Stock Transition Effect on Staff

[Up_Tilt_390]

This wasn't a particularly easy thread to place in this section since some might call it more of a career related thread, whereas some will see it as a more stock related thread. I opted for the latter due to the following question.

This is something that has caught my interest for a while in regards to rolling stock on railways. I'd imagine that on-board staff, whether it be drivers, guards, customer service assistants etc., would have at least some knowledge of the stock they work on and would be trained in different areas of knowledge in regards to them. I could be wrong on that half since I don't work on railways, but as I said I think it'd be reasonable to assume all staff are trained about their working stock in some way.

So it's always been a wonder to me as to how much of an effect would be had on staff when a period of transition occurs when rolling stock changes. One time I spoke to a train driver of a Class 390 and remarked how it must've been quite a drastic change to go from a Class 86/87/90 loco-hauled loco and stock to an Electric Multiple Unit. It was a pretty big change to go from tap charger to just simple levers to apply power and braking.

Now I imagine guard would require knowledge as well given that they also work on the train itself, and I presume in the case of a train fault is another member of staff expected to take action with a driver to sort it out sooner or later. So for those who have worked on trains, or know people well who have done so, I would like to hear your stories on the effect stock transitions had and how difficult it was to overcome some of the new things you weren't familiar with.

I imagine in the initial period of being on two completely different kinds of stock would be a huge thing to get used to, but then maybe it isn't as hard as it seems. That's why I'd like to hear some of your stories on here about whether either your own experiences or someone else's of the effect that stock transitioning had on you or others. Thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[dp21]

In my opinion rolling stock changes touch every single member of staff in the organisation.

Be this maintenance staff, drivers, dispatchers, on-board crew, train pres, customer service etc.

It's not just a change of stock its an entire business change.

 

[sd0733]

To be fair this transition period isn't the only time Crews work very different rolling stock. For example depots on LNWR sign 150, 153, (soon 230s) 319, 350 and some people at EMT work all stock from 153s to HST which have very different characteristics and working environments from each other.

 

[6Gman]

Without wishing to go all nostalgic, when my father was in the "spare" link at Crewe he signed at least 6 different classes of diesel loco; 7 classes of electric loco; two of EMUs; and Blue Square DMUs. He also drove some of them on vastly different types of train - a 47 could be on a 95mph Class 1, or on a 35mph unfitted Class 8.

So long as he didn't go too long between a certain type of trip he was fine!

Think of it like changing your car. How long does it take you to adapt? Not long in my experience. Or if you're a 2-car (or 3-car) family and you swop cars.

 

[Bigfoot]

Trying to learn 6 different classes as a new driver is a bit of a nightmare, similarities there are yes, but it's remembering the differences that is harder. Plus swapping between them throughout the day isn't so easy.

 

[EM2]

It's even more 'interesting' when you don't work for the company that operates the stock. Mobility assistance is a good example, when the first you might know about new stock is when it turns up! In my experience, you rarely get told in advance about things like where the wheelchair spaces are, or what formations the units run in.