OTM Driver/Operator

[kelv]

I'm hoping to gleam a bit more insight into these kind of jobs please from the fountain of knowledge that this place is.

Basically I've just had a convo with someone that handles recruitment & she was mad keen on me firing my cv over because although they get inundated with cv's when they advertise she says that hardly any (although they think they have) have done what they class as a proper apprenticeship in engineering i.e. a 4 year Indentured Apprenticeship. In fact she seemed quite certain that when she puts my cv to the manager he will want me to go in for an interview/chat.
Obviously for the driver training I would have to pass the Psychometric Testing etc to train to become a Driver/Operator, so if anyone can advise me on if this would be the same as for driving for a TOC or freight company as well.
Also re: The Driver Training, how does it stack up against the training for a TOC? as in would you be classed as qualified by a TOC if you get sick of being covered in oil & Sh.. every day (she told me its a filthy job).

Sometimes you drop on a phone number by chance & its right time right place, the conversation I had seemed to point that way as they had not long since trawled through tons of applications that didnt have the mechanical skills they wanted.
I'm due a bit of luck tbh, although I was more hoping it was going to be in the form of 6 balls with numbers on.

All Help & Info Is Very Much Appreciated.

 

[plastictaffy]

I may be wrong, but as far as I am aware, driver training is driver training. OTM's often move under their own power from wherever they're maintained to where they are required. Since that movement takes place largely during the day, fitted into the normal service, I see no reason why it wouldn't be the standard OPC driver assessments you'd have to pass. The details of the actual tests (assuming they are what's required) you'll need to do are all over these forums. If someone thinks they can get you a job on the railways (in any guise) grab it with both hands.

 

[kelv]

I may be wrong, but as far as I am aware, driver training is driver training. OTM's often move under their own power from wherever they're maintained to where they are required. Since that movement takes place largely during the day, fitted into the normal service, I see no reason why it wouldn't be the standard OPC driver assessments you'd have to pass. The details of the actual tests (assuming they are what's required) you'll need to do are all over these forums. If someone thinks they can get you a job on the railways (in any guise) grab it with both hands.

I intend to grab any opportunity that's offered, I've seen a lot of the assessment stuff on here but just wondered if it differed at all for this type of position. Is Group Bourdon an industry requirement or just a means of selection ?

 

[scott118]

any driver who transfers over from a TOC/FOC, transfers with their license and route card. Routes can be expanded on obviously, for operational needs too.. for some shifts, you would also be expected to work 'out of area' to operate the machine only, without the relevant route knowledge, as you could travel to site as a second man. Or you could be expected to meet the unit onsite, if your shift starts/finishes within a work zone.

The same rules apply, as to another other mainline driver, ie. sign both route and traction you drive, blah blah. You can also be asked to act, as a route conductor..

As a new driver, you would need to be assessed, to the same standard, as any TOC/FOC mainline driver. Shifts will include, lots of weekend and BH workings, however you will be working predominantly nights, if that helps.

As for being a dirty job? What is it that you are exactly applying for? You wont get a shirt and a tie to wear, that's a given. Driver/operator? Fitter/operator? What plant is it, that you are looking to operate?

Good luck with your application..

 

[kelv]

any driver who transfers over from a TOC/FOC, transfers with their license and route card. Routes can be expanded on obviously, for operational needs too.. for some shifts, you would also be expected to work 'out of area' to operate the machine only, without the relevant route knowledge, as you could travel to site as a second man. Or you could be expected to meet the unit onsite, if your shift starts/finishes within a work zone.

The same rules apply, as to another other mainline driver, ie. sign both route and traction you drive, blah blah. You can also be asked to act, as a route conductor..

As a new driver, you would need to be assessed, to the same standard, as any TOC/FOC mainline driver. Shifts will include, lots of weekend and BH workings, however you will be working predominantly nights, if that helps.

As for being a dirty job? What is it that you are exactly applying for? You wont get a shirt and a tie to wear, that's a given. Driver/operator? Fitter/operator? What plant is it, that you are looking to operate?

Good luck with your application..

It was advertised as Driver/ Fitter & Driver/Operator previously, she said mainly Tamping and Alignment. Seems they didn't get folk with the fitting skills and 'right kind' of apprenticeships (indentured) that they wanted from the way she wanted my cv there & then.
as for getting dirty well they do say that where there's muck there's brass.

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

It was advertised as Driver/ Fitter & Driver/Operator previously, she said mainly Tamping and Alignment. Seems they didn't get folk with the fitting skills and 'right kind' of apprenticeships (indentured) that they wanted from the way she wanted my cv there & then.
as for getting dirty well they do say that where there's muck there's brass.

I enjoyed my OTM time although I went in as a qualified driver. I never operated. I had a huge route card, drove everything they had and liked the rough and ready, think on your feet, bull**** free nature of it.

