Scariest Thing You Do As A Driver

[ExRes]

So what's the difference between a maintenance engineer being in the engine room with the engine running and a driver?

The noise levels do require hearing protection but that's all.

A maintenance engineer is supposed to be in the engine room while the engine is running and when his/her duties require, a driver is not and most certainly not while using it as a corridor to save leaving by the cab door, either that or I've been fed an awful lot of BS in the past

 

[Tomnick]

Curious... Why would you need to change ends?

To go back in the other direction!

 

[No Fault Found]

A maintenance engineer is supposed to be in the engine room while the engine is running and when his/her duties require, a driver is not and most certainly not while using it as a corridor to save leaving by the cab door, either that or I've been fed an awful lot of BS in the past

It doesn't matter that it's their duties to be in there, if it was deemed unsafe to be in there with the engine running then nobody should be in there.

My point is that apart from noise levels, it is not unsafe to be in there, just not very pleasant. I would also say that it is more unsafe to leave the cab (risk of falling off of steps, lose footing on ballast or hit by another train) than to walk through the engine room. That's just my personal opinion though.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Are DB (or other freight company) drivers issued with ear protection by the company?

If not, then I imagine that is the difference. If an employee is required to work in a noisy enviroment, the company has a responsibility to limit the risks as far as is reasonably possible.

 

[carriageline]

Let's try ;

Noise levels

Heat levels from working engine and ancillaries

Slipping hazard from oil on floor
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


If by live track you mean, for instance, 3rd rail, then you use the opposite side to the 3rd rail, if you mean by live tracks the running line(s), then you request/demand a block on those lines while changing ends, after a number of totally stupid requests by signallers I wouldn't change ends under any circumstances without a block, I'm on the track they're not

What stupid requests? Genuine question by the way! Helps the rest of us lol

 

[No Fault Found]

Are DB (or other freight company) drivers issued with ear protection by the company?

If not, then I imagine that is the difference. If an employee is required to work in a noisy enviroment, the company has a responsibility to limit the risks as far as is reasonably possible.

Very fair point.

I would never go into an engine room without hearing protection so if they're not supplied with it then it wouldn't be wise to go in there.

 

[TDK]

Nothing really scares me whilst driving a train but hitting something like a tree, cow, horse or person does cause grave concerns only for the fact that you don't know whether you are coming off the rails or not. Approaching a train head on isn't scary as long as you know the other train has not passed a red signal, passengers on platforms isn't scary as they generally move when you blow up, I suppose the worst thing that has happened to me is the fire bells going off as at that moment you don't know what is occurring behind you.

Poor railhead conditions are taxing but not scary and also doing 100mph in thick fog and getting the AWS warning in 3 aspect signalling indicating a single yellow signal get you twitching a bit.

 

[westcoaster]

Stoats nest junction is very similar. Had a 60TSR on it when I was working down there but I believe is a 70mph junction. When 2 trains are approaching you do end up going head on for a bit at 60mph. Some driving instructors used to scream and duck down when they crossed the junction as another train approached if they had a new trainee to wind them up. I think they had to stop after one put the emerg brake in and caused a delay!

Was speaking to an old hand the other week and he let slip that he did exactly as stated abov, stating he forgot stoats nest is a double junction.

Bedford south junction is worse on the down slow, you can be routed down slow to up slow at the same time as a southbound train does down slow to the up fast, two trains heading towards each other on the same line at 50 mph, only to diverge 10 feet apart. Only once did I see an EMT driver hit the brakes and come to a complete stand across the junction, did bring a rye smile to my face.

 

[91104]

Very fair point.

I would never go into an engine room without hearing protection so if they're not supplied with it then it wouldn't be wise to go in there.

To be fair the noise levels in a class 67 engine room isn't too bad and its not like you have to worry about the fire fighting system going off as there isn't one.
I find the biggest danger changing ends via the engine room of a 67 is the way the door into the engine compartment slams shut behind you.

 

[IKBrunel]

Very fair point. I would never go into an engine room without hearing protection so if they're not supplied with it then it wouldn't be wise to go in there.

