Toilets and Drivers

[mainframe444]

Locus were fitted with urinals at one point, Deltics even had a proper toilet in the nose end complete with flush!!

 

[Broken Viking]

I've heard the term "Comfort Pipe" being used in the past (It's meaning being fairly obvious, I would've thought) but are cabs still fitted with these, or have they been removed/omitted either due to hygiene concerns or the fact that female drivers might be unable to use them?

I suppose a few of my badly delayed journeys on South West Trains could be put down to someone taking the p***, mind... :razz:

 

[GNER 373]

Locus were fitted with urinals at one point, Deltics even had a proper toilet in the nose end complete with flush!!

I remember this from seeing the 7 remaining ones at Shildon Locomotion last year (I think). Brilliant piece of info I took away from that day!

 

[scotraildriver]

I forgot about that. The class 37/4's on the West highland had a urinal just inside the engine room.

 

[Harbon 1]

Locus were fitted with urinals at one point, Deltics even had a proper toilet in the nose end complete with flush!!

there is a reasson why it was the 'No2' end

 

[Starmill]

I seem to remember last year, we were discussing the benefits of corridor connectors in the cab and somebody mentioned that drivers might use them for something like this. Although as with all of the other 'invenitve' solutions to the problem, can only see how it might work for guys...

 

[Broken Viking]

I wonder if any of the lady drivers around the network carry female urinals with them for just this sort of purpose? They're widely available (Just look in any of the tat-mags that drop out of the TV papers!) and - Assuming they are alone in the cab for privacy (and they take care to keep the nest clean) - Would at least give them an option if they needed it.

I don't know what the rulebook says about such things, but I'd be very surprised if there was a rule barring the use of things like that.

 

[O L Leigh]

Leaving all the sniggering going on behind hands to one side...

It is a difficult balancing act. Brum to Stansted is approximately 3hrs 20mins each way. You want to make sure that you're adequately hydrated to ensure you maintain your concentration, but you don't want to take on too much fluid in case you overload. I generally take a drink with me onto the train and then make another en route, but in the past week I have found that I can be simultaneously exhibiting the symptoms of dehydration while also busting to go. So what do we do?

The problem is that the timetable doesn't offer many chances to take your ease. On the 'Up' you might get a few minutes at both Leicester and Peterborough (assuming you're running to time), but on the 'Down' there just aren't the same opportunities.

It's no joke either. Holding on for longer than necessary can lead to kidney stones and other medical problems. Train driving is not a healthy career at the best of times, as the cancer rates within the grade show, and this is just one more issue that we face. Those of you outside the grade may think it very amusing, but I can assure you that it is not.

O L Leigh

 

[455driver]

Just looked at my duty for today (Sunday), sign on at 1550, start driving at 1605, PNB 2150 to 2235 and finish at 0040.

So in the chair for 5 hours and 45 minutes with a maximum 12 minute turn round (5 coach train down, couple up and then 10 coaches all day so not much chance at the terminus either).
Dont you just love "special" diagrams.

 

[pompeyfan]

I appreciate train driving and bus driving are 2 different kettle of fish, but in the same way I understand what you are on about, we need to stay hidrated to keep concentration to look out for anyone or anything that could cause us to brake sharply or have to take other action, as well as paying attention to people ringing the bell etc. it doesn't help as well that Portsmouth city council have just pulled the chain on public conveniences that ours and the other company's drivers use. Additionally on Sundays it's not unusual to be scheduled to work right up to the domestic hours limit of 5:30 without meal break. All in all, unfortunately it's part of the job.

 

[MacRae13]

So in the chair for 5 hours and 45 minutes

I appreciate train driving and bus driving are 2 different kettle of fish, but in the same way I understand what you are on about, we need to stay hidrated to keep concentration to look out for anyone or anything that could cause us to brake sharply or have to take other action, as well as paying attention to people ringing the bell etc. it doesn't help as well that Portsmouth city council have just pulled the chain on public conveniences that ours and the other company's drivers use. Additionally on Sundays it's not unusual to be scheduled to work right up to the domestic hours limit of 5:30 without meal break. All in all, unfortunately it's part of the job.

I used to drive buses in Glasgow and it was common to be driving for 4 or 5 hours without a break. There was only one route where the terminus had a convenience - that was the staff one in Govan underground station and SPT stopped us using that!

Luckily, in my current role I can use the train toilet. But those who can't have my sympathy.

 

[AlexS]

Leaving all the sniggering going on behind hands to one side...

It is a difficult balancing act. Brum to Stansted is approximately 3hrs 20mins each way. You want to make sure that you're adequately hydrated to ensure you maintain your concentration, but you don't want to take on too much fluid in case you overload. I generally take a drink with me onto the train and then make another en route, but in the past week I have found that I can be simultaneously exhibiting the symptoms of dehydration while also busting to go. So what do we do?

The problem is that the timetable doesn't offer many chances to take your ease. On the 'Up' you might get a few minutes at both Leicester and Peterborough (assuming you're running to time), but on the 'Down' there just aren't the same opportunities.

It's no joke either. Holding on for longer than necessary can lead to kidney stones and other medical problems. Train driving is not a healthy career at the best of times, as the cancer rates within the grade show, and this is just one more issue that we face. Those of you outside the grade may think it very amusing, but I can assure you that it is not.