With a few exceptions ( as everywhere ) they were a great, great bunch of lads too whom I am still always pleased to see.

You will stay away in hotels quite a lot, a van and fuel card is provided, hours are a lot of nights and weekends but there are no early starts

The dirty part is day maintenance on the machines, which apart from the transits and route learning, is the bulk of day work, it is a dirty, grease filled day.

As for becoming a driver, they are darned good drivers by and large who do things many a driver elsewhere would never do, such as work groundframes, huge wrong direction movements etc..

However, most FOCS and TOCS will want you to do a complete driver's course from scratch if you move to one from what I have seen

If you are motion sick, working or sitting on a tamper will have you vomiting your ring up !

Go for it, times when I'm still tempted to go back

 

[kelv]

I enjoyed my OTM time although I went in as a qualified driver. I never operated. I had a huge route card, drove everything they had and liked the rough and ready, think on your feet, bull**** free nature of it.

With a few exceptions ( as everywhere ) they were a great, great bunch of lads too whom I am still always pleased to see.

You will stay away in hotels quite a lot, a van and fuel card is provided, hours are a lot of nights and weekends but there are no early starts

The dirty part is day maintenance on the machines, which apart from the transits and route learning, is the bulk of day work, it is a dirty, grease filled day.

As for becoming a driver, they are darned good drivers by and large who do things many a driver elsewhere would never do, such as work groundframes, huge wrong direction movements etc..

However, most FOCS and TOCS will want you to do a complete driver's course from scratch if you move to one from what I have seen

If you are motion sick, working or sitting on a tamper will have you vomiting your ring up !

Go for it, times when I'm still tempted to go back

Cheers, no motion sickness here, used to have to get out of the control cab on a large bed milling machine I worked on though cos you had very little to do and the gentle vibration would have you nodding off in no time... mind numbingly boring that was on a 12 hour night shift with nothing to do.

 

[Regan]

Nice post G136GREYHOUND good luck kelv might see you around if its the company I work for.

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

Cheers, no motion sickness here, used to have to get out of the control cab on a large bed milling machine I worked on though cos you had very little to do and the gentle vibration would have you nodding off in no time... mind numbingly boring that was on a 12 hour night shift with nothing to do.

tamper operating motion is a little more than a "gentle vibration" !!

 

[6Z09]

As far as dirty jobs on OTP go, tampers are fine, I would say the really dirty ones are Ballast Cleaners or even worse Railgrinders!

 

[kelv]

However Dirty or Not Dirty the job is really doesn't matter to me, in fact I only mentioned it cos it was something the HR Lady said.

I'm more wanting to know about the training, suitability aspects and anything else that anyone can tell me about the job, hours, shifts etc. cos although there's a massive amount of job info on here there isn't a great deal in comparison regarding otm's.

 

[6Z09]

I would highly recommend taking any opportunity, having spent more than thirty years in the industry, the majority being on OTP.
Still a good job compared to anything outwith the Rail Industry.
You do of course,as has been said, need to accept the unsocial hours aspect!

 

[kelv]

​

I would highly recommend taking any opportunity, having spent more than thirty years in the industry, the majority being on OTP.
Still a good job compared to anything outwith the Rail Industry.
You do of course,as has been said, need to accept the unsocial hours aspect!

can you give an example of the hours/pattern that you work over say a month ?

& anyone else in the job too if possible.

Just so that I have a decent idea if this goes any further for me.

 

[6Z09]

I have been away from it for too long to give you accurate info regarding rosters.
Sorry.

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

I have been away from it for too long to give you accurate info regarding rosters.
Sorry.

Ditto, my work pattern info would be too out of date

 

[The One]

I'm hoping to gleam a bit more insight into these kind of jobs please from the fountain of knowledge that this place is.

Basically I've just had a convo with someone that handles recruitment & she was mad keen on me firing my cv over because although they get inundated with cv's when they advertise she says that hardly any (although they think they have) have done what they class as a proper apprenticeship in engineering i.e. a 4 year Indentured Apprenticeship. In fact she seemed quite certain that when she puts my cv to the manager he will want me to go in for an interview/chat.
Obviously for the driver training I would have to pass the Psychometric Testing etc to train to become a Driver/Operator, so if anyone can advise me on if this would be the same as for driving for a TOC or freight company as well.
Also re: The Driver Training, how does it stack up against the training for a TOC? as in would you be classed as qualified by a TOC if you get sick of being covered in oil & Sh.. every day (she told me its a filthy job).

Sometimes you drop on a phone number by chance & its right time right place, the conversation I had seemed to point that way as they had not long since trawled through tons of applications that didnt have the mechanical skills they wanted.
I'm due a bit of luck tbh, although I was more hoping it was going to be in the form of 6 balls with numbers on.

All Help & Info Is Very Much Appreciated.

Hi if you PM me I may be able to help you for what you need to know if it's the company I'm thinking of