Best and worst jobs on the roster

[91104]

What do drivers and guards consider the best and worst diagrams at their depot?
You know the job on the link that you can't wait to do and that long horrible job you feel like booking leave for just to get out of it.
These are my favourite and least favourite jobs at my depot (East Coast-Kings Cross)
Favourite:
KX 27
Book on 14:38
Book off:20.38
Hours 6.00
Class 91/DVT Kings Cross 15.05
Leeds. 17.14

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Leeds 18.15
Kings Cross 20.26

Least favourite (luckily not in my link but could still cop it off spare)

KX2006 (su)
Book on 11.03
Book off 20.50
Hours 9.47

Class91/DVT Kings Cross 11.30
Newcastle 14.35

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Newcastle 17.30
Kings Cross 20.40

 

[westcoaster]

What do drivers and guards consider the best and worst diagrams at their depot?
You know the job on the link that you can't wait to do and that long horrible job you feel like booking leave for just to get out of it.
These are my favourite and least favourite jobs at my depot (East Coast-Kings Cross)
Favourite:
KX 27
Book on 14:38
Book off:20.38
Hours 6.00
Class 91/DVT Kings Cross 15.05
Leeds. 17.14

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Leeds 18.15
Kings Cross 20.26

Least favourite (luckily not in my link but could still cop it off spare)

KX2006 (su)
Book on 11.03
Book off 20.50
Hours 9.47

Class91/DVT Kings Cross 11.30
Newcastle 14.35

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Newcastle 17.30
Kings Cross 20.40

they both look good.

fcc bedford worst is BF41 09:35-1923 bedford 0954-brighton 1215/1234-bedford 14:49 on a 4 car 319, break
15:40 bdford- beckenham junction 1718/1730- bedford 1906 on an 8 car 319. Over 326 miles and a killer.

best one is a night job pass bedford to cricklewood, prep 3 8 cars, ecs cricklwood to blackfriars, pass back to bedford.

 

[luke1420]

Was talking to a Piccadilly based Northern Rail guard the other week he was working the following:


1446 Piccadilly-Crewe Via Airport
1550 Crewe-Piccadilly Via Stockport
1658 Piccadilly-Hadfeild-Piccadilly
BREAK
1904 Piccadilly-Crewe Via Stockport
2050 Crewe-Piccadilly Via Stockport
2204 Piccadilly-Crewe Via Stockport
2312 Crewe-Piccadilly Via Stockport

I am not a guard so i cannot compare to any other jobs but i can imagine this job not being the most liked job in the depot.

 

[TheEdge]

Those don't look to awful...

 

[ryan125hst]

What do drivers and guards consider the best and worst diagrams at their depot?
You know the job on the link that you can't wait to do and that long horrible job you feel like booking leave for just to get out of it.
These are my favourite and least favourite jobs at my depot (East Coast-Kings Cross)
Favourite:
KX 27
Book on 14:38
Book off:20.38
Hours 6.00
Class 91/DVT Kings Cross 15.05
Leeds. 17.14

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Leeds 18.15
Kings Cross 20.26

Least favourite (luckily not in my link but could still cop it off spare)

KX2006 (su)
Book on 11.03
Book off 20.50
Hours 9.47

Class91/DVT Kings Cross 11.30
Newcastle 14.35

BREAK

Class 91/DVT Newcastle 17.30
Kings Cross 20.40

I'm only a student so obviously have no experience with this kind of thing, but both of those don't look too bad to me. I suppose it is two blocks of driving for three hours, but would have thought that this would be quite a common driver diagram. Surely an early start or late finish with similar mileage would be worse? Or is it the long break the worst bit?

 

[Qwerty133]

The worst diagram that jumps to mind for me is NR705 (Su)



All stops, all ways. Its a real killer and really drags...

I would expect any job that goes back 3 and a half hours mid shift to be bad!
who at GA invented the time machine

 

[91104]

I'm only a student so obviously have no experience with this kind of thing, but both of those don't look too bad to me. I suppose it is two blocks of driving for three hours, but would have thought that this would be quite a common driver diagram. Surely an early start or late finish with similar mileage would be worse? Or is it the long break the worst bit?

The work content is ok as it's a return trip to Newcastle it's more the book on/book off times as at least with an early start/late finish you generally have time at home before or after work but on a mid turn like that you're out all day when travelling to/from work is taken into consideration. Also a 3 hour break can drag especially when you can't get a seat in Newcastle mess room because it's full of Jocks. Mind you I think compared to some of the suburban DOO drivers we haven't got it too bad really.

 

[ryan125hst]

Also a 3 hour break can drag especially when you can't get a seat in Newcastle mess room because it's full of Jocks.

Jocks? Could you explain this please?

