Passsed a Trainee Train Driver Assessment

Passsed a Trainee Train Driver Assessment

Author
Discussion

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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legzr1 said:
Pebbles167 said:
Appreciate the advice, thanks smile

Should be able to sign my first route as soon as the assessment is done.
With a decent instructor prepared to squeeze the info from you I think you'll be amazed at what comes flooding back.

What Tight5 says works a treat but also try putting any question into a scenario rather than an abstract single event.

Personally, I always preferred the 'old' way with the vast majority of rules and regs in one or two documents - lately it seems the rule book is losing lots of info to TOC/FOC instruction booklets.
I've not seen how it used to be done, but I'm aware it was quite different. I've been driving an OTM for the last year or so with a supervisory conductor, so I know my lineside stuff, signs & signals etc, and my hours are nearly complete, but it's the more rarely used stuff ie: single line working I'm forgetting.

My boss does squeeze, and whilst he can be pretty condescending sometimes, he's a good bloke.

Cheers again smile

Edited by Pebbles167 on Friday 27th January 00:24

Nik da Greek

2,503 posts

149 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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I wouldn't worry about it. The Rulebook says single line working happens in a vacuum of ideal rail professionalism. In reality, what happens is some hairy-arsed Pilotman who's been out on the track since Jesus was knocking out piperacks will schlep up, scratch his backside, phone the box, wave a ticket at you just to prove he's actually got one (but not let you have it because then he'd have to actually fill it in with your train details) and say something along the lines of "righto, shag... bang road back to the pin and when the flagman hangs it out, over you go". *

All the while you're wondering whether to tell him Rulebook Group Standard RT3897slashtwelve states that he should now have a plastic armlet with PILOTMAN printed on it rather than the disreputable red hankie he's been tying on since 1987...



*disclaimer; probably not the answer your DSM will be looking to hear on assessment wink

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Nik da Greek said:
The Rulebook says single line working happens in a vacuum of ideal rail professionalism. In reality, what happens is some hairy-arsed Pilotman who's been out on the track since Jesus was knocking out piperacks will schlep up, scratch his backside, phone the box, wave a ticket at you just to prove he's actually got one (but not let you have it because then he'd have to actually fill it in with your train details)
In my experience, these guys are really switched on now.
wink

alangla

4,723 posts

180 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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legzr1 said:
Mossend to Millerhill.

Even though I've forgotten the names of the junctions I'll never forget trying to stop for them, even Class 7.

Eek!
via Shotts or Carstairs?
Just getting the thing out of the yard & past either Holytown or Motherwell depot would be an achievement in the wet - there was chaos during the autumn when a pair of 90s tried & failed to get an intermodal out & down towards Wishaw, totally messed up the morning peak until it could be dragged back in for another go.

Nik da Greek

2,503 posts

149 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
tight5 said:
In my experience, these guys are really switched on now.
wink
I think they pretty much always have been. That's kinda the point; the railway has always got by on just working stuff out in the real world on the track and maybe the faceless clowns in management ought to take more account of that. But then, most of them have recently transferred straight into an admin role fresh from running a branch of McDonalds

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Nik da Greek said:
tight5 said:
In my experience, these guys are really switched on now.
wink
I think they pretty much always have been. That's kinda the point; the railway has always got by on just working stuff out in the real world on the track and maybe the faceless clowns in management ought to take more account of that. But then, most of them have recently transferred straight into an admin role fresh from running a branch of McDonalds
I've done SLW three times and every time the Pilotman has been spot on. smile

Unfortunately there seems to be a less common sense approach from management; the higher they are, the less common sense. Fortunately both the DTM's at my depot are excellent-helpful, reasonable and supportive.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
gadgit said:
Railway buffs did some tests a few years ago to see how the stress levels compared for a train driver and airline pilot.
Landing an aircraft compared to running into and stopping an express mainline train at somewhere like kings cross.....
The stress levels were almost identical believe it or not.
I can certainly say that stopping an class 86 with vacuum brake coaches at Liverpool Street from Cambridge was an arse!!!!

Some of the older drivers used to rub the straight air brake on approach, and you could see the look of terror in their eyes!! Great fun?

Gadgit
I think you may know a few drivers at my depot... biggrin

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
alangla said:
via Shotts or Carstairs?
Just getting the thing out of the yard & past either Holytown or Motherwell depot would be an achievement in the wet
Shotts and Ben Har.
Holytown ? Do less than 20mph and you'd get ya wheels stolen !!!

legzr1 said:
Even though I've forgotten the names of the junctions I'll never forget trying to stop for them, even Class 7.
Mid Calder and Carfin ?

