1st Day as a newbie train driver

[ANorthernGuard]

oops sorry typo, we don't call them newbies......Microwaves are their nick lol


Boil in the baggers and brainwashed as they say..........

hehe

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It really was a great day out though- the Mid-Hants is AFAIK the only preserved railway with colour light signals and TPWS.

No TPWS on the MHR! We do have fully fitted AWS at all semaphore distant signals, and in the Alton colour light area, apart from the AWS gap between AT53 and AT59 (i.e. none from the country end of the loop onwards).

 

[notadriver]

I know it's not remotely like driving for a TOC/FOC in full service, but I drove a Class 205 Thumper on a driver experience day on a heritage railway not that long ago. I can say for the first few minutes I really was bricking it!!

I guess my instructor would have been able to stop the train in an instant if things had gone a bit wrong, but my heart was in my mouth.

One thing the instructor told me was that anyone can drive a train, but it takes an expert to stop one- I'd definitely agree with that.

It really was a great day out though- the Mid-Hants is AFAIK the only preserved railway with colour light signals and TPWS.

Was your instructor a qualified train driver ?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Was your instructor a qualified train driver ?

On the railway on which he did his experience, yes.

 

[TDK]

I know it's not remotely like driving for a TOC/FOC in full service, but I drove a Class 205 Thumper on a driver experience day on a heritage railway not that long ago. I can say for the first few minutes I really was bricking it!!

I guess my instructor would have been able to stop the train in an instant if things had gone a bit wrong, but my heart was in my mouth.

One thing the instructor told me was that anyone can drive a train, but it takes an expert to stop one- I'd definitely agree with that.

It really was a great day out though- the Mid-Hants is AFAIK the only preserved railway with colour light signals and TPWS.

As you say it is not remotely like driving on the main line as the maximum speed is only 25 and you will most likely not be following anything - with no TPWS or AWS to worry about either however at least you have seen what it is remotely like

 

[ralphchadkirk]

As you say it is not remotely like driving on the main line as the maximum speed is only 25 and you will most likely not be following anything - with no TPWS or AWS to worry about either however at least you have seen what it is remotely like

AWS and DSD's are fitted, and you can be following things (i.e. you're not going to get greens all the way).

 

[strange6]

I think most of today's qualified train drivers (of recent vintage anyway) would need a lot of practice to operate vacuum brakes efficiently and effectively.

 

[notadriver]

AWS and DSD's are fitted, and you can be following things (i.e. you're not going to get greens all the way).

Isn't it all just 'playing choo-choo trains' on a heritage railway?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Isn't it all just 'playing choo-choo trains' on a heritage railway?

No. They have to run to the same legislation and standards as the mainline, apart from some derogations as a result of running under a LRO.
I know for a fact the Alton installation on the MHR is up to NR standards, and the Ropley installation was heavily praised by HMRI as an example of how to do things. To say that it's just 'playing choo-choo trains' is from someone who evidently doesn't understand railways.

 

[driver9000]

I think most of today's qualified train drivers (of recent vintage anyway) would need a lot of practice to operate vacuum brakes efficiently and effectively.

Any training on a 'new' braking system would include a number of hours handling - when I converted from tread brakes to disc brakes I had to do 4 hours handling.

Back to the thread. I remember my first day driving solo. I was given free reign to go out and drive over the routes I'd signed on pass out by taking trains off other Drivers. After being given a pep talk by my manager, I was off out into the big wide world. I took a pair of 156s and sat in the cab - which suddenly felt 10 times bigger without my instructor, feeling a little nervous waiting for the ready to start. I sat up straight and almost on the edge of the seat it wasn't until a little later when I turned to say something to my instructor and then remembering I was on my own (and my traps probably wouldn't be listening) that I relaxed, sat back and enjoyed the rest of the day. My first day as a linked Driver working my first booked job threw a few faults at me namely a 142 that wouldn't start and later having to split and recouple a pair of units that had dumped the brake on me.

 

[strange6]

Any training on a 'new' braking system would include a number of hours handling - when I converted from tread brakes to disc brakes I had to do 4 hours handling.

Back to the thread. I remember my first day driving solo. I was given free reign to go out and drive over the routes I'd signed on pass out by taking trains off other Drivers. After being given a pep talk by my manager, I was off out into the big wide world. I took a pair of 156s and sat in the cab - which suddenly felt 10 times bigger without my instructor, feeling a little nervous waiting for the ready to start. I sat up straight and almost on the edge of the seat it wasn't until a little later when I turned to say something to my instructor and then remembering I was on my own (and my traps probably wouldn't be listening) that I relaxed, sat back and enjoyed the rest of the day. My first day as a linked Driver working my first booked job threw a few faults at me namely a 142 that wouldn't start and later having to split and recouple a pair of units that had dumped the brake on me.

Do you still see your instructor on your travels now?

 

[driverchris52]

First turn was with a Class 86 taking vacuum braked sleepers from Willesden to Euston, running around them on one of the backing out roads and then backing the train into the station with a shunter in the leading end. I knew about the move but had never done it before even after 4 years as a secondman. That concentrated the mind a bit!

 

[driver9000]

Do you still see your instructor on your travels now?

I see my practical handling instructor as we are at the same depot, haven't seen my rules instructor from the driving school for a long time.

 

[adc82140]

No TPWS on the MHR! We do have fully fitted AWS at all semaphore distant signals

Whoops. I meant AWS

Was your instructor a qualified train driver ?

Yes. And a very nice guy as well. It was fascinating to watch him work on the return passenger run, and see how it should be done.

 

[notadriver]

Whoops. I meant AWS



Yes. And a very nice guy as well. It was fascinating to watch him work on the return passenger run, and see how it should be done.

Great!! Did he say which TOC he drove for? I don't know an drivers who spend their free time on heritage railways; there must be some !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No. They have to run to the same legislation and standards as the mainline, apart from some derogations as a result of running under a LRO.
I know for a fact the Alton installation on the MHR is up to NR standards, and the Ropley installation was heavily praised by HMRI as an example of how to do things. To say that it's just 'playing choo-choo trains' is from someone who evidently doesn't understand railways.

You're right. I'm a bus driver. I did apply for train driving but failed the assessment twice so that's it for me.

What are the rules regarding who / how many people can be in the cab of a train on a heritage railway?

 

[adc82140]

I think he said he worked for South West Trains

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What are the rules regarding who / how many people can be in the cab of a train on a heritage railway?

The MHR rule book says a maximum of 2 visitors, both with cab passes and no more than 4 people in the cab at any one time.

 

[strange6]

The MHR rule book says a maximum of 2 visitors, both with cab passes and no more than 4 people in the cab at any one time.

Try fitting more than 3 in a heritage DMU. Not easy at all

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Try fitting more than 3 in a heritage DMU. Not easy at all

Breathe in

 

[Welshman]

Try fitting more than 3 in a heritage DMU. Not easy at all

You'd be even more hard pressed to get four in the cab of a Fairlie on the Ffestiniog Railway.

 

[185]

Had 12 in the back of a ram-packed 185 once during the floods at Dewsbury (mostly staff and regular passengers).

 

[scotsman]

What are the rules regarding who / how many people can be in the cab of a train on a heritage railway?

My rulebook says 4