 

[user15681]

I'm not one myself, but seem to remember a chat with a driver recently who said he was doing his favorite job one Sunday. He said he enjoyed it for the low driving hours, long PNB in London and for the free trip on the underground!

It was something like...

Pass from Faversham to Gillingham

Drive Gillingham to Charing Cross
Charing Cross to Gravesend
Gravesend to Charing Cross

Relieved at Charing Cross

2 hours for PNB and to travel to Victoria by LUL

Drive Victoria to Faversham
Shunt to sidings

 

[dk1]

12.45-22.33

12.58 Norwich-Lowestoft
14.08 Lowestoft-Ipswich
15.54 Ipswich-Lowestoft
17.50 Lowestoft-Norwich
PNB
19.40 Norwich-Cambridge
21.15 Cambridge-Norwich

Hate it hate it hate it!!!

 

[Minilad]

Book on 03.14. Taxi to Tyseley
Prepare 3X170
0513 ECS to New St
0552 New St - Leicester
0837 Leicester - New St
PNB
Refresh New St - Tame Bridge
Finish 11.00

 

[plastictaffy]

The one I had today. 8 hours 20 booked - amended down to 5 hours 23. Back end of the job cancelled due to the Watford Blockade - home after 3 hours.

 

[dk1]

07.39-15.39 SuO

Walk to Crown Pt to bring in IC set for 09.00 Lst (usually already in so breakfast)

09.00 Norwich-Liverpool St
11.30 Liverpool St-Norwich (arr 13.29)

PNB (yeah right, more like slide off)

Guaranteed 8hrs pay at Sunday rate

 

[plastictaffy]

Seriously though, the worst job we have..........
Now, that would be BY766.
1314 on, 2222 off.
1327 Bletchley semi to Euston - 4 car 350.
1434 Euston to Tring
1526 Tring to Euston - 8 car 321.
PNB
1712 Euston to Tring
1759 Tring to Euston
1905 Euston to Tring
1956 Tring to Euston
2105 Euston to Bletchley and dispose - 4 car 350.
It's basically Euston and back - but with a triple Tring on 321's.
Horrendous job.

Best job - BY765.
1233 on, 1941 off.
1246 off Bletchley, flyer to Euston.
1349 Euston to Northampton - flyer.
1450 Northampton to Milton Keynes
PNB
1615 express to Euston.
12 car Flyer 1746 to Northampton, dispose 8 cars, and pass back to BLY.

 

[ryan125hst]

12.45-22.33

12.58 Norwich-Lowestoft
14.08 Lowestoft-Ipswich
15.54 Ipswich-Lowestoft
17.50 Lowestoft-Norwich
PNB
19.40 Norwich-Cambridge
21.15 Cambridge-Norwich

Hate it hate it hate it!!!

That looks long! You would be driving a Sprinter for some of that as well wouldn't you?

07.39-15.39 SuO

Walk to Crown Pt to bring in IC set for 09.00 Lst (usually already in so breakfast)

09.00 Norwich-Liverpool St
11.30 Liverpool St-Norwich (arr 13.29)

PNB (yeah right, more like slide off)

Guaranteed 8hrs pay at Sunday rate

It's strange that you have a PNB at the end of your shift. Are you spare until 15:39 then? Also, I didn't realise that drivers sign both the IC sets and the local units at Norwich?

 

[plastictaffy]

12.45-22.33

12.58 Norwich-Lowestoft
14.08 Lowestoft-Ipswich
15.54 Ipswich-Lowestoft
17.50 Lowestoft-Norwich
PNB
19.40 Norwich-Cambridge
21.15 Cambridge-Norwich

Hate it hate it hate it!!!

That's only a fraction less than ten hours - christ, sod that!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That looks long! You would be driving a Sprinter for some of that as well wouldn't you?



It's strange that you have a PNB at the end of your shift. Are you spare until 15:39 then? Also, I didn't realise that drivers sign both the IC sets and the local units at Norwich?

We have a few jobs with a PNB tacked on the end. It's just a way of bulking the job out. We have one in the morning where you come in from BHM to land Northampton at 1253. You're supposed to have a PNB and assist to MKC on the 1350, and pick up the Southern service back to BLY. But you can have the PNB and nip back on the 1325, negating the need for a change at MKC. You can make nearly an hour out of that one.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Jocks? Could you explain this please?

A Jock is a nickname for someone from Scotland, much like someone from Newcastle would be a Geordie or someone from London would be a Cockney.

I presume it's just because Jock is the Scottish version of the name John. It's not a pejorative term or anything.

 

[dk1]

That looks long! You would be driving a Sprinter for some of that as well wouldn't you?



