Kirkby Thore SB

[Prestonian]

Hello

I have just applied and completed my SJT online for a job a kirkby thore sb (grade 3). Before and if I get to the assessment center I was wondering if someone can help clear up a few queries that I have

1) its says on the job application location preston, I am from preston, but kirkby thore is 1hr 30 mins away. Can anyone clear up why it says preston as the location?

2) If I got the job would you have to stop over at signalling school, my wife to be is 6 months pregnant currently and could clash with the start date of the job. I am only a hour from Leeds so the commute wouldn't be too bad

3) Are you given time to adjust to your new job after the signalling school? how long would you have assistance for? Is the job easy to pick up once the basics are learnt

I am quite a worrier, which can make me kind of a perfectionist so can only come in handy with the job.

Chances are the job will be picked up by a lower grade signaler but its a career i really want to get into and work my way up the ranks

Thanks for any help given

 

[Lddex]

In regards to 2) I would bet you have a new baby before a signalling school date or even an interview date. The process is long. I have just completed my medical and waiting a start date and a space in signalling school and it is now coming up to 7 months from the application date. I was told that they pay for a hotel during the week and meals (May have misunderstood) but I don't see why there is no reason you can't choose to travel from home to allow you to be with the new addition to your family.

From what I was told at interview, you work with the other box signallers until yourself, and the managers feel comfortable that you can carry out your duties alone Sure the signallers on here will be able to give more info in terms of what happens after school and the transisition...

Over all the process is a long and drawn out so be prepared to wait.

 

[TomBoyd]

Hello

I have just applied and completed my SJT online for a job a kirkby thore sb (grade 3). Before and if I get to the assessment center I was wondering if someone can help clear up a few queries that I have

1) its says on the job application location preston, I am from preston, but kirkby thore is 1hr 30 mins away. Can anyone clear up why it says preston as the location?

Preston is probably the location of the LOM, and thus all the management for the area and the interview location.

2) If I got the job would you have to stop over at signalling school, my wife to be is 6 months pregnant currently and could clash with the start date of the job. I am only a hour from Leeds so the commute wouldn't be too bad

Signalling school is monday-friday 9-5 with the expectation that you stay after or arrive early to practice on the simulator.

The school in leeds no longer exists and I imagine your training would be in York. A hotel is provided and tickets/petrol money given for weekend travelling to and from.

3) Are you given time to adjust to your new job after the signalling school? how long would you have assistance for? Is the job easy to pick up once the basics are learnt

There is a decent period of adjustment that depends on
a) how quickly you pick it up
b) how quickly the LOM/SI can come and pass you out.
c) how desperate they are.

For example in my first grade 2, I had grasped the job after 2 weeks, it wasn't rocket science, but the LOM was literally so busy it took another 6 weeks before he came to pass me out!

I am quite a worrier, which can make me kind of a perfectionist so can only come in handy with the job.

Honestly, this isn't something that is useful. Signalling is a high pressure, high stress environment that has long periods of calm punctuated by short (or long) periods of extreme disruption where the buck stops with you.

This is less true the further down the grades you go, but there will always be times where you are called upon to make a decision that will be spur-of-the-moment, without time to check whether it's perfect.

If you plan on climbing the ranks you need to steel yourself to deal with obtuse and obstructive people, emergency situations that you cant necessarily quite remember how to handle word for word from the rulebook, and orders from higher up that have to be refused despite coming from above your paygrade. This and much more.

Chances are the job will be picked up by a lower grade signaler but its a career i really want to get into and work my way up the ranks

Thanks for any help given

If this has been advertised externally it means that the internal listing produced no viable candidates. Grades 1-3 are very much entry level, and anyone coming into them should be coming in with ambition, as they will be closing before larger, higher-grade boxes. Though that is not true in all cases.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me, or ask more questions here. I love my job, and there is no better.

 

[Shedmaster]

Preston is probably the location of the LOM, and thus all the management for the area and the interview location.

No, Local Ops Mgr is just down the road at Appleby; Area Ops Mgr (i.e. your boss's boss) is Preston.

90 mins drive each way on top of a 12 hour shift is too much, even for a quiet backwater like K.Thore. And the A66 is no fun at any time of day or night.

The box is only a grade 3 due to the gypsum traffic, which has become very erratic recently. The DB flow has stopped for now, no bad thing as the train was there 2330-0430 so making it difficult to kip, especially as the shunter is there in his own bothy. With the almost total cessation of coal traffic the S&C has become very quiet, with only about a dozen trains to handle on day shift and half that on night shift. Plus a handful steam excursions per week in summer. Nevertheless, plenty of time to 'study the Rule Book'...

The biggest pain there is the sinkhole half a mile away at Newbiggin. This has been the source of endless attention but still has a 5mph slack both ways. Suspect you will constantly be granting Line Blockages and overnight Possessions for this!

The box itself is not a cosy old Midland structure like most on the line, but two portacabins one on top of the other. Although it is Absolute Block it is all colour light signals. controlled from a mini-panel with switches so sadly no levers to pull.

One question to ask at interview is whether it can be switched out. If yes, its future could be in doubt, as if the gypsum works closes or rail traffic from there ceases permanently the extended block section from Appleby to Culgaith is still shorter than others, so no performance impact.

But yes, it is a fantastic job, and the Eden Valley lives up to its name...

 

[Lddex]

One question to ask at interview is whether it can be switched out. If yes, its future could be in doubt, as if the gypsum works closes or rail traffic from there ceases permanently the extended block section from Appleby to Culgaith is still shorter than others, so no performance impact.

Yes it can, as it switches out on Sunday. Or did when I visited the box. Operates Monday to Saturday 24 hours but closed Sunday.

 

[Prestonian]

Thanks for all the advice...

By switching out I assume you mean closing down?

Yeah they seem they would be very long days... My goal is to get in somewere, learn the trade and move closer to home. Not sure how realistic that would be, but it does sound a decent career and the pay increase from my admin job is huge. (NHS dont like payrises)

I think ive seen the signal.box on Google images, looks very remote. Awaiting results of sjt at the minute so no point getting my hopes up as of yet

 

[Shedmaster]

It's not really remote, just a couple of miles off the A66 on the edge of KT village. Access is through the gypsum works itself, so you won't get causal visitors knocking on the door.
Getting your foot in the box and then looking to move closer to home is what I did, but be aware of NR's 'master plan' to abolish all boxes and have just 14 Regional Operating Centres instead. Timescales keep fluctuating (see railchat.co.uk), and your kids may have retired by the time it happens...
Good luck!