NW Measurement Train

[qarty]

Hi all,

This train seems to travel all over so how do the drivers learn the routes? Do they use local drivers? Is it possible to drive a route without any prior knowledge? Following signals and speed limit signs? Are the layouts designed for this?

Are there any other trains that regularly run all across the network?

Thanks

 

[godfreycomplex]

Hi all,

This train seems to travel all over so how do the drivers learn the routes? Do they use local drivers? Is it possible to drive a route without any prior knowledge? Following signals and speed limit signs? Are the layouts designed for this?

Are there any other trains that regularly run all across the network?

Thanks

Drivers who drive the NMT and other measurement trains are typically in a dedicated link, and each has a personal route card that is added to and refreshed as necessary. None, as far as I know, sign the whole network.

In terms of route knowledge standards in my experience (and not saying this in any pejorative sense) the route knowledge is about on the level of a freight driver - they’re unlikely to know things specifically pertaining to passenger operation (braking points for stations etc) but in every other respect their knowledge (speeds/landmarks/shunts/signalling) is of the same standard as any other driver

 

[qarty]

Thanks for your reply.

Are there maps of the routes? If so can you see examples online?

 

[whoosh]

@qarty

Sometimes route maps are made internally at TOCs/FOCs; sometimes maps made externally are used.

There's some examples on this page: https://www.trackaccessproductions.com/route-learning/