Differences between driving Passenger trains and Freight?

[alexl92]

Hi,
Just out of interest, is there any difference in the training undertaken if you want to drive freight trains rather than passenger?
Or drive loco-hauled passenger trains (ie for someone like Chiltern, or on Charters) rather than DMUs?

Any info appreciated. Thanks!

 

[driver9000]

Freight Drivers have Pink (carriage of dangerous goods) books to learn. Having never driven a loco hauled or freight train I wouldn't like to comment on what one is like to drive.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I'm a freight man and although the I've not the experience of a passenger man I've driven a couple of 142's and 158's, I find units a lot easier to drive... What they're like to drive in leaf fall season and bad weather I've no idea but I'm lead to believe not great. Main differences, freight is governed by the White and pink pages, more often than not you won't see over 60mph, 75mph if you're lucky, you'll be driving long heavy slow trains. Passenger you obviously have the task of knowing when to slow for stations which doesn't really affect me on freight.
Training wise I wouldn't have a clue what a passenger driver gets taught but as a freight driver you need to know the ins and outs of train preparation, what you can and can't put where in a train, what happens when wagon brakes fail etc etc

 

[driver9000]

142s are....erm....entertaining on poor rails

The general training will be the same for passenger and freight covering the national Rule book. Traction should be more or less the same but I believe freight Drivers are required to carry out more work on their locos such as fuelling, filling sand boxes etc where passenger men are more prep/disposal, multiple working restrictions, minor repairs like resetting equipment or isolating defects. Route knowledge is equally important for both breeds of Driver but certainly gradients come into play more for a Driver hauling 2000t of coal.

Freight Drivers learn extra parts of the Rulebook that passenger Drivers don't such those modules relating to working in engineering possessions.

 

[dapc]

i can only mention what the frieght company i work for does, but we have a part Shunting course added to our training.