Technical officer

[sharkfin]

Hi I am have just got a role as a technical officer on the railway helping with surveys and tamping shifts.

I would really like to do well at this so could anyone give me any advice/tips and also any good books that i could get.

Also any good basic info such as smallest/largest radius of curves on the railway and general track construction/ design. If anyone has anything that could be relevant (websites/pdf's) that would be brilliant Any replies appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Ploughman]

Did that for 20 years.
Starting as TO and worked my way along, some moved on and up quickly others fell by the wayside.
Do not expect to have a social life as you will not have one.

Overnight shifts mean just that, you are out on track from when trains stop running till when they start again. So 10 hours in the rain on a cold wet freezing night is just what you want to do?
Weekend shifts, the work gets more intense and the job can start before you get there and finish after you have gone.
So expect a shift start at 03.00 in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday morning.
You will get all the crap jobs in the office at first but just get on with it.
On site you will be ribbed until the gangs get to know you.

Reference works, get hold of an up to date copy of "British Railway Track" from the PWI maybe even join as a member you will get a discount on the new edition price.
Any details of Curves etc will be found in the relevant Network Rail Standards all available on the internal system online or in the office reference library.
Do not be afraid to ask questions but be sensible.
I assume you either have or will be doing an HNC / HND / Degree in some form of Civils subject.
Survey work of some description will take up a fair amount of your time.

Hope it suits you and you get to enjoy it.
I did and still do survey and planning work on a private line since I took redundancy whenever needed.

Where will you be based?

 

[sharkfin]

Thanks and yeah i've been warned the hours are unsociable. Im around Warrington/Crewe. Any good books/sites to help with the surveying ?

Many thanks for your reply