. There's the odd distance sign for some stations but I think I pay more attention to certain houses and trees more than those...I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
The grey house next to the line which some bugger then decides to paint blue, less so...
ChocolateFrog said:
Already am.
I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
We have a job where we do the first train via a valley, about 0600 departure (04-something book on mind!) down to the coast. When it's thick fog it's one of my favourite bits of driving ever. A genuine sense of achievement getting to the destination safely, smoothly all whilst being able to see sweet NA and feeling knackered. I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
A while before you'll be doing it, keep your head down, don't over complicate it and if you don't understand something just ask.
Apprentice Train Drivers at XC. Unlike the last round of trainee recruitment it looks like they’re taking people with no railway experience. Very, very rare opportunity fill yer boots!
https://jobs.deutschebahngroup.careers/en_US/jobsG...
https://jobs.deutschebahngroup.careers/en_US/jobsG...
itcaptainslow said:
ChocolateFrog said:
forrestgrump said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Already am.
I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
You'll be surprised how easy it is to pick out your own markers on a 'featureless' route on the face of it. Distance in miles isn't really that important so much as line speed, gradient and braking distance, and you'll get your own markers based on that and how you drive personally. There's the odd distance sign for some stations but I think I pay more attention to certain houses and trees more than those...I'm convinced I'll sail past a station I'm supposed to stop at.
Before I joined I thought you'd get signs saying 'Wakefield Westgate 2 miles'
It seems the default answer for anything like that is "route knowledge"
The grey house next to the line which some bugger then decides to paint blue, less so...
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