Nik da Greek said:
I think they pretty much always have been. That's kinda the point
Ah, reeto.
The last time I did SLW, maybe 4/5 years ago, we went through the form 3 times just to make sure I'd got it.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
I think one of the biggest dangers of SLW in the wrong direction is a SPAD at a position light you never normally see-last time I did it the Pilotman was very particular about pointing out a GPL that I had to obey that protected an unwired (freight) siding, therefore one we didn't sign.

legzr1

3,843 posts

138 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
alangla said:
via Shotts or Carstairs?
Just getting the thing out of the yard & past either Holytown or Motherwell depot would be an achievement in the wet - there was chaos during the autumn when a pair of 90s tried & failed to get an intermodal out & down towards Wishaw, totally messed up the morning peak until it could be dragged back in for another go.
Shotts.

Nearly 5 decades on this planet and I thought I knew what snow was until I experienced Carfin station one winters evening in December a few years ago. It didn't melt until the end of May over Ben Har!

For all the issues getting it moving out of the yard and up the climb it was nothing compared to stopping the bugger on the other side.
I've seen trains actually on fire producing less smoke than those HAA brake blocks.

legzr1

3,843 posts

138 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
tight5 said:
Midcalder and Carfin.
Midcalder could be dodgy but I'm thinking of the next one, further south that puts you onto the suburbans and then the next one - straight on for Waverley or left for Millerhill.

Been years since I was up that way and can't say I miss it, especially when the awkward *~<% was on duty at Motherwell and refused taxis to depot. Oh well, back pass and you can explain to control why the loco is on depot and train is at Mossend.

Agreed with the massive improvement in recent times with lads on the ground. Gone are the days when the thick one who couldn't be trusted with a shovel was trusted to hand over SLW and TBW tickets.
Last few times I've had Pilotmen (B&T would you believe...) they've been Signalling inspectors with a good few years working the boxes and crossings - normally very clued up and know most of the drivers by name and/or reputation lol.

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Slateford ?
Pway depot was there.

legzr1

3,843 posts

138 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
That's the one.

alangla

4,723 posts

180 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
Niddrie triangle is probably the other one you're thinking of - right to Millerhill, left to Brunstane, Craigentinny & Waverley.

legzr1

3,843 posts

138 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Yes.

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
alangla said:
right to Millerhill, left to Brunstane, Craigentinny & Waverley.
Stuck in the middle with you !
biggrin

Stedman

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

191 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
itcaptainslow said:
I think one of the biggest dangers of SLW in the wrong direction is a SPAD at a position light you never normally see-last time I did it the Pilotman was very particular about pointing out a GPL that I had to obey that protected an unwired (freight) siding, therefore one we didn't sign.
Funny you say that, I witnessed SLW last weekend. The pilotman - who was brilliant, by the way - told us to disregard two GPL's. Very very odd doing that!

RemyMartin81D

6,759 posts

204 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
Slw much like TBW and the new ESW, is straightforward in itself. Just go steady, ask if 101℅ unsure. Don't forget to deal with the ticket either!

Stedman

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

191 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
gadgit said:
Railway buffs did some tests a few years ago to see how the stress levels compared for a train driver and airline pilot.
Landing an aircraft compared to running into and stopping an express mainline train at somewhere like kings cross.....
The stress levels were almost identical believe it or not.
I can certainly say that stopping an class 86 with vacuum brake coaches at Liverpool Street from Cambridge was an arse!!!!

Some of the older drivers used to rub the straight air brake on approach, and you could see the look of terror in their eyes!! Great fun?

Gadgit
Quite interesting. Thanks Gadgit.

gadgit

971 posts

266 months

Saturday 28th January 2017
quotequote all
One thing about SLW is, as a driver, you need to be on your toes to the full.
I arrived at a signal not many years ago where SLW I thought was starting, only to be told when I went on the phone, from the signalman, that it started in the platform?
Signaller pulled off a single yellow and told me to proceed into the platform.
I did so, and waited?
Nothing happened. So I went on the phone, gave the headcode and location to the same Signaller, who then said sorry, off you go then........

After a tirade of bad Language from myself to the signaller, he apologised saying he thought I was the pilotman??????

The pilotman then turned up, got another tirade of bad language from me, as you can imagine, and next day supprise supprise he was standing at the signal prior to the platform....................

Yes, you need to be an absolute rock, and awkward basterd to survive as a train driver.......

Gadgit