Finally Passed!!

[Pepperami]

Hey guys

Just to let you know, I passed my final assessments and have now become a Fully Qualified Main Line Driver

Its taken 18 months from the Initial Start date and its been very tough at times, so much to learn, but definitely worth it!

Good luck to all those who are still awaiting a place in the Talent Pool, things are a little backed up at the moment, but hopefully you wont have to wait to long

 

[Wallicio]

Congratulations Pep ??????

 

[ComUtoR]

OMG another boil in the bag out there !!!! !!! ! ! !

 

[red2005]

Well done!!!

 

[GMT]

Congratulations and all the best Pepperami.

It seems it's been a bit of a long journey for you, but at least you've arrived at destination. I really enjoyed your posts.

Are you going to drive the class 700?

 

[cmm883]

Congrats and well done!

 

[Pepperami]

Thanks guys

OMG another boil in the bag out there !!!! !!! ! ! !

LOL Thank you mate

Are you going to drive the class 700?

Eventually mate yeah, I want to get some time in the seat first, there isnt a rush for me per say to do it, I will be doing it, and I expect sooner rather than later, but for now I think its a case of letting me get some hours under my belt first and settle in, big time of year for drivers with leaf fall season, inclement weather and longer dark driving hours

Its been quite a long time, few factors I wont go into here, but I got there in the end

 

[Class2ldn]

You'll have a little wait for the700s, still loads of qualified to get through first lol

 

[Pepperami]

lol so I understand

Is this because they can't get off the Rosta to do the training, or they get off the jobs because they don't sign 700's I wonder

 

[Class2ldn]

Probably both, it was suppose to be done on seniority but that went out the window, they've made a load of cock ups like cancelling people's training because they booked them medicals in the middle of the course and silly things like that. Where you going to be based?

 

[Pepperami]

Brighton mate initially, but there are going to be closures and part closures as I am sure your aware, so possibly Three Bridges or Horsham the new Thameslink depot at Horsham is underway I think

 

[Class2ldn]

Noone really knows what's happening with numbers. They gave us a rough idea last week but nothing confirmed yet

 

[Casey Jones125]

OMG another boil in the bag out there !!!! !!! ! ! !

OMG here we go, Fawty years man and boy!

 

[ComUtoR]

OMG here we go, Fawty years man and boy!

The screaming meat man sees the funny side and if you check my posting history you will find that I am also a "boil in the bag" Hence the use of "another"

It's an odd phrase that's used and one that's dying out. Mostly because the industry has changed quite dramatically in recent years.

The one thing most Drivers seem to have is a dry sense of humour. Pepperami is still considered a "new boy" or "boy on the job" and WILL be treated accordingly. Trainees tend to be ignored, new Drivers tend to be looked after. The older blokes; like me. Tend to be looked at like curmudgeonly old gits who moan like buggery and yearn for "the good old days"

I'm 10+ and still feel like a new boy. I look to my peers with respect and defer to the older generation. The "boil in the bags" are still "boil in the bags" We are 3D printing new Drivers on a weekly basis.

Pepperami knows how I feel. I couldn't give a **** about you.

@Pep. Scary out there isn't it

 

[hellfirehound]

Weird, I remember my old man throwing those phrases around when he came home from work. He was a driver out of Kings Cross and I distinctly remember him talking with my mum about boil in the bags at the depot.

Then again, I was only 4 so it might have been something different he was on about...

 

[ComUtoR]

It kinda comes from a time where there was a shift from Second-man > Driver to where people started coming from outside the industry.

Entry to the grade evolved. The older generation of Driver didn't take to well to the changes and saw us as "boil in the bag" Just like the food it represented.

Now more and more new entrants are from the outside the phrase has lost its meaning. Boil in the bag food I've not even seen for a few years !

I read it on this sub forum quite recently so I thought Pep would see the funny side. Which he did.

 

[Sunset route]

It kinda comes from a time where there was a shift from Second-man > Driver to where people started coming from outside the industry.

Entry to the grade evolved. The older generation of Driver didn't take to well to the changes and saw us as "boil in the bag" Just like the food it represented.

Now more and more new entrants are from the outside the phrase has lost its meaning. Boil in the bag food I've not even seen for a few years !

I read it on this sub forum quite recently so I thought Pep would see the funny side. Which he did.

In my grade it's called "bums on seats" lol

 

[Pepperami]

The screaming meat man sees the funny side

I certainly do lol

The one thing most Drivers seem to have is a dry sense of humour. Pepperami is still considered a "new boy" or "boy on the job" and WILL be treated accordingly. Trainees tend to be ignored, new Drivers tend to be looked after. The older blokes; like me. Tend to be looked at like curmudgeonly old gits who moan like buggery and yearn for "the good old days"

I'm 10+ and still feel like a new boy. I look to my peers with respect and defer to the older generation. The "boil in the bags" are still "boil in the bags" We are 3D printing new Drivers on a weekly basis.

Pepperami knows how I feel. I couldn't give a **** about you.

@Pep. Scary out there isn't it

Scary ... very ... I am a couple of weeks in now, last night had quite thick fog for the first time, which was my first real test in what really isn't even considered adverse conditions, you realise for the first time how valuable that route knowledge is!!

The old ways of the railway are still very much alive, I am quite fortunate in that I made friends as a Trainee with drivers on my shift right from the start, I have a good sense of humour, and rather than shy away from people I dived right in, and I am glad in a way I did.

Dont get me wrong though, they are my seniors, my Trainer is only in his 30's, but they all have my utmost respect, and the old ways are quite noticeable sometimes when a couple of the old hands don't even really acknowledge your existence, again something I was told about. It doesn't offend me, I know my place in the system, and am happy with that, I unfortunately will never be able to rack up the years that some have got, but feel immense satisfaction knowing that I have finally got a job I love, through lots of hard work, and will finish my working life doing something I enjoy

 

[ComUtoR]

Scary ... very ... I am a couple of weeks in now, last night had quite thick fog for the first time, which was my first real test in what really isn't even considered adverse conditions, you realise for the first time how valuable that route knowledge is!!

This is the perfect kind of thread for careers. New Drivers have it hard. There is a steep learning curve just after passing out. You are at your highest risk of incident and you literally go from Trainee one day, then Driver the next. There is no safety net of a second man and you are suddenly reliant on every ounce of training.

During training you get taught a number of skills and sometimes you wonder why they have been show to you. Then bosh ! you suddenly realise how important signal counting was and that route knowledge is very very important. A year or so later your doing 60 in thick fog and counting AWS magnets to navigate.

Any newly qualified should share your experiences. Maybe those entering the grade can see the importance of training, rules, assessments, etc etc. Experience is one of the most valuable skills to have.