Reality of being a driver

[Intrigued]

Thanks for the further replies!

Working shifts doesn't really bother me, it's what I'm used to and indeed most of my friends are similar so it's always been a case of socialising on the rare occasions when the moons align. Admittedly, the times are a little more extreme than I'm used to but from gauging the services at my allocated depot, there wouldn't be any late late finishes.



Out of curiosity, how many of you had an interest in railway before hand? Any of you never envisage working as a train driver but now find yourself doing the job?

 

[ComUtoR]

Out of curiosity, how many of you had an interest in railway before hand? Any of you never envisage working as a train driver but now find yourself doing the job?

I never remotely imagined driving a train. Never had any interest in the railway either.

I'm here through sheer chance and a large amount of luck.

 

[sarahj]

Thanks for the further replies!

Working shifts doesn't really bother me, it's what I'm used to and indeed most of my friends are similar so it's always been a case of socialising on the rare occasions when the moons align. Admittedly, the times are a little more extreme than I'm used to but from gauging the services at my allocated depot, there wouldn't be any late late finishes.



Out of curiosity, how many of you had an interest in railway before hand? Any of you never envisage working as a train driver but now find yourself doing the job?

Just because there are no trains with punters on them, that means we all go home. Trains have to be put to bed as well. As a conductor I'm sometimes off home and my driver is off shunting for another hour. It's why they get the big bucks.

 

[6Gman]

A career in the railway
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=125818

About to start driver training and not excited
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109748

Just two of the many threads on this very subject.

Feel free to google the many train crashes and recent incidents involving where rail workers are facing jail sentences and heavy fines.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Wait till your kids hit the big 30 and you want to celebrate but can't because your booked to work and can't get a swap.

Wait until you get home from an 0300-1130 shift, it's half-term, and the grandchildren are waiting for you!

 

[Joof]

I never remotely imagined driving a train. Never had any interest in the railway either.

I'm here through sheer chance and a large amount of luck.

I never had any interest in trains pal and I still don't. That's not to say I don't love the job because I do. There's a massive difference between the 2. Each to their own but trains don't do it for me. It's the job and the lifestyle it gives me and my family.

 

[302PS]

the reality-
Alarm goes off at 0300, get ready and get to work for an 0415 start, do 50 station stops before 'dinner' time at 0820 to 0915, then another 45 stops until you finish at 1300, drive home, the other half then want you to do 6 jobs around the house 'because you have only been at work half a day', get something else to eat, do some jobs around the house (for peace and quiet), go to bed at 2000 (before the kids) because that alarm is going off at 0330!

The week after, get woken up at 0800 and take the kids to school do some jobs around the house (watching the clock all the time), get changed and go to work for a 1600 start, drive 40 stops during the evening peak, have a 'dinner' break from 2000-2100 the drive another 50 stops before finishing 0030, drive home, have a cup of tea and climb into bed at 0200.
Get woken up at 0800 to take the kids to school 'because you only work half a day' and repeat!

Thats the reality!

Pretty spot on! Ha

 

[ComUtoR]

Each to their own but trains don't do it for me. It's the job and the lifestyle it gives me and my family.

This, 100%

@6Gman I feel that pain. But its part of being a parent for me and one that I enjoy. I'm lucky enough that its half term and I've got 4 days off. Not many jobs give that. Yeah I've got an 0400 start this week and yeah its going to kill but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Mine understand that I work all hours. It was funny the other day when I got breakfast in bed. I was shattered but proud.

This is still one of the best job's I've ever had and being the age I am, I've had a few.

 

[TDK]

Out of curiosity, how many of you had an interest in railway before hand? Any of you never envisage working as a train driver but now find yourself doing the job?

I never and I still don't to me a train is an asset that earns me money - period if I had a choice of driving a fancy loco or an air conditioned unit the unit wins every time.

 

[BTU]

Thanks for the further replies!

Working shifts doesn't really bother me, it's what I'm used to and indeed most of my friends are similar so it's always been a case of socialising on the rare occasions when the moons align. Admittedly, the times are a little more extreme than I'm used to but from gauging the services at my allocated depot, there wouldn't be any late late finishes.



Out of curiosity, how many of you had an interest in railway before hand? Any of you never envisage working as a train driver but now find yourself doing the job?

Its just a job and thats how ive always treated it , whats so special about being a train driver? you tell me.

 

[wayme]

Jumping in here: But, out of curiosity, what are the shifts like? I work for the ambulance service and all of my shifts are 12hr (6:30 / 18:30 - 18:30 / 6:30) but we are never rota'd to work more than 4 shifts in a row. If we have a run of four in a row then we will have a weeks worth of rest days after. Although sometimes we will have a run of shifts (nights / days) and then have a 1 day turnaround before we go back on shift again (days / nights)

Curious what shift are like as a driver. It's a career i've been looking at for a while, but just waiting for those darned vacancies to come up!

 

[Legzr1]

Wait until you get home from an 0300-1130 shift, it's half-term, and the grandchildren are waiting for you!

Lightweight!!

Try 0300-1500!