Knowing the route or train too well.

[umontu]

How could toc's make use of passengers that know the route their train takes well? For example, I know the route from Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly very well, as a passenger, I know it so well I can click my fingers when going through a tunnel and click again when leaving.
The same is true of Standedge tunnel, I know when the train is going in and out almost to the microsecond.

 

[strange6]

How could toc's make use of passengers that know the route their train takes well? For example, I know the route from Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly very well, as a passenger, I know it so well I can click my fingers when going through a tunnel and click again when leaving.
The same is true of Standedge tunnel, I know when the train is going in and out almost to the microsecond.

I know the Wigan Wallgate routes like the back of my hand but so do the drivers; hence, I would be no use whatsoever, considering the drivers have considerably more railway knowledge than I !

 

[Yew]

Maybe put some instructional DVD's on tvs? so we can go through route trainign whilst being a passanger. suddenly have extra drivers and conductors who know how to run the route?

 

[NSE]

For me it would have to be KGX to St. Neots/Cambridge and Victoria to East Croydon. Almost now to the point when I can become slightly bored :P

 

[strange6]

For me it would have to be KGX to St. Neots/Cambridge and Victoria to East Croydon. Almost now to the point when I can become slightly bored :P

You do get to the point where you can shut your eyes for the entire journey and still know where you are on the route because of speeds, braking points, bumps etc!

 

[bluenoxid]

Put you guys in the crap seats without the windows because your needs for one has been surpassed.

 

[ainsworth74]

I can see the Unions loving this suggestion!

 

[NSE]

You do get to the point where you can shut your eyes for the entire journey and still know where you are on the route because of speeds, braking points, bumps etc!

Especially with the tunnels on the ECML, I always hear that ringing sound when I leave the second Kings Cross tunnel, no idea what it is though

 

[umontu]

Put you guys in the crap seats without the windows because your needs for one has been surpassed.

I can see the Unions loving this suggestion!

 

[westcoaster]

But how well is too well, remembering the route is one thing, but driving/conducting is another thing all together.

 

[umontu]

But how well is too well, remembering the route is one thing, but driving/conducting is another thing all together.

Wouldn't disagree.

 

[Aictos]

Especially with the tunnels on the ECML, I always hear that ringing sound when I leave the second Kings Cross tunnel, no idea what it is though

It's a warning system to advise track workers of a train approaching, there's a similar system in place between Huntingdon and St Neots/outside Hatfield.

 

[strange6]

But how well is too well, remembering the route is one thing, but driving/conducting is another thing all together.

That's why we would be no use to a TOC. However, I would learn the in's and out's pretty quickly, even if I do say so myself If you're really interested in something, you learn and remember it pretty well in my experience.

 

[westcoaster]

Not knowing the tunnels there think it's Copenhagen an gas works tunnels, must be TOWS track operated warning signal/sound.

 

[umontu]

It's a warning system to advise track workers of a train approaching, there's a similar system in place between Huntingdon and St Neots/outside Hatfield.

And is in use on the majority of the line between Standedge Tunnel and Huddersfield.

 

[Aictos]

Not knowing the tunnels there think it's Copenhagen an gas works tunnels, must be TOWS track operated warning signal/sound.

Look what I managed to find:

http://railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=29952&highlight=TOWS+ajax102

 

[route:oxford]

With my eyes closed, when I worked in Glasgow, I knew exactly the moment we entered the Queen Street tunnels...

Likewise, one evening I told a pair of NEDs whose 5-6 year old spawn was dancing on the table to take care as "the train would lurch to your right suddenly in around a minute" (just before the Carmuirs tunnels where the Cumbernauld line splits off.

They just laughed, until the train lurched to the right and the wee devil went flying.

 

[umontu]

With my eyes closed, when I worked in Glasgow, I knew exactly the moment we entered the Queen Street tunnels...

Likewise, one evening I told a pair of NEDs whose 5-6 year old spawn was dancing on the table to take care as "the train would lurch to your right suddenly in around a minute" (just before the Carmuirs tunnels where the Cumbernauld line splits off.

They just laughed, until the train lurched to the right and the wee devil went flying.

You should have said it in a hushed voice and they'd think you could predict the future knowing ned's/chavs/townies.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

The more you learn, the more you realise how little you actually know.

Yes, it's a cliché but its true. And yes, I know this thread is only a bit of fun but there is a world of difference between recognising where the next tunnel is and how long you will be in it for and signing the route/traction as a guard.

 

[9K43]

You may think that you know the road, and watch your route videos.
I learned Standage Tunnel by walking from Marsden through to Diggle looking for a ballast train.
By the way which Standage tunnel are you talking about. as there are 4.
The Nelson Bore of 1842, the Nicholson Bore of 1865 and the one in use today of 1895.
The first 2 tunnels are single line the later tunnels is double track, and the Canal Tunnel of the 17th Centuary.
You can access the single line bores by walking over the canal bore on bridges into the 2 single line tunnels.
When there are engineering trains in the main tunnel, we were taken by Railway van into Nicholson to find our trains.
I hope that if you ever get stuck in the tunnels you take your Bardic hand lamp with you.
I think that your idea is just on the daft side, it took me quite a few decades to learn about railways. You will not find what you are looking for watching Thomas the Tank Engine, stick to trainspotting.
Always remember that a little knowledge can be dangerous..........................

