Signaller jobs - old and new technology

[Ken H]

Hope this is the right place for this

If I were to get a signaller job (I wont be, I am over 60!), are there separate career paths for old technology* jobs and 'modern' technology jobs. Or are signalling staff expected to be able to work on all types of kit.
I am thinking of the people signalling trains as well as the guys maintaining the kit.
I do realise there is some cross over, with mixtures of modern and 'legacy' kit in one installation.

*Old technology = ABS, mechanical interlocking, Semaphore signalling etc.

 

[alxndr]

From the maintenance point of view, there will be differences in training and competencies depending on the equipment installed in an area, but it's more of a modular approach than a pathway (although there are prerequisites for some training). All S&T, regardless of equipment type, will do some basic courses on signalling equipment, but from there will take the courses specific to the equipment in their area. Some courses will be common to a lot of places, whereas others will be less common based on the prevalence of the equipment. If someone won't be called to maintain a specific piece of equipment then they won't receive training for it, and in turn, won't be allowed to maintain it. A person must be trained and deemed competent before working on any equipment, unless under direct instruction of someone who is competent.

I've recently moved areas, and although they're of a fairly similar age, there are some competencies that I no longer require and some training that I will need to go on. If I'd moved between areas of different ages then there would be a larger number of differences, but the principle would be the same.

 

[cin88]

It depends on your area and the likelyhood of working certain equipment as far as i'm aware. I did signalling school in the final quarter of 2020 and had to learn Absolute Block on the lever frame simulator, then I did the Track Circuit Block conversion in July 2021 which used an Entry and Exit Panel (NX) simulator. As a result, I now have competencies for AB, TCB, Electric Token Block (which my box works) and One Train Working. The last two weren't a course though, it was a written exam as part of my ruling days with my manager.

I happened to meet one of the instructors for the VDU based courses whilst on the TCB course, they teach a TCB NX/VDU based version of the Initial Signaller Training course.

For VDU signallers coming off older tech areas, they can do the training on VDU equipment on a simulator with a dedicated signaller mentor so you have the ins and outs of how the various commands work before you learn your workstation, that's how they do it on my area anyway. For older tech, you'll be taught what the equipment does by the on duty signallers whilst you're training with them.

Management in my region prefer that every new starter does the AB course regardless, as its easier to convert from AB to TCB. If you do TCB as your initial training then you have to do the whole IST course again for AB should you then find yourself moving to AB location, my signalling school instructor mentioned this being the case for one of the trainees on one of the courses he was shadowing as part of his instructor training.

In short, once you have the competency for the rules, its just a case of learning how to operate the equipment in any given location/workstation.

 

[ChrisRS]

Hope this is the right place for this

If I were to get a signaller job (I wont be, I am over 60!), are there separate career paths for old technology* jobs and 'modern' technology jobs. Or are signalling staff expected to be able to work on all types of kit.
I am thinking of the people signalling trains as well as the guys maintaining the kit.
I do realise there is some cross over, with mixtures of modern and 'legacy' kit in one installation.

*Old technology = ABS, mechanical interlocking, Semaphore signalling etc.

Age shouldn't matter employers can't discriminate I know of plenty signallers aged 70+ - as long as you can pass the medical.

If you only want to work with "old technology" as in a mechanical lever frame absolute block box then you would apply for a signal box in an absolute block area, you then go to signal school and study specifically absolute block signalling. You then have the option for a TCB (Track circuit block) conversion course should you need it.

There is also a TCB (Track circuit block) only course if you're going to a TCB only area. Most power signal boxes and some signal boxes in absolute block areas may work to a power signal box and require both competencies.

And of course the VDU course for the ROC if signalling by computers.

 

[Ken H]

Thanks for the replies alxndr and cin88. Its a lot clearer for me now.

 

[High Dyke]

Operations wise, as outlined above. The default position for signalling courses was Absolute Block (AB) regulation signalling, but there is the Track Circuit Block (TCB) conversion course also. In many cases this is added to the end of the Initial Signaller Training (IST). However, some people are recruited straight into locations that use WestCad signalling - larger centres like York or Derby ROC. This is the VDU computer type operation.

 

[Gloster]

Going back to 1979, when I did my training course, the attitude was that you learnt AB on the course and everything else you worked was learnt on the job. I never did courses on TCB, Electric Key Token, No Signalman Key Token or Train Staff Working, just read the rules and watched when learning the box. I did my course on the Southern Region, but to the best of my recollection there was no Signalling School on the Western: you could come straight off the street and start learning a box. However, the final say-so as to whether you were up to it was the job of some very wise District Inspectors.