Russell 926
Member
Does anyone have any tips regarding route learning for conductors?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Route Learning
- Thread starter Russell 926
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Don't just sit down in the saloon. Jump out and take a look at every station. If you can get in a cab, do it. Make notes on stations. If you can watch dispatch at every station from the correct dispatch positions. Ask questions of the people you are with.
As TheEdge has said , get in a cab if you can , it helps a lot more with stuff like junctions / sidings etc because you can actually see them out of the window . If there are any unusual dispatch procedures watch them a few times . If you can get an instructor to go out with you then take that opportunity to work over that unusual dispatch procedure .
Always ask other conductors when out and about route learning . For all managers who brief you on routes have route knowledge its the conductors who you will be with when route learning that actually work over them every day so know all the little parts of it like the back of their hand .
And as TheEdge has just said try and jump our or look out of the cab droplight at every station , it helps when reciting a route if you can picture the stations in your mind .
when I route learned I pieced it together bit by bit
First just focus on getting the stations in order -For this I found being in the back cab and making the announcements for the conductor whose service it is was particularly helpful as you have to think before you speak - think about any specific risks at each station as well - be it a signal that's hard to see ,a big gap ,platform curvature , large step down , unusual dispatch sequence ,passenger characteristics and numbers .
Once I had the stations in order and what was at each one then I focused on what was between each station - so between station A and B there is junction A, then you go past the x sidings , into the x tunnel , over x and y viaduct and then z tunnel just after the tunnel there is f level crossing and finally before station B there is C passing loop .
Between B station and C station there is x viaduct , y sidings and then F tunnel .
If it helps you remember it look out for other things outside of the railway environment to pinpoint location , things like reservoirs , distinctive buildings , golf courses etc might help you place certain route features .
Id get a blank piece of paper and try and write the whole route down and then look at my actual notes for the route adding in the things I missed . This way I only ended up writing it down a few times . Some people write it down till they forget something and stop there which I didn't do because I found you ended up stopping pretty early when you knew a lot more of the route it was just little bits missing .
most importantly dont get yourself down if you are having difficulty it will click eventually . And we all have that one route we just dont click with for aaages .
Always ask other conductors when out and about route learning . For all managers who brief you on routes have route knowledge its the conductors who you will be with when route learning that actually work over them every day so know all the little parts of it like the back of their hand .
And as TheEdge has just said try and jump our or look out of the cab droplight at every station , it helps when reciting a route if you can picture the stations in your mind .
when I route learned I pieced it together bit by bit
First just focus on getting the stations in order -For this I found being in the back cab and making the announcements for the conductor whose service it is was particularly helpful as you have to think before you speak - think about any specific risks at each station as well - be it a signal that's hard to see ,a big gap ,platform curvature , large step down , unusual dispatch sequence ,passenger characteristics and numbers .
Once I had the stations in order and what was at each one then I focused on what was between each station - so between station A and B there is junction A, then you go past the x sidings , into the x tunnel , over x and y viaduct and then z tunnel just after the tunnel there is f level crossing and finally before station B there is C passing loop .
Between B station and C station there is x viaduct , y sidings and then F tunnel .
If it helps you remember it look out for other things outside of the railway environment to pinpoint location , things like reservoirs , distinctive buildings , golf courses etc might help you place certain route features .
Id get a blank piece of paper and try and write the whole route down and then look at my actual notes for the route adding in the things I missed . This way I only ended up writing it down a few times . Some people write it down till they forget something and stop there which I didn't do because I found you ended up stopping pretty early when you knew a lot more of the route it was just little bits missing .
most importantly dont get yourself down if you are having difficulty it will click eventually . And we all have that one route we just dont click with for aaages .
I always rather a route learner asks to use the back cab - I know the other TOC on my patch generally looks out of the side window but from the back you can see so much more and I'm always happy to share (as an instructor/assessor). I actually find it quite strange when they say "I'll just look from here", even though I know that's probably their usual view.
185
On Moderation
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 5,709
132) Remain Awake.
In 2001ish, was not uncommon to see FNW staff asleep on another operators trains.
In 2001ish, was not uncommon to see FNW staff asleep on another operators trains.
