What would you say is the greatest challenge for a train driver?

[tomnpt83]

Looking for people’s views on what has been their greatest challenges in the role as a train driver?

 

[dctraindriver]

Getting the job.

 

[Poonhead83]

Finding the AWS on a Mark 5

 

[4F89]

Keeping to time

 

[Yfg132]

The constant different booking on times, setting the alarm for 1,2,3am and then staying awake!

 

[train_lover]

Trying to get a rake of loaded coalfish wagons to stop

 

[Driver068]

Finding the AWS on a Mark 5

Were is it lol

 

[mresh91]

Dealing with the Great British Public ™

But seriously, for me (I'm not a driver) it will be to deal with a Lewisham style incident (passengers detraining during disruption etc)

 

[choochoochoo]

Keeping concentration for 2-3 non-stop

 

[Jlob2804]

Getting the job.

Seconded

 

[Sly Sloth]

Remembering to cancel the horn whilst thinking of what to cook for dinner, singing Wannabee and identifying the big bird sitting atop the signal all whilst not coming up in a big heap

 

[diego1234]

Staying awake

 

[43066]

Getting to grips with the isolation of the job.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 May 2022 ==

Dealing with the Great British Public ™

You won’t have to do much of that if you don’t want to

 

[dan4291]

Keeping your mind from wandering when running at linespeed on greens for long periods of time, you never know what could still happen (looking at you, Bambi!).

 

[Gemz91]

Getting time off for the football, then trying to avoid the score of the football so you can watch it when you get home.

 

[4F89]

Trying to get a rake of loaded coalfish wagons to stop

*in the right place without them falling off

 

[Gorlash1886]

Turning your phone back on whilst on pnb and seeing WhatsApp messages about how the guys are going out and you've got a second half, then also knowing you are back the next day social life sacrifices

 

[RedYellowGreen]

Metro - trying to deal with the repetitive nature of driving the same routes, encountering almost identical signal aspects on a daily basis, endeavouring to avoid complacency.

 

[GN Boy]

Surviving when the free coffee runs out in the drinks machine.

 

[Efini92]

Remembering all the different door codes.

 

[ExRes]

Trying to find enough things to spend all that excessive pay on .......

 

[Ayahusca]

Staying awake

 

[Heaps92]

Looking for people’s views on what has been their greatest challenges in the role as a train driver?

Having spotters take unwanted photos or getting too close to the cab when stopped ar platforms. Really do not like it. I get they're taking photos of engines but I dislike photos with me in them

 

[SJN]

Having spotters take unwanted photos or getting too close to the cab when stopped ar platforms. Really do not like it. I get they're taking photos of engines but I dislike photos with me in them

I had one take a photo as I was driving into platform and the flash went off in my face. I was fuming.

 

[wobman]

I had one take a photo as I was driving into platform and the flash went off in my face. I was fuming.

I've had this a few times and once I asked the guy to turn the flash off, his answer was why !
I then explained why only for him to walk away, that was platform 9 at crewe as I approached a buffer stop.

It doesn't happen very often though luckily, most enthusiasts are pretty switched on regarding photography etichet to be honest.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Maybe not the "greatest challenge for a train driver" but just how big a nuisance is driving on a route, at the time of the day/year when the sun is really low in the sky, and directly ahead, in the direction of travel?

 

[Heaps92]

I had one take a photo as I was driving into platform and the flash went off in my face. I was fuming.

Me too mate approaching Red too I couldn't believe it so blasted my horn

 

[Ken H]

Never driven a train but at sea finding navigation lights against a background of light pollution from the shore can be difficult. So seeing railway signals against other lights must be difficult. Especially when those lights are coloured.
Semaphores in an urban environment must be a nightmare.

 

[baz962]

I struggle with the nights. I can't sleep too well in the day , even with blackout curtains and no noise.

 

[387star]

Staying interested

Even more fun now I'm a one route depot

Love it really