I've always been curious, as I don't know anyone who works in the industry.
Do drivers more or less rock up, pick the keys off a hook, do a couple of checks and start up? Or do they turn up well in advance, do planning & checks like a pilot would?
Equally at terminii, I'm aware there can be some pretty sharp turnarounds at Kings Cross . Is the driver having to go (for example) from Lynn to London to Lynn without a break, or would they have swapped drivers to pull that off?
First and most importantly, arrive fit for work. So the prep starts they day before by getting enough sleep and then turning up the next day in a healthy state which obviously would include not under the influence of alcohol and having all the necessary equipment including wons and pons.
Different tocs book on in different ways but you will get your ‘diagram’ ‘docket’ ‘workings’ and check it thoroughly for mistakes, tractions you don’t sign, routes you don’t sign or maybe an unusual stopping pattern that could catch you out.
You would then check the noticed cases.
Check my pigeon hole.
I then mark up my diagram making highlighting any diversions or unusual stops, writing in red pen the coach length (as I drive 3 different length tractions so stopping points on platforms change)
Now the most important thing, sit down and have a brew!
I tend to arrive 30/40 mins before my book on time. This gives my time to adapt to any changes or even look over maps if needed if I know there is some issues on the network and I might need to do a shunt or drive a diversion I’ve not done in a while.
So this is all before I step on a train.
As regard checks, at my toc the train is prepared at a maintenance depot so we don’t necessarily need to do it, but I still like to walk through the train if it’s empty and locked out to make sure nothing was missed and everything works properly but most of the time I don’t get the opportunity for that.