I started by just learning the big things - stations, signal boxes and junctions. Then I started adding in more detail like signalling systems, crossings, platform lengths, dispatch and special instructions etc. Don't be tempted to skimp on the number of trips you do (even if others encourage it) and make sure you're doing the right number of days on each route - your Union Rep is the person to check this with, as they should have an agreement for each route, and this may differ from what you've been told.
Something I found helpful, on the last trip of the day, was to just have a blank piece of paper out and write down everything that I saw as we passed it - I'd then double check it against the notes I'd made from the Sectional Appendix and route maps, and see what I needed to brush up on.
I agree with the previous advice too - get in the cab if possible, and ask plenty of questions. If you find people are telling you contradictory information, check it out with an instructor or assessor - it happens, especially when things have been changed over the years.
Something I found helpful, on the last trip of the day, was to just have a blank piece of paper out and write down everything that I saw as we passed it - I'd then double check it against the notes I'd made from the Sectional Appendix and route maps, and see what I needed to brush up on.
I agree with the previous advice too - get in the cab if possible, and ask plenty of questions. If you find people are telling you contradictory information, check it out with an instructor or assessor - it happens, especially when things have been changed over the years.
I think its important to reiterate this - Dont be tempted to fluff the paperwork to make it look like trips you have never done because if you get caught you would get in a lot of trouble .
and if you feel you need extra trips take them . At my toc the managers/assesors would not pass you out over a route until you yourself felt ready to do it so there was no pressure to get it done in the minimum number of days . A few routes I signed i spent an extra day or two on .
There will be bits you just dont 'get', dont worry about them and concentrate on other stuff before coming back to the bits you cant get, it all sinks in at the end.
Little and often is the way to do it, a 4,5 or 6 hour day when everything stays in your head is much better than a 8 or 9 hour day that gets muddled up.
The company want you competent (and comfortable) with the route as soon as possible and taking 20 five hour days to get it right is better than 30 nine hour days when it is all a jumble in your head.
Little and often is the way to do it, a 4,5 or 6 hour day when everything stays in your head is much better than a 8 or 9 hour day that gets muddled up.
The company want you competent (and comfortable) with the route as soon as possible and taking 20 five hour days to get it right is better than 30 nine hour days when it is all a jumble in your head.
Pretty much everything i'd say has been said in previous posts but a couple of things id add-
Try and do a couple of trips on each route in the dark, totally different experience getting your bearings in the pitch black and helps you learn some landmarks you can see in the dark when youve got someone to ask. Also its useful to know entry/exit points from platforms as it helps ay first with your dispatching if you know where people could suddenly run from at the last minute.
It will probably seem as though nothing is sinking in at first but after a few trips it all starts to come together.
Try and do a couple of trips on each route in the dark, totally different experience getting your bearings in the pitch black and helps you learn some landmarks you can see in the dark when youve got someone to ask. Also its useful to know entry/exit points from platforms as it helps ay first with your dispatching if you know where people could suddenly run from at the last minute.
It will probably seem as though nothing is sinking in at first but after a few trips it all starts to come together.
bunnahabhain
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 2,271
Always ask go in the back, that's what your cab pass is for after all, you'll be surprised how much you can learn from some of the old hands, when I learned Chat Moss I had one of the senior Lime Street guards chatting to me, very sociable and very knowledgeable and told me more about the route and how it feels.
Learn how the route feels, curves, rough bits, jointed track, braking points, etc, so that in the dark or fog, you know where you are.
If you are provided with route maps, always read the sectional appendix for any special instructions that may apply, I know one station on my patch where local door procedure is not permitted under local instructions.
Learn how the route feels, curves, rough bits, jointed track, braking points, etc, so that in the dark or fog, you know where you are.
If you are provided with route maps, always read the sectional appendix for any special instructions that may apply, I know one station on my patch where local door procedure is not permitted under local instructions.
Always ask the old hands at your depot for advice on places, stations, signals etc you don't understand, make your own maps as you go along to help you remember the routes.
Don't try and blag routes that you haven't learnt properly as that will come back and bite you on your backside.
Don't try and blag routes that you haven't learnt properly as that will come back and bite you on your backside.
- Status