Hired Steam Locomotives

[alexl92]

I understand that mainline steam crews are supposed to have been trained on the individual locos that they drive, following the Blue Peter incident in the early 90s.

So I was just thinking about heritage lines hiring in locos for events. If, for example, Railway A hires a loco of a specific class from Railway B, and Railway A doesn't already have any examples of that class in their fleet, will the volunteers there need training on the hired loco, and if so, how does that happen? Alternatively, does Railway B ever send a crew with the loco?

 

[E&W Lucas]

Traditionally, steam competence has always been generic. However, there is an increasing expectation that documentary evidence of training/ competence to operate each individual type will be produced. Some do this already.

Presently, briefings, training notes or representatives. All can be contentious, as the same questions about proving competence, can be applied to those that produce them, or act as reps.

Sending crews - some allow "owner drivers". However, if they drive on your railway, you've got to have documentary evidence that their competence has met your competency management system. Again, a practice that will hopefully die out soon.