Cumbria relocation info

[Beagle101]

Hi,
I'm a qualified driver with Northern looking to relocate to Cumbria (I'm currently based in Manchester).
Any information regarding Carlisle or Workington depots would be appreciated... particularly traction, routes, T&C's, etc.
Thanks!

 

[the sniper]

Hi,
I'm a qualified driver with Northern looking to relocate to Cumbria (I'm currently based in Manchester).
Any information regarding Carlisle or Workington depots would be appreciated... particularly traction, routes, T&C's, etc.
Thanks!

Traction and routes are here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/different-driver-depot-route-and-traction-cards.205085/

 

[rhys37429]

Workington is classed as a West depot, and Carlisle is a East depot. Different T&C's.

 

[Class2ldn]

Just out of interest whats the difference in t and c's, also does skipton fall under west or east?

 

[haigwright]

Skipton is East

 

[Watershed]

The biggest difference between East and West conditions is that East have Sundays inside.

Can't say that Workington or Carlisle seem particularly interesting, as both have fairly limited route cards (Carlisle-Lancaster via Barrow, and Dumfries-Newcastle & Carlisle-Leeds respectively). They are also both small depots so you'll constantly be doing the same diagrams, with little variety. That said, most of the routes are very scenic for either depot.

Skipton is quite a bit bigger and has a bit more variety (they do the Skipton-Bradford-Ilkley-Leeds triangle plus Skipton-Morecambe/Skipton-Carlisle). Albeit the latter two are link dependent so you might be stuck doing local work until you can get into the higher links.

 

[Class2ldn]

Thanks for that, hmm sundays inside doesn't completely appeal i must admit.
Anyway sorry to hijack the thread op il bugger off lol.

 

[Ken H]

dont forget Barrow. Cheap houses there

 

[Driver0202]

Carlisle very cheap to live in, carlisle drivers sign Dumfries, Newcastle and Leeds , traction 158s and 156s , west has different t@cs , I know a driver at Carlisle for northern and she loves it.

 

[rhys37429]

Just out of interest whats the difference in t and c's, also does skipton fall under west or east?

Remember West T&C's have a fixed rest day pattern. Where as East's rest days can change every timetable change..

 

[craigybagel]

Skipton is quite a bit bigger and has a bit more variety (they do the Skipton-Bradford-Ilkley-Leeds triangle plus Skipton-Morecambe/Skipton-Carlisle). Albeit the latter two are link dependent so you might be stuck doing local work until you can get into the higher links.

I'd have to do some digging to find my source, but IIRC everyone at Skipton signs at least one of Carlisle or Morecambe, with the more senior link signing both. From what I've been led to believe though about 90% of work there is still the Triangle of Doom which might get grating after a while.

dont forget Barrow. Cheap houses there

Indeed Barrow would have been my first thought as well - either link gives you a more interesting route card and you're closer to Manchester if you ever need to get back. Plus within a one hour commute there's all kinds of beautiful places if you don't want to live in the town itself. Each to their own though!

 

[Driver0202]

dont forget Barrow. Cheap houses there

Barrows cheaper than everywhere for a reason lol

 

[NorthernTech]

I'd have to do some digging to find my source, but IIRC everyone at Skipton signs at least one of Carlisle or Morecambe, with the more senior link signing both. From what I've been led to believe though about 90% of work there is still the Triangle of Doom which might get grating after a while.

Indeed Barrow would have been my first thought as well - either link gives you a more interesting route card and you're closer to Manchester if you ever need to get back. Plus within a one hour commute there's all kinds of beautiful places if you don't want to live in the town itself. Each to their own though!

Barrow may be closer as the crow flies but not by road or rail. By road you have to almost come back to kendal before heading over to the m6, only then are you heading south. Barrow to Manchester by road must be getting on 2 hours! On the flip side, although some parts of barrow are a bit nasty, some of the surrounding areas are very nice.

 

[Beagle101]

Traction and routes are here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/different-driver-depot-route-and-traction-cards.205085/

Thanks!

 

[D6130]

I'd have to do some digging to find my source, but IIRC everyone at Skipton signs at least one of Carlisle or Morecambe, with the more senior link signing both. From what I've been led to believe though about 90% of work there is still the Triangle of Doom which might get grating after a while.

When I took early retirement from Skipton in 2012, only the 'A' link signed Carlisle and Morecambe, whereas the 'B' link only signed Morecambe. As you correctly state, both links sign the 'Infernal Triangles' - one late turn diagram of which had twelve trips (six -then 40 minute break - then another six). Yawn.....struggling not to engage auto-pilot mode!

 

[Class2ldn]

Suddenly doesn't seem so appealing lol however living around the Yorkshire dales makes its an easier prospect

 

[Ken H]

When I took early retirement from Skipton in 2012, only the 'A' link signed Carlisle and Morecambe, whereas the 'B' link only signed Morecambe. As you correctly state, both links sign the 'Infernal Triangles' - one late turn diagram of which had twelve trips (six -then 40 minute break - then another six). Yawn.....struggling not to engage auto-pilot mode!

who drives the freight trains to Swinden Quarry? Not Skipton drivers, one assumes.

 

[Driver0202]

who drives the freight trains to Swinden Quarry? Not Skipton drivers, one assumes.

GB has a deport at skipton so why not ?

 

[D6130]

GB has a deport at skipton so why not ?

GBRf had hoped to set up a small depot at Skipton, but couldn't find suitable rooms in the station or yard, so they've moved the depot to Swinden Quarry itself....which has very poor public transport accessibility, so you would have to drive to/from work. They were recruiting very recently....a friend who is a Northern Driver at Leeds was successful in getting one of the vacancies and starts his course at the beginning of next month. Skipton drivers did work the Swinden stone trains until 1998, when Northern Spirit decided they didn't want to pay for their drivers to have freight safety cases (they didn't really want to pay for anything TBH!) and the work went to Healey Mills (Swinden stone traffic) and Knottingley (Drax-Kirkby Thore gypsum traffic).