Hearing damage like many environmental injuries is a function of time and intensity. Whilst ear defenders are a must for engineers spending a lot of time in engine compartments, a driver walking through for less than a minute once or twice a week is a different story. Just that we tend to have a one size fits all approach to many aspects of health & safety, aka RR-AFARP (reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable).

Risk to hearing is better understood in some professions than others. How many dentists or live sound engineers do you see wearing ear protection?
I know a retired dentist who has to wear a hearing aid because repeated exposure to the dentists drill made him near deaf.

 

[Crossover]

Hearing damage like many environmental injuries is a function of time and intensity. Whilst ear defenders are a must for engineers spending a lot of time in engine compartments, a driver walking through for less than a minute once or twice a week is a different story. Just that we tend to have a one size fits all approach to many aspects of health & safety, aka RR-AFARP (reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable).

Yep - we've just had a memo at work (not in the rail industry) that we have to wear ear protection in certain areas, including if just passing through - easier to enforce than having dependencies.

 

[SPADTrap]

Hearing damage like many environmental injuries is a function of time and intensity. Whilst ear defenders are a must for engineers spending a lot of time in engine compartments, a driver walking through for less than a minute once or twice a week is a different story. Just that we tend to have a one size fits all approach to many aspects of health & safety, aka RR-AFARP (reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable).

Risk to hearing is better understood in some professions than others. How many dentists or live sound engineers do you see wearing ear protection?
I know a retired dentist who has to wear a hearing aid because repeated exposure to the dentists drill made him near deaf.

I would still wear ear defenders though...

 

[Welshman]

Bedford south junction is worse on the down slow, you can be routed down slow to up slow at the same time as a southbound train does down slow to the up fast, two trains heading towards each other on the same line at 50 mph, only to diverge 10 feet apart. Only once did I see an EMT driver hit the brakes and come to a complete stand across the junction, did bring a rye smile to my face.

I was tempted to say your rye [sic] smile seems rather corny, but then, I suppose drivers have to develop an in-bread trust in the signallers!

 

[Kneedown]

A couple that I dont think have been mentioned...

Driving at speed in thick fog looking for a semaphore distant signal, and trying to find the stop if the distant is at caution.

Having a 158 gangway door fly open when doing 90mph.

 

[A-driver]

A couple that I dont think have been mentioned...



Driving at speed in thick fog looking for a semaphore distant signal, and trying to find the stop if the distant is at caution.



Having a 158 gangway door fly open when doing 90mph.

Now that last one is certainly scary...I had an HST enter welwyn northern tunnel on the down whilst I had a 100mph 317 on the up road and the pressure change forced the lock open and the nose door flew open, soon followed by the horrendous noise of the HST passing by. I had the emergancy brake in and came to a stand just before welwyn north station. It took a good few seconds to realise what had actually happened, I just remember sitting there minding my own business and all of a sudden a loud crash sound and a freezing wind running round the cab!

 

[barbarajohn]

The scariest thing i experienced was firing the night mail out of euston. approaching linslade tunnel just north of leighton bussard, i forgot to close the damper and nearly got fried!

 

[Rich McLean]

Here's one for those who sign the route.

Early morning HST on the UP sliding down Rattery Bank for a Totnes call at the hight of the leaf fall season.

You can add Bodmin Parkway at the bottom of Largin to that list too

 

[NI 271]

That's absolutely cruel!

It's also as funny as snot!

 

[driver_m]

Linslade Tunnel on the West Coast (The Down Fast tunnel bore)

Had a pendo driver's window come open going through it at 125mph. I thank the designer who angled the window opening to this day...

Also had a linelight start flashing when passing through it, luckily the pan was still in one piece and not pulling a load of knitting with it.

 

[RPM]

Even more curious, are there any pics anywhere of the engine room? I always wondered what they look like.

Voila:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/3459706539

 

[455driver]

That's absolutely cruel!

Yeah but bloody funny!

I wonder what the cab smelt like afterwards?

