Driver Training runs?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

I came up with an idea for Driver Training runs on something using the Arriva Class 121. I know why it is done but I don't 100% know how it's done.

Say you are doing a training run for ATW crew from Cardiff - Barry Island, would it stop at all the stations (for training reasons so you can find a braking point) or does it just run non-stop where possible anyway?

Just wondered if anyone else has done something like this and knows how it works?


Cheers,

James.

 

[TDK]

Hello all,

I came up with an idea for Driver Training runs on something using the Arriva Class 121. I know why it is done but I don't 100% know how it's done.

Say you are doing a training run for ATW crew from Cardiff - Barry Island, would it stop at all the stations (for training reasons so you can find a braking point) or does it just run non-stop where possible anyway?

Just wondered if anyone else has done something like this and knows how it works?


Cheers,

James.

Depends on what is needed, I have done these sort of runs for Wrexham and Shropshire and we stopped at the atations in the training train before we started and all drove the set - it is organised with network rail to get a path and in this path the planner would allow for station stops.

 

[O L Leigh]

I personally don't see the point in doing driver training runs for passenger drivers on a class of train that you wouldn't use anyway because the braking characteristics are likely to be completely different. It's not so bad for freight drivers because braking points aren't so crucial, but ideally for passenger drivers you should use a class of train that they would be expected to drive in service.

Just my thoughts.

O L Leigh

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I know they did the Vale of Glamorgan with a 121...but of a vast difference to driving a 142/143/150!

Mind you, didn't LoudHaul use a bubblecar for training?? I wonder if the staff were watching instead or creating a route learning video (unless these are done in normal services?)

 

[wensley]

I know they did the Vale of Glamorgan with a 121...but of a vast difference to driving a 142/143/150!

Mind you, didn't LoudHaul use a bubblecar for training?? I wonder if the staff were watching instead or creating a route learning video (unless these are done in normal services?)

The 'Loadhaul' bubble was for their freight crews and was mainly used for route learning / refresher runs so drivers got familiarised with signals, speed limits and infrastructure.

 

[142094]

Is it still sitting at Thornaby or have they shifted it yet?

 

[wensley]

Is it still sitting at Thornaby or have they shifted it yet?

It came out by road last year! They took a while arranging for it to be shifted as the scrappie that took it needed to have a license to deal with asbestos

 

[Kingfisher200262]

I personally don't see the point in doing driver training runs for passenger drivers on a class of train that you wouldn't use anyway because the braking characteristics are likely to be completely different. It's not so bad for freight drivers because braking points aren't so crucial, but ideally for passenger drivers you should use a class of train that they would be expected to drive in service.

Just my thoughts.

O L Leigh

Surely, you have route learning and traction learning, and some of the route learning can be done using any, reasonably similar traction, if the actual Class that you intend to operate on the route is in short supply?

 

[O L Leigh]

I wouldn't class a Bubble Car as being reasonably similar to any modern passenger trains.

The problem is that there are aspects of learning the route that are dependent on the characteristics of the train you're going to drive, particularly for passenger work. It's less critical for freight because you don't have to learn all the braking points for stations, but for passenger drivers it is far more important.

And this is my problem. I did low adhesion training on the MNR with a Cl153. And utterly pointless it was too. Why? The Scud had tread brakes and no WSP or auto-sanders meaning that it's braking characteristics and, therefore, required driving technique is totally different to the trains I actually drive. There isn't much point learning how to stop a Bubble Car from 65mph with it's braking characteristics when the next time you come down the line you'll be doing it for real from 90mph on a Turbo which is totally different.

O L Leigh

 

[TDK]

Surely, you have route learning and traction learning, and some of the route learning can be done using any, reasonably similar traction, if the actual Class that you intend to operate on the route is in short supply?

When we did our routes for WSMR we used the traction we were going to use on the core routes and the Bubble car for diversions, on the diversions we do not have to stop at any stations so the traction we would be using was not necessary but O Leigh has a point and I agree on core routes it is always better to use the traction or similar that you will run in service and to be honest if the company you are working for is established this is always the way it is done.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

Understood. Thanks to both of you.

 

[142094]

It came out by road last year! They took a while arranging for it to be shifted as the scrappie that took it needed to have a license to deal with asbestos

Out of the loop in the NE railway world being down in York. Haven't been on the Yahoo gen group in a while. Ta for the info.

 

[Crapper]

I don't really think I would like to drive a route not having learnt it thoroughly before hand. It's all very well sitting in the comfort of your study 'driving' a computer simulator, but its no substitute for the real thing. If the technology exists to tell drivers in the cab of x,y and z then they just as well replace the drivers with computers. It's not going to happen in my lifetime on the 'big railway', so the simple answer is this: yes, thorough route learning is vital for the safe operation of the railway, which is why all drivers sign for their routes - and it could be used against you in court if you cock up and kill someone.