Alternatives to Train Driving

[Greaseball3220]

I'm of an age now where coupled to how difficult it is to get into I've become semi-resigned to it never happening. I'm aware of the commitments of the role in terms of concentration, learning, shift work, weekend work, etc but it's overriding attraction is the sense of being outdoors and autonomous. Although not shy, I'm an introvert who worked in front line customer roles for years and detested them, coupled with an innate dislike of office culture and a fixed workplace surrounded by the same people for 40 hours a week. Unemployment would send most people nuts but I actually prefer it to all the jobs I've done hitherto.

Besides HGV Driving I really can't think of many jobs where you're alone and outdoors most of the time.

 

[sw1ller]

Gardening. Traffic warden, MHE (forklifts, 360, excavation vehicles), crane operations (very good money in this)

There are plenty to be fair, but without knowing what you’re interested in doing, how much manual labour you want to do, money you want to make, career aspirations etc, it’s hard to say.

I was going to get my crane licence if train driving didn’t pan out. There’s other work in the rail industry you can do at FOCs. Many 2nd man opportunities.

 

[Narom]

Besides HGV Driving I really can't think of many jobs where you're alone and outdoors most of the time.

Postal delivery. But I definitely cant recommend it.

 

[Class465fan]

Bus driver?

 

[Economist]

Plenty of trainee train drivers who are 50+ out there, I've even known a couple of folks who didn't start training until 55-ish. So don't rule it out based on age. The assessment and training process is tough but if you have the aptitude and commitment, you've every opportunity of making it through.

You could maybe consider signalling at one of the smaller boxes in the middle of nowhere, brass leavers, semaphore signals and all. They won't be around forever unfortunately but still a decent job I should think.

 

[sw1ller]

Plenty of trainee train drivers who are 50+ out there, I've even known a couple of folks who didn't start training until 55-ish. So don't rule it out based on age. The assessment and training process is tough but if you have the aptitude and commitment, you've every opportunity of making it through.

You could maybe consider signalling at one of the smaller boxes in the middle of nowhere, brass leavers, semaphore signals and all. They won't be around forever unfortunately but still a decent job I should think.

Ones just started with us at 58.

 

[Greaseball3220]

Bus driver?

Thanks for the replies, I think the cash handling and joe public interaction of bus driving would send me spare, you've only got to look at You Tube clips of some of the barney's they have to put up with and get involved in. Never thought of the crane thing before.

 

[Evolution]

I'm of an age now where coupled to how difficult it is to get into I've become semi-resigned to it never happening. I'm aware of the commitments of the role in terms of concentration, learning, shift work, weekend work, etc but it's overriding attraction is the sense of being outdoors and autonomous. Although not shy, I'm an introvert who worked in front line customer roles for years and detested them, coupled with an innate dislike of office culture and a fixed workplace surrounded by the same people for 40 hours a week. Unemployment would send most people nuts but I actually prefer it to all the jobs I've done hitherto.

Besides HGV Driving I really can't think of many jobs where you're alone and outdoors most of the time.

Field based sales executive, you will spend a few hours of the day meeting potential clients and the rest of the time at a coffee shop or driving.

 

[Lewis H]

Win the lottery

 

[Bodiddly]

HGV drivers are starting to push up wages due to shortages of drivers. Difficult to get started but once you've been in a couple of years, the industry opens up.
I would really fancy being a trucker but there are other aspects of the job which I don't fancy such as long waits at distribution depots and sharing the roads with imbeciles!

 

[choochoochoo]

Gardening. Traffic warden, MHE (forklifts, 360, excavation vehicles), crane operations (very good money in this)

There are plenty to be fair, but without knowing what you’re interested in doing, how much manual labour you want to do, money you want to make, career aspirations etc, it’s hard to say.

I was going to get my crane licence if train driving didn’t pan out. There’s other work in the rail industry you can do at FOCs. Many 2nd man opportunities.

What does a crane operator earn these days ? Is there bigger rewards in the middle east ? And what is the path into the profession ? Can you go straight into a crane operator school ? What are the training costs?

 

[martin2345uk]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/feb/20/how-become-crane-driver

My uncle is a crane operator and loves it..!

 

[sw1ller]

What does a crane operator earn these days ? Is there bigger rewards in the middle east ? And what is the path into the profession ? Can you go straight into a crane operator school ? What are the training costs?

My mate drives the biggest mobile crane in the UK, he got his licence in the RAF and is now on stupid money! Ainscough do a trainee course but it’s difficult to get on. You do end up sleeping in a transit van for weeks on end with some jobs. You can be sponsored to train or pay yourself but I believe the last time I looked at costs it was close to £4K and I already had my HGV1 licence.

 

[BTU]

Pimp?

 

[Unknockable]

My mate drives the biggest mobile crane in the UK, he got his licence in the RAF and is now on stupid money! Ainscough do a trainee course but it’s difficult to get on. You do end up sleeping in a transit van for weeks on end with some jobs. You can be sponsored to train or pay yourself but I believe the last time I looked at costs it was close to £4K and I already had my HGV1 licence.

This is something I considered early in my working life but didn’t follow through when I discovered the price for training. Really starting to give it ago if I know the work is out there. Sounds like something good to do on a along side a main job?