Must Train Drivers Be Short?

[Envoy]

I looked into the cab of a 158 the other day and it looked really cramped. I can understand that laterally room is made for the connecting corridor but why make the space so tight longitudinally? Surely, anyone of above average height would suffer from a lack of legroom?

 

[Dstock7080]

Around 5yrs ago LU employed one of the tallest women in the country at 6'8" Sarah ######, she worked for a short time driving District Line trains.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I drive 158s and 159s and they dont really give me any problems...Im 6'2".

 

[Wyvern]

What about the small end of a 153? :eek:

 

[red2005]

ha yeah a 158 is like business class with emirates in comparison to the small end of a 153 lol

 

[cossie4i]

I think most companies only employ people within a set height range now.

I think 6'4" is the max height and 5'2" the shortest.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Desiro's actually have a step that's fitted on to the DSD for drivers who need to use them.

 

[driver9000]

What about the small end of a 153? :eek:

There is more legroom under the desk in the No.2 end of a 153 than No.1 end. I drove 153s standing up when in No.2 end. It might looked cramped under desk of BR second generation units but unless the panel had been fitted badly legroom is fine.

 

[theageofthetra]

Met cam 465's have less legroom the BREL version. Think its to do with the seat mounting.

 

[fgwrich]

Only being able to add here from my Shunting experiences, but Loco Wise some are better than others - The EMD Designs (59/66s) aren't too bad, nor are the 47s & 57s, but the worst I've come across were the unrefurbished Class 37s - cramped at best - who thought it was a good idea to put the horn lever by your legs? Not so great when trying to couple up to another loco or coach/wagon with the long bonnet too. Height wise you might be able to see better out of the cab windows though. The DRS refurbished 37s are a little bit better but only just, although the cab soundproofing does reduce the space somewhat! 20s aren't too bad, just as long as the seat doesn't get stuck.

 

[PHILIPE]

In my Diagramming days, I was once requested by a Depot's Driver Manager to replace a 153 by a 150 on a certain route due to one of his drivers having difficulty accessing the small cab due to his build.

 

[455driver]

What about the small end of a 153? :eek:

There is more knee room in the small end than there is in the big end because the big end has the reverser on the desk which restricts the available space underneath it. FGW are moving the reverser to the side (same as the small end) and opening it up so there is more room available.
There isnt loads of room in either end but it is okay.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Desiro's actually have a step that's fitted on to the DSD for drivers who need to use them.

Which is okay if they bother to remove them when they have finished with it!

 

[O L Leigh]

I think most companies only employ people within a set height range now.

I think 6'4" is the max height and 5'2" the shortest.

Your thought is incorrect. I have colleagues way taller than this, including one chap who has to bend down when he goes through doorways.

O L Leigh

 

[Cherry_Picker]

6'4" to 5'2" covers the vast majority of the adult population anyway.

I've been in the grade for a long time now and I've never heard of any height restrictions either on the tall or short end of the scale. I've heard weight may be taken into consideration (a BMI of over 33 is a figure I have heard anecdotally on more than one occasion) but I am unsure whether this is for cab comfort reasons or just to hedge bets against any future medical/long term sickness issues. On most traction driver's seats are about as adjustable as a barbers chair and have been that way for a hell of a long time.

I've spent a fair bit of time in the cab of a 158 and I know guys who have driven them for thousands of hours and I've not heard too many complaints about them beyond the connecting door in the cab being noisy when the seals let air in. I'm not sure a quick glance into a cab is ideal to get a gauge of how spacious or cramped it might be.

 

[physics34]

im 6'4" and 455 cabs are VERY tight.

 

[badassunicorn]

I've heard once of an overweight driver not being capable of driving desiros, due to not being able to fit in the external cab doors and squeeze past the seat. Personally I think 321 cabs are exceptionally tight, at least with 315/317 type stock there is a large vestibule area surrounding the cab.

 

[otomous]

I'm of stout build and height and find 455s in particular a bit of a squeeze, always getting my feet stuck in the DSD well especially if the seat is too far forward when I take over a cab. I have noticed it is a smaller man's job generally, though bigger people are bar no means excluded.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I find the 158's a little cramped to drive and I'm 5ft 11. I drive 66's day to day and they're pretty good for space really.

 

[TDK]

ha yeah a 158 is like business class with emirates in comparison to the small end of a 153 lol

I personally prefer the small cab of a 153 to the large cab but then again I am borderline dwarf.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
When recruiting a few years back the standard was 5'4" to 6'6" any potential drivers outside these heights were either refused application or in special circumstances a risk assessment for ergonomics had to be conducted. I am not sure now if these parameters apply.

 

[Bantamzen]

ha yeah a 158 is like business class with emirates in comparison to the small end of a 153 lol

I can remember recently feeling very sorry for a driver in the small end of a 153 couple to a 158 on a Carlisle - Leeds run. As he pulled into Shipley, he was standing and looking very uncomfotable. I hope he didn't have to stand all the way, that's a fair old journey even for a passenger, let alone a driver shoehorned into that cab!

 

[Envoy]

I can remember recently feeling very sorry for a driver in the small end of a 153 couple to a 158 on a Carlisle - Leeds run. As he pulled into Shipley, he was standing and looking very uncomfotable. I hope he didn't have to stand all the way, that's a fair old journey even for a passenger, let alone a driver shoehorned into that cab!

So, it would appear that the 153's with a smaller end cab at one end are the worst place to be a driver. I note that the 153's are used on the Heart of Wales Line from Shrewsbury to Swansea. I understand that the crews swap trains mid-way. That would be several hours spent in a tight space. I suppose the same would apply if you just had to drive one shorter distances back and forth for a shift - though you might get a break the end of each run.

This surely comes down to bad design.

Many thanks to all who have responded to this post thus far.

 

[sprinterguy]

This surely comes down to bad design.

What it comes down to is having to retroactively shoehorn a cab into the former vestibule space between the door pocket and vehicle end. I think it's an amazing piece of design that they ever managed to fit a cab there at all!

 

[craigybagel]

So, it would appear that the 153's with a smaller end cab at one end are the worst place to be a driver. I note that the 153's are used on the Heart of Wales Line from Shrewsbury to Swansea. I understand that the crews swap trains mid-way. That would be several hours spent in a tight space. I suppose the same would apply if you just had to drive one shorter distances back and forth for a shift - though you might get a break the end of each run.

This surely comes down to bad design.

Many thanks to all who have responded to this post thus far.

As has been pointed out several times, it's actually the big end of a 153 that has the least space. Getting in and out might be more tricky, and if you're a guard there's little space to put your stuff or do paperwork, but for sitting in the cab seat for a long distance you're better off in the small end than the big end of a 153.

Also, two of the four how trips for drivers involve working a 150 in one direction so it's not as bad as it could be...