Recent content by dapc

I thought Calvert aswel, I remember when I used to go down there a few years ago that plans for HS2 were there but wasn't entirely sure if it was a depot or not. Birmingham is abit far for what I'm wanting, I suppose it's still a fresh-ish project and plans are fluid. I'm trying to check out...

Does anyone know or can speculate where depots are going to be for HS2. Obviously the start and the beginning but I'm more wondering in the middle? Is Alesbury or somewhere in the Chilterns a option?

When I joined a FOC around 8 years ago I lived on London and my depot was also going to be London. The training centre was in Nottingham so had to travel up on a Sunday and could come home Friday after training. The company put us up in a hotel, food included and this lasted around 3/4 months...

B) from what I've heard from a TOC I worked for.... shunter drivers usually don't move. No one really takes on the job and not the really expect to be upgraded any time soon to a mainline driver. If anything get the shunter driver job and use the experience to step stone to a different company...

It may sound silly..... but do the search on here or buy the book? I searched and searched on here whilst waiting for Amazon to send the book to me. It worked out well for me. I understand people asking questions but I imagine all of them have been answered by now. You need to be able to problem...

I was just answering the OP's question in regards to "accuracy of the videos" I have never played on any train sim apart from the one my FOC supplied and even then it wasnt a route i was going to sign so again unsure of accuracy. I wanted to check anyway to just see how detailed the route was...

I wouldnt trust it for route learning. Just had a look at the FGW route video and some old signals are not where they are ment to be in RL.

You learn something new every day!

Thats a fancy name for ground staff! They work anytime of the day! Seriously its a 24 hour thing! i was hearing a GBRf ATM moaning about something last week then mentioned something about a ATME grade which he wasnt. Sounded like more responsibility to do with conducting, possibly drivers...

the tests, test your ability. If you dont have the ability then your not going to pass. Thats just my opinion. No course can train abilty. The forum and the book helped me. The book was usefull for interview questions for me personally.

Go in to frieght, i cant see the shunting and driving being auto controlled any time soon. sometimes i wish it was. But i would imagine Frieght trains would be the very last type of loco's to see this tech. over all, i wouldnt worry, 50+ years before the railway could afford it, another 20-30...

DBS get zero agreement for free travel. A Frieght pass for on duty is all they get.

As a trainee for most roles you should receive staff travel passes imo

I know of two people who ive helped with advice for the assesment and both passing the DM interviews that havent heard anything as of yet.

In regards to Shrubs.......... dont study or look at anything. thats what the training is for. Sikes... well i've had two and both were very different. 1st was 2 on 1 and lasted 1.30-2hours and was very formal and the second for a different company lasted 30mins and was a casual chat...