 

[O L Leigh]

I always checked gangway doors and would secure any that looked marginal on their locks by opening them and giving them a good slam. That way I never had one come open on the move.

On the subject of cab doors, the other door I always checked to ensure they were locked were the hinged cab doors on Cl317s. If you didn't lock them and then opened the droplight window at speed they could also come open with a load crash. The risk with these, however, was that the driver could have his/her hand on the doorframe and would risk several broken fingers if the door flew open. Anyone familiar with Cl150/2 or Cl455 cabs as well as Cl317s will surely know what I'm talking about.

Meanwhile, back at the topic...

There are a lot of scary things that can happen to you as a driver (many of which have already been mentioned), but there aren't many scary things that you actually have to do. Most of the time it's all very mundane. I would have to say that the scariest thing I've had to do is tip out and secure DOO passenger trains at an unmanned location before bringing the set empty to a depot or carriage siding, but even then that's pretty ordinary.

O L Leigh

 

[455driver]

Anyone familiar with Cl150/2 or Cl455 cabs as well as Cl317s will surely know what I'm talking about.

Yes, fully aware thank you!

 

[O L Leigh]

Yes, I had a feeling I would be preaching to the choir when it came to members such as your good self.

I heeded the warnings of the more experienced drivers and always made sure that all doors were secured before setting sail. It only took a moment but it saved me from badly soiled undergarments.

O L Leigh

 

[455driver]

I have had one cab door slam shut on me at 75mph with the cab window open, luckily my hand wasnt on the frame, if it had been I have no doubt that the hand would have ended up a useless, tangled mess such was the force of the door hitting the frame. It scared the <deleted> out of me and I could barely open the door until I had closed the cab window and so reduced the suction on the door.

My hand has never been on that frame again and I warn every trainee driver about the problem.

 

[O L Leigh]

I had one or two pop open as I was accelerating away from stations with the window open, but not with any great force. This was usually because the door frame in the rear of the cab was so chewed up it wouldn't hold the striker plate securely in place allowing the catch to override it. But it was surprising just how much force the airflow used to cause. Once the door popped open there was simply no way to close it again once the train was moving at more than a certain speed. In fact, just pushing it back again required a real effort.

Bloody things. I don't miss that aspect of them one bit and am pleased not to be driving a train with a door in the front of the cab any more.

O L Leigh

 

[sutty]

Voila:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/3459706539

Thanks That *looks* scary.

 

[Kneedown]

I always checked gangway doors and would secure any that looked marginal on their locks by opening them and giving them a good slam. That way I never had one come open on the move.

Part of my cab set up regime too, but the dynamics can subtly change during a journey depending on speed, wear and tear on the locking mechanism etc. Only happened to me the once, but that once was more than enough!

On the subject of cab doors, the other door I always checked to ensure they were locked were the hinged cab doors on Cl317s. If you didn't lock them and then opened the droplight window at speed they could also come open with a load crash. The risk with these, however, was that the driver could have his/her hand on the doorframe and would risk several broken fingers if the door flew open. Anyone familiar with Cl150/2 or Cl455 cabs as well as Cl317s will surely know what I'm talking about.



O L Leigh

A big problem with our 156's and a few 158's. The 156's were eventually fitted with a "V" damper that doesn't keep the door shut but at least saves your fingers if you forget. The 158's never got them for some reason. Strange when you consider the cab air-con hasn't worked for years and driving with an open window is the norm in hot weather.

 

[A-driver]

Not so scary but along the lines if the internal cab/vestibule door slamming shut is the passenger-vestibule door on a317 being left unlocked so you are driving along and lock round to see a passenger standing next to you asking 'which way is the toilet'.

 

[RPM]

I've had my fair share of brown trouser moments but they are pretty much along the lines of what others have already mentioned; a couple of near misses on foot crossings, a couple of cat B SPADS and one incident when some scrote had placed bricks on top of the rails (luckily they shattered on impact). My worst one was a mile-long leaf fall season slide, approaching a red signal that protected a busy level crossing. It turned out later that the sanders were defective. Luckily I did (just) stop short of the red but I certainly didn't think I was going to.