Trainee driver application tips...

[Dave1987]

I do think it is more to do with attitude rather than ability. I think some instructors probably think if they have someone who has come from driving steam locos on a heritage railway that they are going to come along and not think they need much instruction. I can only think that this has come from bad experiences. I have never driven on a heritage railway so I dont know how much different it is from the mainline. I just know they dont have AWS/TPWS and all the interlock and passcom systems. I suppose if a trainee had had previous experience driving on heritage railways but came on a mainline course with totally clear mindset that it is totally different then it would be fine. The only thing I can see is the fact that you do not need to pass OPC tests to drive on a heritage railway (or at least I think you dont) so saying that you can drive a steam loco on a preserved line doesnt automatically mean that you can drive an EMU at 100mph.

 

[E&W Lucas]

All preserved railways are not the same. The major outfits are disciplined, structured businesses. They get a lot of "interest" from HMRI, and have ever more demanding hoops to jump through. The skill levels expected are pretty high, especially for people only likely to be working 20 - 30 days per year. Someone able to reach their standards, on a part time basis, often with periods of several months away from the work, has to have a high level of aptitude in the first place. You are not talking about platform end veg, but often people with demanding jobs in the real world. People that need to do something taxing, to help them relax.

There may not be any psychometric testing involved, but steam footplate training is in the form of an apprenticeship as a cleaner and fireman. You find out over time who has "got it", and who hasn't. In all honesty, it is usually evident very quickly indeed!

Since the mainline job market opened up 10 - 15 years ago, a lot of my preservation colleagues have also gone to work on the "big railway". Driving, signalmen, etc. People who have got enough sense to recognise the difference between the two environments. Amongst the younger generation, a very high proportion are following a railway career, including some very young drivers. Aptitude - definitely.

 

[Legzr1]

The Train Crew concept came in on October 3rd 1988.
I stayed as a guard/trainman/ Team Member to my finishing with the Railway in 2008.
Quite a lot of guards stayed as above and finished with 44 years on the railway.
For example quite a lot of guards went to Leeds City as guards or whatever they are today and are still working as guards.
Quite a lot of guards went to be drivers.

That long ago?

Time flies!

I did mention I was talking about the freight sector - no guards as such after TCC implementation.

Haven't a clue what happened on the passenger side.

A lot of guards that took driver training are still driving now and I count a lot of them as freinds (and good drivers they are too!).



Can't believe mainline driving is being compared to preserved driving yet again!

It's like comparing driving a tractor around a farmers field at 5 mph to a 911 down an empty M1.

Yes,both are vehicles and both have drivers.

That's about as far as it goes though surely?

We'll have depot drivers instructing on the fine art of Class 1 driving next...