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Driver route and traction knowledge in the old days

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El Blanco

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12 Mar 2012
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As can be seen in a number of posts across different forums here, there’s plenty of information about driver training on existing and new types of trains. Also about which routes are signed by drivers. I’ve always wondered how this worked back in the day when the railway was more complex.

For example, in the early 80’s at Preston, common routes were:

  • Intercity and Cross Country North and South
  • Intercity and Local to Barrow, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester
  • East Lancs and Pennine
  • Freight

Types of regular trains were:

  • Various DMU
  • Various EMU
  • Diesel - 08, 20, 25, 37, 40, 45, 46, 47
  • Electric - 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87

Would an Inter City driver - for example - have to have to be passed on all diesel and electric locos for destinations such as Glasgow, London, Barrow, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester? Or would it have been split with some drivers only doing Glasgow and London electric and others doing diesel to Barrow, Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester?

If all drivers did everything then there would have been a lot to take on board. Does anyone have knowledge from this period or was a driver/planner themselves?
 
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Eyersey468

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14 Sep 2018
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2,601
I believe drivers have to be passed on each type of train, so for example a HST driver couldn't get straight into a Pacer and drive it with passengers on without being passed for it first.
 
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