It's strange that you have a PNB at the end of your shift. Are you spare until 15:39 then? Also, I didn't realise that drivers sign both the IC sets and the local units at Norwich?

We are 'all rounders' at Norwich. Most of us sign 08, 90, 153, 156, 170 & some 47s (soon to be 37s hopefully) too.

The 12.45-22.33 job that i dislike involves a single 153 from 12.58-18.32. We can be booked PNB at the end as long as it conforms to driving hour regulations but if you stay & take it at work, you will probably be medscreened

 

[Qwerty133]

Book on 03.14. Taxi to Tyseley
Prepare 3X170
0513 ECS to New St
0552 New St - Leicester
0837 Leicester - New St
PNB
Refresh New St - Tame Bridge
Finish 11.00

is the 0837 an ECS, or do you mean 0847. Asking as I've spent about 10mins thinking that I've got the timetable for my line wrong
Quite surprised that the worst job isn't the one that includes the 17:18 Leicester to Birmingham, unless that's at another depot. That one doesn't look particularly bad, almost 2 hours at Leicester doing not much. (unless train drivers have jobs to do when at a station without a train)

 

[ryan125hst]

A Jock is a nickname for someone from Scotland, much like someone from Newcastle would be a Geordie or someone from London would be a Cockney.

I presume it's just because Jock is the Scottish version of the name John. It's not a pejorative term or anything.

OK, that makes sense. I didn't thing it was pejorative, I just didn't have a clue what it meant!

We are 'all rounders' at Norwich. Most of us sign 08, 90, 153, 156, 170 & some 47s (soon to be 37s hopefully) too.

I didn't realise that. For some reason I thought that the unit drivers were separate to the Intercity drivers. I'm probably getting muddled with the former First Great Eastern operations which I believe are still seperate?

We can be booked PNB at the end as long as it conforms to driving hour regulations but if you stay & take it at work, you will probably be medscreened

It seems strange to roster it that way though. Is it because you are required to work a certain number of hours per week?

 

[bunnahabhain]

A few of my favourite diagrams...

SO. On: 0549, Off: 1452, Hrs: 9.03
06:05 Nottingham - Worksop and return
08:53 Nottingham - Mansfield Woodhouse and return
PNB (30mins)
10:56 Nottingham - Mansfield Woodhouse and return
12:26 Nottingham - Worksop and return

Its generally a nice quiet shift until the second trip back from Woodhouse, then it starts becoming manic and you're just doing revenue and doors with no opportunity to breath. We have one or two other similar diagrams but they have booked revenue assistance so its a lot more relaxed on them.

SX. On: 1429, Off: 23:37, Hrs: 9.08
14:45 Nottingham - Skegness
17:30 Skegness - Nottingham (Jolly Fisherman "Express")
PNB
Pass on 20:30 x-Nottingham (London St. Pancras - Lincoln service)
22:27 Lincoln - Nottingham

 

[slick]

Best at my depot

On 1737 Off 2337

18+05 ECS Chingford - Liverpool St
1837 Liverpool St - Cambridge
2004 Cambridge - Liverpool St
21+22 ECS Liverpool Street - Ilford EMUD
PASS home!

I feel bad everytime I get it

Worst

Saturday On 1555 Off 0119

1610 Chingford - Liv St
1645 Liv St - Cheshunt
1731 Chehunt - Liv St
1830 Liv St - Enfield Town
1922 Enfield Town - Liv St
2003 Liv St - Chingford

PNB

2125 Chingford - Liv St
2212 Liv St - Hertford East
2309 Herford East - Liv St (vomit comet and 6 pass comms later..)
0018 Liv St - Chingford

Then

Attach portion in plaftorm
0054 Shunt Into Sidings and Walk Back.

But this ilford job im sure my friend would like to put forward...even though its shorter...

PASS Seven Kings - Gidea Park
Gidea Park - Shenfield
Shenfield - Liv St
Liv St - Shenfield
Shenfield - Gidea Park
PASS Gidea Park - Romford

PNB

PASS
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Upminster
Upmister - Romford
Romford - Ilford EMUD

Kill me now.

 

[dk1]

I didn't realise that. For some reason I thought that the unit drivers were separate to the Intercity drivers. I'm probably getting muddled with the former First Great Eastern operations which I believe are still seperate?



It seems strange to roster it that way though. Is it because you are required to work a certain number of hours per week?

Colchester has amalgamated with ex-Anglia work more than any other GE depot. They always signed DMUs for the Sudbury but under NX started to sign 170s & the route Ipswich-Peterborough. They also briefly signed loco-hauled for movements & prepping when a set was stabled there nightly. Ipswich (Anglia) now also signs 321s.


