Karl drives a Train!

[Crompton Karl]

My 30th birthday came and went in March, I was given a fantastic present by my family of a days tuition on Driving a Class 117 DMU at the Nene Vally Railway. I had to wait to do this until yesterday, and it was great fun.

Pictures can be seen here http://britishtransport.fotopic.net/c1550665.html

Enjoy.

Karl

PS will add a little video to Youtube later

 

[D306]

I've always wanted to do that for a birthday. Maybe I'll have a go at it for my 18th in two years time.


Is it fun?

probably is

 

[Gizmogle]

Wowww That looks like amazing fun!

 

[westcoaster]

i think you have to be 21 to drive a train

 

[Coxster]

i think you have to be 21 to drive a train

I'm fairly sure the minimum age for non-passenger carrying depot drivers is 18. I guess it might be the same for hertiage railways?

 

[P156KWJ]

I've driven a class 117 before and they are rather easy to get to grips with. I really enjoyed it and had the difficulty of not being able to get out the cab easily!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm fairly sure the minimum age for non-passenger carrying depot drivers is 18. I guess it might be the same for hertiage railways?

to drive in service on heritage lines is also 21. It is the same as NR, 18 for guard, 18 for crossing keeper, etc.

 

[class 313]

Isn't it like £200 though?


I hope you had a nice day mate!

 

[Andrew Tiffin]

Excellent DMU driving.

 

[P156KWJ]

I drove ours for free 8)

 

[Craig]

Interesting set of shots

Isn't it like £200 though?

Depends where you go. Not sure if they still do it, but Bo'ness used to do a thing called driver for a fiver. You gave them £5 and you could drive whatever loco had arrived on the last train up and down the platform. It's not quite the same as a full driving course, but still £5 well spent

 

[class 313]

Interesting set of shots



Depends where you go. Not sure if they still do it, but Bo'ness used to do a thing called driver for a fiver. You gave them £5 and you could drive whatever loco had arrived on the last train up and down the platform. It's not quite the same as a full driving course, but still £5 well spent

Just whack it back as much as you can Who needs to release the brakes...

 

[Craig]

Pretty much. The first time I did it I started off quite tentatively as I wasn't sure what the instructor would be like, but he basically said "just wide it"

 

[class 313]

Pretty much. The first time I did it I started off quite tentatively as I wasn't sure what the instructor would be like, but he basically said "just wide it"

What was this on?

 

[Craig]

One of their type 2s IIRC.

 

[class 313]

One of their type 2s IIRC.

Phwoar!

Any who,

Back to Karl

 

[Crompton Karl]

Yeah it was very fun, and as 156401 said, surprisingly easy. Nene Valley does courses on the DMU starting at £95 so its quite affordable in my opinion, i'm gonna do another on the Class 31 hopefully next summer, they start those courses from £150. It was amazingly good fun. When I was a kid I used to cab most types of MU my father drove, mostly southern EMU and DEMU but occasionly we got a cab ride in the DMMU to Redhill when it was rostered (1984ish) and that was really good fun. Although my dad wasn't qualified to drive these (we used to cab it with his mates from other depots) i was amazed by the gearing system etc and always wanted to try it out. So dream accomplished, next goal - Might apply for the mainline now

PS sorry if the photos are not great, as i was driving my father in law was entrusted with my DSLR, don't worry its still in one piece

Karl

 

[Aureol]

I drove ours for free 8)

Nobody Cares