The job is based around the various nuclear flask trains which operate out of Carlisle or Sellafield to various railheads across the country.
Lots of car/van driving. One of the main duties is driving to the railhead (with the Driver) by road to work the train back. You perform all ground shunting at the railhead and work with the Driver to shunt the nuclear flasks. This includes setting the road, coupling & uncoupling the wagons and locos and giving handsignals to the driver when he is propelling. Before giving handsignals to proceed you have to make sure that the line is clear, that the road is set, that any signals are set (including ground position light signals used commonly for shunting), and that any people working on or near the line are warned before commencing the movement. You give various handsignals to the driver, proceed towards, move away, slow down, stop or ease up (used during coupling).
Note that is the extreme basics of ground shunting. Obviously, there is a LOT more to it than this, I could easily write more than 20 pages worth of info about it.
You also get involved in prepping the nuclear flasks while the driver preps the locomotives. A prep is testing and checking everything that is safety-related is working properly before the train leaves the sidings and enters network rail infrastructure. Again, this is the very basics of prepping, I could write pages more about it.
You travel with the nuclear flask train during its journey. You sit in the back cab and observe the load. You will be travelling in rear cabs of class 20s, 37s, 47s, 57s & 66s on a regular basis. Your job is to assist the driver if an emergency ever happens.
Lots of very bad shifts at least at Crewe. Not sure if Carlisle is any better. I looked into applying at Crewe back in Dec 2009 and was put off by the number of bad start times and the wage drop.
Some jobs (at least at Crewe) you went by train to the railhead and had to come back to Crewe by car. Other jobs were the other way round; you drive by car to the railhead and return to Crewe by rail. Some jobs you go to the railhead by rail, lodge in a hotel, and return to Crewe by rail. I would expect Carlisle to be similar.