As for the PNB at the end of the diagram, well ex-Anglia drivers cannot be booked less than 6hrs (8hrs Sunday) per shift. If there is nothing to cover then it becomes as-ordered at the end & a PNB can be put anywhere as long as the diagram is legal with driving hours & located within 3rd-5th hour etc depending on length of diagram. It could require two or more of differing length.

 

[Minilad]

is the 0837 an ECS, or do you mean 0847. Asking as I've spent about 10mins thinking that I've got the timetable for my line wrong
Quite surprised that the worst job isn't the one that includes the 17:18 Leicester to Birmingham, unless that's at another depot. That one doesn't look particularly bad, almost 2 hours at Leicester doing not much. (unless train drivers have jobs to do when at a station without a train)

Nope it's me not you haha
You work the 0724 back from Leicester are New St at 0819 then work ECS at 0837 from New St to New Sr via Lifford.

This is the best job by the way. Not the worst

 

[W230]

Not a fan of BL166.

Book on at Blackfriars then:
Blackfriars - St Albans.
St Albans - Sutton
Sutton - Luton
Luton - Sutton
ECS to Streatham via Mitcham Junction then shunt and back to Sutton to finish with...
Sutton - Blackfriars

There was a naughty night turn though which has gone thankfully which was 20.26 book on then
Blackfriars - Sutton
Streatham shunt.
Sutton - Bedford (all stations)
Bedford - Three Bridges (all stations)
Three Bridges - Blackfriars.

Fair bit of driving for a night shift.

Seriously though, the worst job we have..........
Now, that would be BY766.
1314 on, 2222 off.
1327 Bletchley semi to Euston - 4 car 350.
1434 Euston to Tring
1526 Tring to Euston - 8 car 321.
PNB
1712 Euston to Tring
1759 Tring to Euston
1905 Euston to Tring
1956 Tring to Euston
2105 Euston to Bletchley and dispose - 4 car 350.
It's basically Euston and back - but with a triple Tring on 321's.
Horrendous job.

Ok - that does sound bad.

 

[plastictaffy]

Ok - that does sound bad.

It is as bad as it sounds. The reasoning is that I detest 321's. Poxy things should have been made into saucepans years ago. I had an 8 car MKC-EUS this morning, followed by a fast run to Rugby and back on a /1 Desiro (350101 there, and 350102 back), then a four car to Tring and back.
Aaaaand tomorrow I have the horrid things again, but with an 8 car set to, surprise, surprise - bloody Tring.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, anything that starts before 5am is a bad job. Thankfully, at my depot, we only have those at the weekend - 0358 on a saturday, and 0427 on a sunday. However, at Crewe depot, they have an 0250 Monday morning kick-off. Starts with a taxi to Rugby - lucky sods.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

2309 Herford East - Liv St (vomit comet and 6 pass comms later..)

True story, that. For us it's the 0034, or 0134 ex Euston that we have that problem. If there's something on in London, it'll run as a 12 car set. If the passcom does get pulled, it's always in the bog in the front set.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It is as bad as it sounds. The reasoning is that I detest 321's. Poxy things should have been made into saucepans years ago. I had an 8 car MKC-EUS this morning, followed by a fast run to Rugby and back on a /1 Desiro (350101 there, and 350102 back), then a four car to Tring and back.
Aaaaand tomorrow I have the horrid things again, but with an 8 car set to, surprise, surprise - bloody Tring.

What's so bad about the 321s? I'd have thought you'd like having a full size cab to sit in rather than being tucked up in one of the intermediate 350 cabs

 

[craigybagel]

Least popular job at our place is a Saturday job, 1505-0100

1520 Crewe-Shrewsbury
1624 Shrewsbury-Crewe
1720 Crewe-Shrewsbury
1825 Shrewsbury-Crewe (all 153)
Break
2008 Crewe-Shrewsbury
2133 Shrewsbury-Birmingham NS
2255 Birmingham NS-Crewe (via Shrewsbury) (all 158)

The job itself is ok, apart from the length of it, you just need add the previous comments about Vomet comets and Pass Coms to the last train in that list to see the problem.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Worst job I ever saw was a sunday one a few years ago

3x Man-HDF

Pnb

3x Man-HDF


No one ever turned up for it lol so it didn't last long

 

[plastictaffy]

What's so bad about the 321s? I'd have thought you'd like having a full size cab to sit in rather than being tucked up in one of the intermediate 350 cabs

Everything you touch makes your hands dirty. They always lose time. You can't do the doors from anywhere except the cab, so you can't go and have a laugh with the punters. And, if your job has 321's on it, you can almost guarantee it's Tring, which is just a pointless place to terminate. How does a poxy little town in rural Hertfordshire need three an hour to London??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, one of the other Guards swears that he had a flea jump on him from the drivers' seat.