A question for guards

[notadriver]

My colleague reckons guards don't like it if the driver sticks their head out of the window at station stops because it looks like they are being checked on. Is this true ? (I do it to get some fresh air) ....

 

[Monty]

Quite a few drivers at my depot do this, I like to think they are checking up on me to make sure I'm okay. Though in reality it's more often they are having a nose at something (or someone ) that's caught their eye. Can't say it bothers me that much if they were though, then they would see how a proper guard does things.

 

[red2005]

Na can't see that being true!!i like knowing there's a 2nd pair of eyes!!most of the time they are looking at the short skirts or tight tops lets be honest lol!!!

 

[BestWestern]

What a load of rollox! I think whoever came up with that must be an overly sensitive sort, nobody I know is the slightest bit concerned if the Driver wants to have a gander at the legs getting on

 

[TOCDriver]

Personally speaking, I only do it when the RA is given by a platform dispatcher at stations. I always like to double check in these situations

 

[185]

Depends who the driver is. Especially if he's ugly

 

[175001]

An extra pair of eyes following the James St incident is always a good thing.

 

[Pumbaa]

An extra pair of eyes following the James St incident is always a good thing.

A couple of depots on the SW have local instructions to support guards on tricky platforms by keeping an eye out, but I think this predates James St by years.

 

[Flamingo]

Can't say it bothers me, they can admire my skills all they want! It's when they get out of their cab and come back to "help" that it can begin to get on one's nerves.

 

[notadriver]

Can't say it bothers me, they can admire my skills all they want! It's when they get out of their cab and come back to "help" that it can begin to get on one's nerves.

What sort of help ? I'm so used to doing everything myself.

 

[Flamingo]

Coming back and telling cyclists they can't put bikes on (when there is space), deciding to become ticketing experts, telling the gang of drunk off-duty police "Yea, of course you can sit in First Class", telling the Customer Host "If you have any trouble at the buffet, come and tell me and I'll come back and sort them", that kind of "help".

 

[TOCDriver]

Coming back and telling cyclists they can't put bikes on (when there is space), deciding to become ticketing experts, telling the gang of drunk off-duty police "Yea, of course you can sit in First Class", telling the Customer Host "If you have any trouble at the buffet, come and tell me and I'll come back and sort them", that kind of "help".

God, I don't know anybody who i work with doing that. At unmanned stations, I will occasionaly get out of the cab and fix the wheelchair ramp up if any disabled person requires it and they get on at my end.

 

[notadriver]

Coming back and telling cyclists they can't put bikes on (when there is space), deciding to become ticketing experts, telling the gang of drunk off-duty police "Yea, of course you can sit in First Class", telling the Customer Host "If you have any trouble at the buffet, come and tell me and I'll come back and sort them", that kind of "help".

Deary me I had no idea that sort of thing went on though I do confess to offering ticket advice when I was travelling pass and the guard wasn't around.

 

[Flamingo]

Deary me I had no idea that sort of thing went on though I do confess to offering ticket advice when I was travelling pass and the guard wasn't around.

Fair enough, but there are some on our patch who get out of their cabs to do so!

Not all, and not all the time, but I have seen them doing it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

God, I don't know anybody who i work with doing that. At unmanned stations, I will occasionaly get out of the cab and fix the wheelchair ramp up if any disabled person requires it and they get on at my end.

That's sensible. It's only one or to that go from being helpful to trying to take over!

 

[TheEdge]

Quite a few around here do it. Mostly I think it is either just another pair of eyes on the train or a pair of eyes on a pretty lady!

 

[TOCDriver]

That's sensible. It's only one or to that go from being helpful to trying to take over!

Can't understand that, really. I consider the guard to be the professional that she/he is and I have every confidence in their knowledge and professionalism to leave them be. Personally, I have never been a guard so I would never ever dream of interfering with their duties unless I was asked for help by them. In which case, I would only be too happy to assist.

 

[TheEdge]

I don't mind about a driver being helpful to a point, a lot of drivers will whip out the disabled ramp if its at their end and the guard is at the wrong end.

I mind when you come across a driver so antisocial or unhelpful you have it in the back of your head that *if* you did need them they wouldn't help.

 

[TOCDriver]

I don't mind about a driver being helpful to a point, a lot of drivers will whip out the disabled ramp if its at their end and the guard is at the wrong end.

I mind when you come across a driver so antisocial or unhelpful you have it in the back of your head that *if* you did need them they wouldn't help.

At the end of the day, it's all about teamwork and being as helpful as one can be with each other. There are no ranks as far as I'm concerned - we all know our jobs and we all know what we can do. I always go out of my way to have a chat with and get to know my guard and build up a relationship so that he/she can have the confidence to come to me and ask for any assistance / help if need be (and vice versa hopefully)

 

[BestWestern]

At the end of the day, it's all about teamwork and being as helpful as one can be with each other. There are no ranks as far as I'm concerned - we all know our jobs and we all know what we can do. I always go out of my way to have a chat with and get to know my guard and build up a relationship so that he/she can have the confidence to come to me and ask for any assistance / help if need be (and vice versa hopefully)

Absolutely. And I sincerely hope that your colleagues are appreciative and return the compliment.