 

[Eng274]

Through regular commuting experience (and some pretty realistic MSTS replicated routes) I could fairly accurately predict speed limit changes, braking points, tunnels etc between Edinburgh and Cowdenbeath/kirkcaldy (I could list them if challenged). I'd never apply for a train driver's job on the basis of my present traction knowledge or anything gained from MSTS/BVE though!

 

[LE Greys]

Has something like this not already happened? The 1926 General Strike meant that the railways (which had to keep going to get coal and perishables through) were worked by volunteers for over a week. Some were management, but others were members of the public with some railway experience.

 

[umontu]

You may think that you know the road, and watch your route videos.
...
By the way which Standage tunnel are you talking about. as there are 4.
The Nelson Bore of 1842, the Nicholson Bore of 1865 and the one in use today of 1895.
The first 2 tunnels are single line the later tunnels is double track, and the Canal Tunnel of the 17th Centuary.
...
I think that your idea is just on the daft side, it took me quite a few decades to learn about railways. You will not find what you are looking for watching Thomas the Tank Engine, stick to trainspotting.
Always remember that a little knowledge can be dangerous..........................

I don't watch route videos to be honest.

I know that there are three railway tunnels and a canal tunnel, I've walked all over that area and I can spot the difference between the widths of the three.

"daft" seems a bit harsh for something that wasn't even an "idea" but a statement of fact,

The same is true of Standedge tunnel, I know when the train is going in and out almost to the microsecond.

as for the Thomas the Tank Engine bit, seriously?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You do get to the point where you can shut your eyes for the entire journey and still know where you are on the route because of speeds, braking points, bumps etc!

O.S.Nock, God rest his soul, was a past master at this.

 

[WelshBluebird]

For me its 3 ones that I do very often.
Treherbert - Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central - Bath Spa
Exeter st Davids - Barnstaple

The latter two are quite handy to know very well, as I know exactly when we'll go under a tunnel or into an area where I'll lose phone signal, so if I am on the phone I can finish it before then. Rather than just going "hello, hello, hello" then realising I've lost signal!

With the first one, it can be quite funny because twice a day the service goes via the city line instead of its normal route into Cardiff. Cue mass panic from the people who want to go to Queen Street for the shops.

 

[TDK]

How could toc's make use of passengers that know the route their train takes well? For example, I know the route from Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly very well, as a passenger, I know it so well I can click my fingers when going through a tunnel and click again when leaving.
The same is true of Standedge tunnel, I know when the train is going in and out almost to the microsecond.

The only use to a TOC for any passengers is ticket money I am afraid

 

[SWTCommuter]

Has something like this not already happened? The 1926 General Strike meant that the railways (which had to keep going to get coal and perishables through) were worked by volunteers for over a week. Some were management, but others were members of the public with some railway experience.

More recently, Great Eastern attempted to recruit commuters to act as guards in return for free travel. I don't think it came to anything.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/commuters-rush-to-fill-train-guard-jobs-1253094.html

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You may think that you know the road, and watch your route videos.
I learned Standage Tunnel by walking from Marsden through to Diggle looking for a ballast train.
By the way which Standage tunnel are you talking about. as there are 4.
The Nelson Bore of 1842, the Nicholson Bore of 1865 and the one in use today of 1895.
The first 2 tunnels are single line the later tunnels is double track, and the Canal Tunnel of the 17th Centuary.
You can access the single line bores by walking over the canal bore on bridges into the 2 single line tunnels.
When there are engineering trains in the main tunnel, we were taken by Railway van into Nicholson to find our trains.
I hope that if you ever get stuck in the tunnels you take your Bardic hand lamp with you.
I think that your idea is just on the daft side, it took me quite a few decades to learn about railways. You will not find what you are looking for watching Thomas the Tank Engine, stick to trainspotting.
Always remember that a little knowledge can be dangerous..........................

When I first saw this posting, I thought that I had accidentally accessed a poetry site, so well constructed was the layout of the type. I was almost ready to put music on to back it.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

I know some routes but there are other routes that I reall haven't got a clue about

 

[Class172]

Nice to see you've started the thread 'umontu.' I know the route from Droitwich Spa to Worcester (both stations) really well. I always know where I am and how long it'll take to reach the station, provided the driver doesn't do something odd or there's a red signal. I can tell when there's a new driver: accelerate slowly and break too early/late. I know all the speed limits and signals. I know Worcester to Great Malvern and Droitwich Spa - Bromsgrove/Kidderminster pretty well also. Also because my train in the morning is a 150/0, unless it's 150001 or 150002 then I can see the locked out cab of the 150/2 sandwiched in the middle of two 150/1s. This leads to some trains having 1 and some 2 toilets

Whether these skills would be of any use I don't know but what would be good is one of these two things; the second is very unlikely:

• Firstly, TOCs could use people with knowledge like this to give a first hand account of there services, giving suggestions that will help improve the running of the trains - or say which trains have the worst overcrowding.
• Secondly, if it was possible, people with enough knowledge could be taught properly how to drive the train safely. Then as volunteers, they could cover stretches of services when there is a shortage of drivers - this would have been very good during the recent London Midland ASLEF problems. However I think people might be 'slightly' unnerved by the fact a 14 year old might be driving a train though that probably wouldn't be allowed . As I said before this is probably extremely unlikely though I would love to have a go!