Depot Trainee driver

[Stuart-h]

Give them a ring on monday. I've got there number if you want it.

 

[GB]

<snip>...the majority on these forums who like to put the role down have never done it!

That point is equally valid the other way round though and is why some people get annoyed when opinion is purported as fact.

I do agree though that a depot driving grade should not be looked down on with disdain like some people seem to do.

 

[mindthedoors]

I think Bev and Dave have explained the role fully and truthfully, I have tried to get across that the role is enjoyable, but it's down to each individual as in every job, some will like it, others possibly not, the majority on these forums who like to put the role down have never done it!
You've worked from the bottom up and achieved the role of train driver I take it, working as an MDD on the way? But are advising others not to do it? Would you have getting mainline without being an MDD do you think?
Surely anything that gets you onto the railway whether its as a guard, cleaner or MDD has got to be a start?
I have not come across one MDD who does not enjoy the job, yes some would like to go mainline, for the money, but others are happy doing what they do.
Like I've said previously just don't overlook the role.
Once in you could always hand in your notice and go back to your previous job, I certainly wouldn't give up my £31k+ and my 187 days off per year and go back to my old job!

I'm an MDD and I don't really enjoy it. Lucky you for being on £31k+, I unfortunately only earn £25k. I wouldn't mind the job if it was fair, but I find the phrase 'teamwork' doesn't exist. Some colleagues do their best to manipulate the system to get out of work. And who can blame them when conditions and pay are poor. When I do shunting with diesel I am guaranteed to be covered in crap - whether its from grease from unclipping points, or dried up human excrement on mark 3 coaches.
The nights are awful, but I wouldn't mind them if we were looked after better. This winter was long and freezing, almost unbearable standing in the sleet and snow whilst you're taking unit numbers down in a lonely part of the depot.

I can't wait until I'm in a nice warm drivers cab, with just the task of making sure I'm reacting quick to my aws, dsd, slowing and stopping correctly. The money would be nice.

 

[reapz]

not many of them about!

 

[notadriver]

Mindthedoors thanks for your account. Does this mean that main line drivers jobs are very sought after at your place ?

 

[Dave1987]

I'm an MDD and I don't really enjoy it. Lucky you for being on £31k+, I unfortunately only earn £25k. I wouldn't mind the job if it was fair, but I find the phrase 'teamwork' doesn't exist. Some colleagues do their best to manipulate the system to get out of work. And who can blame them when conditions and pay are poor. When I do shunting with diesel I am guaranteed to be covered in crap - whether its from grease from unclipping points, or dried up human excrement on mark 3 coaches.
The nights are awful, but I wouldn't mind them if we were looked after better. This winter was long and freezing, almost unbearable standing in the sleet and snow whilst you're taking unit numbers down in a lonely part of the depot.

I can't wait until I'm in a nice warm drivers cab, with just the task of making sure I'm reacting quick to my aws, dsd, slowing and stopping correctly. The money would be nice.

So just like I'm saying you took the job as a stepping stone to mainline. I gather you are at ilford or crown pont?

 

[Informe]

I got a call on Monday for next day test and interview but EMT helped me out by changing it to next week.

I am very happy because I honestly felt I didn't do well enough so the call was a very pleasent surprise.

 

[Beveridges]

"Mindthedoors" it just proves how this role differs between depots! I think you need to put a transfer in to another company. 25k shocking I'm on 34k for working 3 days a week, with 280 hours annual leave that could be taken at short notice and could easily get 60k with overtime. yet I still believe I should be on thousands more than this for the responsibilities and skill involved, so for a TOC to pay 25k is a crime!
Just like with mainline roles, not all MDD roles are equal, and you get good depots and bad depots.

 

[Dave1987]

"Mindthedoors" it just proves how this role differs between depots! I think you need to put a transfer in to another company. 25k shocking I'm on 34k for working 3 days a week, with 280 hours annual leave that could be taken at short notice and could easily get 60k with overtime. yet I still believe I should be on thousands more than this for the responsibilities and skill involved, so for a TOC to pay 25k is a crime!
Just like with mainline roles, not all MDD roles are equal, and you get good depots and bad depots.

Yes but you have no progression to mainline, £25k for a fews years then £42k for the rest of your career without o/t is a lot better than £31k without o/t.

 

[Silv1983]

"Mindthedoors" it just proves how this role differs between depots! I think you need to put a transfer in to another company. 25k shocking I'm on 34k for working 3 days a week, with 280 hours annual leave that could be taken at short notice and could easily get 60k with overtime. yet I still believe I should be on thousands more than this for the responsibilities and skill involved, so for a TOC to pay 25k is a crime!
Just like with mainline roles, not all MDD roles are equal, and you get good depots and bad depots.