I always speak to my Drivers, do what I can to be friendly and promote the team spirit; nip up the front with cuppa when we have a long enough stop, make any calls on their behalf to control or resources etc, and so on. Sadly there will always be those in both grades who either have some sort of chip on their shoulder or just lack social skills, but they are the minority. I was told by a Guard once that he requested his Driver contact the panel to ask for police assistance, and was told that it was 'his job to do that' and his Driver was unwilling to even make the call! That, however, is happily not how the vast majority operate, and those who do tend to be universally thought of with considerable ill regard, quite rightly.

Going back to Drivers being helpful, watching the TGS door at unmanned stations is quite a common one on HSTs, and always very welcome.

 

[TOCDriver]

Absolutely. And I sincerely hope that your colleagues are appreciative and return the compliment.

I always speak to my Drivers, do what I can to be friendly and promote the team spirit; nip up the front with cuppa when we have a long enough stop, make any calls on their behalf to control or resources etc, and so on. Sadly there will always be those in both grades who either have some sort of chip on their shoulder or just lack social skills, but they are the minority. I was told by a Guard once that he requested his Driver contact the panel to ask for police assistance, and was told that it was 'his job to do that' and his Driver was unwilling to even make the call! That, however, is happily not how the vast majority operate, and those who do tend to be universally thought of with considerable ill regard, quite rightly.

Going back to Drivers being helpful, watching the TGS door at unmanned stations is quite a common one on HSTs, and always very welcome.

100% with you. Customer service and teamwork was drilled into me by my TOC but I understood that in the first instance. I'm a friendly chap who will do anything for anybody and i love meeting people; so that part of the job comes natuarally. Yes, drivers can lock themselves away in the cab if they want to, but that's not me. I will always go to the cab at the last minute and will spend my time having lunch with the guard or sitting in the saloon making myself available to our customers / passengers. I take a pride in doing that

 

[Flamingo]

I always try to interact with the driver, and I think it's important that they know that somebody on the train behind them is thinking of them, as especially on a HST there is a real barrier between the driver and the rest of the train. Hence the reason I try to get a hot beverage of their choice to them during he journey. I know they are issued flasks, but that's missing the point.

 

[driver9000]

I will often look out of the window when stopped in stations, I'm watching the passengers getting on and off. I would never dream of checking up on the Guard to see if he/she is doing their job properly. Driver and Guard are a team and each has their own set of responsibilities - I am not trained in customer service and I am not trained in how to operate a wheelchair ramp. I get on with 99% of the Guards I work with, a pleasant natter over a brew makes the wheels turn better but I'm afraid that ramp is all yours! If things are getting heated I'll watch the situation, I have received no training in conflict avoidance (I'm not customer facing) but the Guard has and is more than capable of defusing the situation without me sticking my oar in. That can actually make it worse. However if I'm asked to I will and have assist the Guard if it isn't looking good - the appearance of a second uniform often dissuades the more persistent A lot of Guards I've spoken to would rather it was this way - allowing them to handle the situation instead of steaming potentially causing a flash point.

 

[185]

I think my only concern would be whilst I'm concentrating on the passengers and doors, who's watching that signal at the end of the platform.... many guards have at some point given two against a red, often after distractions on a platform.

 

[455driver]

many guards have at some point given two against a red, often after distractions on a platform.

And isnt the coffee they buy you all the sweeter tasting for it!

Not that it has ever happened to me of course because I would have to report it straight away as long as I can find a report form!

We are a team, the guard watches my back and I watch theirs, end of!

 

[TOCDriver]

- I am not trained in customer service and I am not trained in how to operate a wheelchair ramp.

You don't have to be 'trained' in customer service to smile, say hello and perhaps answer a few questions. And I'm also surprised you haven't been trained in the use of a ramp too - quite a few Northern drivers will get the ramp out if need be thus saving a bit of time. The Cumbrian boys quite often help their guards out in this way as there are quite a few disabled passengers who use that stretch. Everybody has their own way of working at the end of the day. Some will stick to their duties vigorously and others will be a bit more helpful. You take your pick

 

[Monty]

I can only really echo what others have said, we are a team. We don't spy on each other, we look out for each other and do our best to the job done. I get on with a lot of the drivers I work with and more often than not we have a bloody good time while doing it.

 

[TOCDriver]

I can only really echo what others have said, we are a team. We don't spy on each other, we look out for each other and do our best to the job done. I get on with a lot of the drivers I work with and more often than not we have a bloody good time while doing it.

Absolutely. Give my regards to your driver, Scottish Jamie, will you? No doubt you'll know him!

 

[1e10]

Coming back and telling cyclists they can't put bikes on (when there is space), deciding to become ticketing experts, telling the gang of drunk off-duty police "Yea, of course you can sit in First Class", telling the Customer Host "If you have any trouble at the buffet, come and tell me and I'll come back and sort them", that kind of "help".

Out of interest, who has authority in these kind of situations? If the driver says some off-duty police officers can sit in First Class and the guard says they can't, what goes?

 

[TOCDriver]

Out of interest, who has authority in these kind of situations? If the driver says some off-duty police officers can sit in First Class and the guard says they can't, what goes?

The guard / TM decides. It's their decision. It has nothing to do with the driver

 

[TheEdge]

Out of interest, who has authority in these kind of situations? If the driver says some off-duty police officers can sit in First Class and the guard says they can't, what goes?

If it happens in the passenger saloon it is the realm of the guard, in the same way a guard isn't going to barge into the cab to drive!