O L Leigh

The Leicester 'platform 2 pit stop' is down to a fine art, I tip my hat to you :P

Stop outside the gents bog door, pit stop there, run through to the messroom, top up the flask, back through the bogs and back in the cab inside 5 minutes - impressive stuff, and I assume an integral part of the road learning! Happily bollocksed up markedly less now that Daw Mill is shut and they don't chuck a loaded coal train for Ratcliffe out in front of you.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Depending what part of the country you are in, you may find that the signaller won't know because they will have also gotten stuck in their facilities

Yeah filling in the signallers log

 

[Tomnick]

The problem is that the timetable doesn't offer many chances to take your ease. On the 'Up' you might get a few minutes at both Leicester and Peterborough (assuming you're running to time), but on the 'Down' there just aren't the same opportunities.

This perhaps explains why some of your colleagues look rather less than cheerful in response to the friendly waves from our boxes .

 

[dk1]

Depending what part of the country you are in, you may find that the signaller won't know because they will have also gotten stuck in their facilities

Never thought of that. Perhaps we where both 'out of the office' at the same time

 

[Flywaver]

The Leicester 'platform 2 pit stop' is down to a fine art, I tip my hat to you :P

Stop outside the gents bog door, pit stop there, run through to the messroom, top up the flask, back through the bogs and back in the cab inside 5 minutes - impressive stuff, and I assume an integral part of the road learning! Happily bollocksed up markedly less now that Daw Mill is shut and they don't chuck a loaded coal train for Ratcliffe out in front of you.

Yep Leicester plt2 is well designed for XC Drivers. O L Leigh you have to take advantage of the Signals or that few extra minutes at Oakham on the Down.. I initially struggled getting used to longer Drives but im ok with it now (touch wood)

 

[deltic1989]

When I need a pee whilst driving a train I just hit 'esc' and put the laptop down .
Seriously though, I do feel the pain of some people on here.
I am a truck driver and have had several instances where I have been caught short miles from the nearest services and had to improvise.
The blind side of the truck in a lay-by is the favored method, but I have heard stories involving cruise control and Oasis bottles (but this sounds dangerous to me).
Whilst I don't have a strict timetable to adhere to most days my comments aren't in the same league as the train and bus drivers here, but it is rather uncomfortable to be bursting for the lavatory whilst rocketing down the motorway at 56 mph and being 20 miles from the nearest place you can stop, bumps are murder too.

 

[trainophile]

Don't your trade unions have a health & safety concern on your behalf? You'd never get away with preventing staff using the toilet in any other line of work.

 

[A-driver]

I remember working a set if empties some time ago and as I got in the cab I knew I should have gone for a pee but it was my last bit and I wanted to go home and thought id be ok for the 20min trip to the depot.

Halfway out the platform and I knew I had made a mistake. I knew i was booked behind a stopper so tried running up to the reds outside each station fairly hard so I had a chance to jump down the side of the track. Problem was every single time I approached a red it came off. And every time I approached a red on the end of a platform it held me there for a couple of mins with no way of discretely nipping out.

In the end I just had to stop at a single yellow and jump out the door.

In all seriousness though I think this is a topic that a few TOCs do need to address and the unions should be making noise about this. We have 5 hour non stop driving stints on non toilet stock with minimum turn arounds at stations without a toilet. It's all very well nipping down the side of the train but its not ideal, not fair on women drivers, not hygenic and something we really shouldn't have to be doing. I will deliberately delay trains to nip to proper facilities on certain diagrams but too many drivers use a bottle in the cab or nip out into the cess etc for the company to realise there is a problem. And the company even had the cheek to try disciplining a driver who was caught by a member of the public peeing out the cab door at moorgate.

 

[pendolino]

Don't your trade unions have a health & safety concern on your behalf? You'd never get away with preventing staff using the toilet in any other line of work.

We have an agreement that no driver will be disciplined for delaying a service to use the toilet if needed, given that a lot of the diagrams are on stock with no toilets and with long periods of driving and limited turnarounds. Within reason of course, sitting on the bog reading the paper for half an hour would be frowned upon and rightly so. If that isn't the case elsewhere then drivers really need to get their LDC on the case.

 

[Starmill]

It would appear the problem is not even limited to heavy rail. I once saw a tram driver 'relieving himself' off the end of the platform at Bury.

These are trams for gods sake! The shift can't be THAT long!

 

[bronzeonion]

I think stations should have their toilets re instated or have one put in, this would benefit a driver or any other member of train crew and of course the passengers. And no, not 20p a bloody go either!

 

[Michael.Y]

Don't your trade unions have a health & safety concern on your behalf? You'd never get away with preventing staff using the toilet in any other line of work.

You've obviously never worked in a call centre.

 

[KA4C]

You've obviously never worked in a call centre.

Or the NHS!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

but I have heard stories involving cruise control and Oasis bottles (but this sounds dangerous to me).

We all know what truck drivers do, just look along any motorway!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It would appear the problem is not even limited to heavy rail. I once saw a tram driver 'relieving himself' off the end of the platform at Bury.

These are trams for gods sake! The shift can't be THAT long!

If you have got to go, you have got to go, we bang on to drivers to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water during shift, this is the natural consequence

 

[Mintona]

When I know I'm on a long stint without chance to use the toilet, I try and hold it in until just before I set off, and usually that sees me through. I know that this still sometimes isn't enough though; a few times I have needed to go again, but fortunately on our trains we have turnarounds just long enough to spend a penny (as long as you're on time!)