What are these responsibilities that warrant higher pay than £34k per annum?

for example...

Paramedic - saving lives daily, high speed dangerous emergency driving etc - £24k;
Armed forces - protecting colleagues from death, taking life etc - £20k
Police Officer - risking own life daily tackling the worst criminals - £30k average;
Crane Operators / high rise construction workers - sub £30k definitely;

MDD - moving train 5mph in massively H+S orientated environment;

Sorry but I think you have dellusions about how difficult your job is. I'll be the first to admit that driving a train is easy: it's the knowledge of routes, train handling in adverse conditions, and fault finding/rectification away from the comfort of a depot (like Gathurst this morning) which constitutes the "skill" part. Driving a fork lift truck is harder.

I love the job and think it is unique, but I won't embarrass myself and preach that im underpaid: the pay is very generous.

 

[TOCDriver]

What are these responsibilities that warrant higher pay than £34k per annum?

for example...

Paramedic - saving lives daily, high speed dangerous emergency driving etc - £24k;
Armed forces - protecting colleagues from death, taking life etc - £20k
Police Officer - risking own life daily tackling the worst criminals - £30k average;
Crane Operators / high rise construction workers - sub £30k definitely;

MDD - moving train 5mph in massively H+S orientated environment;

Sorry but I think you have dellusions about how difficult your job is. I'll be the first to admit that driving a train is easy: it's the knowledge of routes, train handling in adverse conditions, and fault finding/rectification away from the comfort of a depot (like Gathurst this morning) which constitutes the "skill" part. Driving a fork lift truck is harder.

I love the job and think it is unique, but I won't embarrass myself and preach that im underpaid: the pay is very generous.

I'll go along with that 100 percent ( Glad to see you're learning about Gathurst - that place is cursed, especially during Winter and leaf fall)

 

[Geargrinder]

What are these responsibilities that warrant higher pay than £34k per annum?

for example...

Paramedic - saving lives daily, high speed dangerous emergency driving etc - £24k;
Armed forces - protecting colleagues from death, taking life etc - £20k
Police Officer - risking own life daily tackling the worst criminals - £30k average;
Crane Operators / high rise construction workers - sub £30k definitely;

MDD - moving train 5mph in massively H+S orientated environment;

Sorry but I think you have dellusions about how difficult your job is. I'll be the first to admit that driving a train is easy: it's the knowledge of routes, train handling in adverse conditions, and fault finding/rectification away from the comfort of a depot (like Gathurst this morning) which constitutes the "skill" part. Driving a fork lift truck is harder.

I love the job and think it is unique, but I won't embarrass myself and preach that im underpaid: the pay is very generous.

Exactly ! And people then come on these forums wondering why someone from one of the roles described above wants to be a train driver......

 

[Beveridges]

Maybe it is more to do with those other roles being massively UNDER paid rather than anything else.
There are a lot of jobs I could compare mine to and say I should be on a lot more... Bankers, GP's, Politicians, Managers, People on benefits 30k+ a year untaxed who never worked a day in their life, need I go on.
I even know a Station Supervisor who earns over £40k how the hell can his responsibilities/skills be comparable to a Driver?

 

[A-driver]

Maybe it is more to do with those other roles being massively UNDER paid rather than anything else.
There are a lot of jobs I could compare mine to and say I should be on a lot more... Bankers, GP's, Politicians, People on benefits 30k+ a year untaxed who never worked a day in their life, need I go on.

In all seriousness you arnt comparing any rail worker, depot driver or not, to a GP are you? Someone who spends years studying medicine, works long hours, actually saves lives etc to someone who drives a train about?

 

[Beveridges]

Not comparing jobs as they are very different, but paying 3X more is OTT. My GP is quick to fob me off as well and has never cured any of my problems.
I have done 7 years studying in further education myself... Not that I have ever put it to any use... The IT Industry had a "race to the bottom" at the wrong time.
Or maybe it was a good thing as I'd hate to be stuck in an office all day looking at a PC Monitor.

 

[A-driver]

Ok, well I'm not going to get bogged down in these silly arguments anymore as I don't have the energy and life is far too short (and its very sunny and hot here and im looking forward to my afternoon out on the mainline doing 100mph through the countryside with all the windows open and the air con on full blast-possibly an afternoon sweating in a depot would be better but hey, our opinions differ) but I can't say I agree with very much that you are saying.

 

[notadriver]

Nice that you get to do 100 A-Driver. The most I'll get up to is 90 until I sign more roads.

 

[carriageline]

To be honest, he still probably gets a nice breeze at 5mph with them crappy, draughty units!!

 

[Beveridges]

No I'm outdoors more than half of the time this afternoon - far better than stuck in the cab on our units anyway- they have no air con and they're very hot.
Oddly enough our units wih the windows open can give a better breeze on the depot at 5mph than they so on the mainline at speed (unless going over a viaduct). It is something to do with the air flow and there is normally a constant breeze blowing across the yards.

 

[mindthedoors]

No I'm outdoors more than half of the time this afternoon - far better than stuck in the cab on our units anyway- they have no air con and they're very hot.
Oddly enough our units wih the windows open can give a better breeze on the depot at 5mph than they so on the mainline at speed (unless going over a viaduct). It is something to do with the air flow and there is normally a constant breeze blowing across the yards.

Its quotes like this that get you grief from people. You have a masters in science. Explain to me how a train with a window open at 5mph will give a 'better breeze' than one travelling at a speed of, hmm oh i dunno, lets say 40mph? (no viaduct lol)

 

[Silv1983]

No I'm outdoors more than half of the time this afternoon - far better than stuck in the cab on our units anyway- they have no air con and they're very hot.
Oddly enough our units wih the windows open can give a better breeze on the depot at 5mph than they so on the mainline at speed (unless going over a viaduct). It is something to do with the air flow and there is normally a constant breeze blowing across the yards.

No criticism to you but not being mainline you won't be familiar with all the little tips and tricks used to get the best conditions. If you open the 2nd mans window about 2 inches - it breaks the vacuum effect and there is a significant through flow of air in the cab. Even on a calm day with no wind at about 40mph the movement of the train alone is enough to generate a strong breeze. If you want to lose your docket and coat then it can be opened fully for a gale. Ironically opening the windows at 75mph lowers the noise in the cab on some units.

 

[Geargrinder]

So, did anyone actually still go for the assessments for this EMT depot drivers job after all ?

 

[Beveridges]

Its quotes like this that get you grief from people. You have a masters in science. Explain to me how a train with a window open at 5mph will give a 'better breeze' than one travelling at a speed of, hmm oh i dunno, lets say 40mph? (no viaduct lol)

I don't get grief off people - well maybe a little bit - but only what is to be expected. This is a forum afterall. By definition a place where opinions clash.

As for the wind effect through cabs - it may be to do with the fact that depots are breezy places while on the mainline its often in embankments/cuttings stopping any sort of wind blowing through. I'm not an expert on why, my MSc is in programming not physics, my physics qualifications don't go any further than GCSE

 

[FlyinScotsman]

So, did anyone actually still go for the assessments for this EMT depot drivers job after all ?

I was there today for reactions and interview.

Just need to await result.

 

[Dave1987]

I was there today for reactions and interview.

Just need to await result.

Sorry guys we all seem to have hijacked your thread

 

[youngboy]

Maybe it is more to do with those other roles being massively UNDER paid rather than anything else.

That's a fair point, a friend of mine is a consultant heart surgeon £80k a year he gets. Well underpaid as far as I'm concerned, when you consider managers in manufacturing and banking jobs are on equal and far more. :roll:

 

[Beveridges]

That's a fair point, a friend of mine is a consultant heart surgeon £80k a year he gets. Well underpaid as far as I'm concerned, when you consider managers in manufacturing and banking jobs are on equal and far more. :roll:

Or that aforementioned station supervisor on £60k with a bit of overtime not far off a heart surgeon just for bossing a few despatchers around at a 5 platform station not bad money is it ?

 

[Informe]

I was there today for reactions and interview.

Just need to await result.

Hi FlyinScotsman, any chance of a little feedback on the day please?

1. Is it just the structured (experienced based) interview or is there the management interview as well?

2. Is significant knowledge of the company structure, routes, rolling stock etc. questioned?

3. How long did the day take?

Thanks Informe.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

1. No managers interview, yet.
2. Not yet.
3. Whole day.

 

[Informe]

1. No managers interview, yet.
2. Not yet.
3. Whole day.

Thanks mate, I'd better get the school run covered then, good luck.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hey Flyinscotsman, I completed day 2 of the assesment process, ie dgt and structured interview. Pretty intense as it goes, give me a shout if you get through and i'll do the same.

I honestly don't have a clue how the interview went, I had plenty to talk about as an ex airline pilot flying old cargo aircraft but I ended up describing a shed (a garden shed) that I had difficulties moving. Never had an interview like that before lol.