A career as a train driver

[roystinho]

There are heritage railways but this might give you a false idea

The role is often far from glamarous... far from fun!

Can you cope being stranded in the middle of nowhere? a tree coming into your cab at speed? part of your train detaching itself? under driver only conditions a fight on board? what about a fire? evacuating a train carrying hundreds of passengers?

I am being dramatic perhaps but there are many scenarios to consider...


PS driving a train is, I am guessing, the easy bit at least in its simplest form

Coping when things go wrong, memorising all that information and knowing ultimately your job is on the line (literally) is the challenge

Train Drivers in my understanding need to live with these potential pressures and remain calm and focussed at all times.

When I say lifestyle its because I have a website that I run also. Currently I have very little time to give towards it, but the shift pattern (what I actually meant by lifestyle) would be really beneficial.

Luckily I have a close friend who was one of the managers at Great Western and she suggested the job to me saying it would be perfect for me

You mention suicides and trees falling on your cab that is a very rare occurrence in a drivers carreer. No one knows not even an experienced driver of their reactions to such events. Heritage railways is not what I call a train driver career but a driver wanting to play trains. You have to be a certain type of person to be able to be successful at train driving and keeping your record clean. You need to be very easy with your own company, be able to switch off even the minor of distractions, be able to act consistently and be able to problem solve in an instant, you need to be a near perfectionist, you need to have pride in yourself and your role, you need to be able to remain calm in an emergency situation, you need to be able to interact with the most annoying and indecisive people (some passengers) without belittling them, you need to be able to take constructive criticism and finally you need to have lightning reactions and able to learn things quickly and accurately.

Thanks for that. I mentally went through checking them off - yep, yep, yep yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

Like I said, I'm pretty certain this is the right career path for me, I was wondering if there was any way of getting a bit of experience when it's school holidays and I have time off

 

[TDK]

I was wondering if there was any way of getting a bit of experience when it's school holidays and I have time off

Experience is by far the best form of added advantage to any job role. Get as much experience as you can on the factors in my post and it will be an advantage to your plans.

 

[roystinho]

Experience is by far the best form of added advantage to any job role. Get as much experience as you can on the factors in my post and it will be an advantage to your plans.

Cheers

 

[E&W Lucas]

There are heritage railways but this might give you a false idea

Correct. Volunteering is a rewarding way of escaping from your daily life. Do it for the enjoyment. Not the same intensity or physical demands as working mainline.
The quickest way to fail a mainline interview, is to say "I'm suitable, because I'm already experienced, as I'm a driver at ********** preserved railway"!

 

[DunfordBridge]

You mention suicides and trees falling on your cab that is a very rare occurrence in a drivers carreer. No one knows not even an experienced driver of their reactions to such events. Heritage railways is not what I call a train driver career but a driver wanting to play trains. You have to be a certain type of person to be able to be successful at train driving and keeping your record clean. You need to be very easy with your own company, be able to switch off even the minor of distractions, be able to act consistently and be able to problem solve in an instant, you need to be a near perfectionist, you need to have pride in yourself and your role, you need to be able to remain calm in an emergency situation, you need to be able to interact with the most annoying and indecisive people (some passengers) without belittling them, you need to be able to take constructive criticism and finally you need to have lightning reactions and able to learn things quickly and accurately.

TDK, I was intrigued with one part of post regarding near-perfectionism, I am not really seeing how that would be particularly beneficial for train driving despite being a perfectionist myself with a touch of OCD.

 

[Latecomer]

TDK, I was intrigued with one part of post regarding near-perfectionism, I am not really seeing how that would be particularly beneficial for train driving despite being a perfectionist myself with a touch of OCD.

There's lots of occasions when a driver attempts to be a near perfectionist:

Choosing the right braking point for the conditions so as not to lose unnecessary time but to bring the train to a stop in the correct place in a safe and comfortable manner for passengers. Selecting appropriate acceleration and choosing an appropriate speed (which may be less than linespeed) so as not to have uncomfortably long dwell times in stations. Being meticulous about train preparation. Doing lots of things that might pre-empt problems, keeping passengers relaxed when things may be going wrong about you. Whilst always erring on the side of safety, train drivers do like to be on time, many (call it OCD if you like) like to be on time literally to the second. Furthermore, if anything out of course does occur out there a train driver will nearly always be self analytical and always find something that they might have done better, even just marginally so. A good train driver will learn from every experience and use it to get closer to ideal of perfection that can never be truly attained day in day out.

 

[TDK]

TDK, I was intrigued with one part of post regarding near-perfectionism, I am not really seeing how that would be particularly beneficial for train driving despite being a perfectionist myself with a touch of OCD.

To keep your record clean over a long period you need to be a near perfectionist. By this I mean trying to keep exactly to the line speed, taking notice of all notices, making lists for everything so you have a reference to any out of course workings, correcting any small errors you may make, ensuring you check your station stops at every stop, always react to anything out of course. To maintain this you need to be a near perfectionist. OCD is over the top I would say

 

[Bluebri]

To keep your record clean over a long period you need to be a near perfectionist. By this I mean trying to keep exactly to the line speed, taking notice of all notices, making lists for everything so you have a reference to any out of course workings, correcting any small errors you may make, ensuring you check your station stops at every stop, always react to anything out of course. To maintain this you need to be a near perfectionist. OCD is over the top I would say

Near perfectionist sounds a little overstated. I would say it sounds that you simply need to be someone who is comfortable following strict instructions and rules without deviating from them. Able to improvise within these rules when required and above all be calm and act appropriately in any eventuality. Probably why a lot of ex-servicemen and emergency service workers find there way there. Just a thought.

 

[DunfordBridge]

There's lots of occasions when a driver attempts to be a near perfectionist:

Choosing the right braking point for the conditions so as not to lose unnecessary time but to bring the train to a stop in the correct place in a safe and comfortable manner for passengers. Selecting appropriate acceleration and choosing an appropriate speed (which may be less than linespeed) so as not to have uncomfortably long dwell times in stations. Being meticulous about train preparation. Doing lots of things that might pre-empt problems, keeping passengers relaxed when things may be going wrong about you. Whilst always erring on the side of safety, train drivers do like to be on time, many (call it OCD if you like) like to be on time literally to the second. Furthermore, if anything out of course does occur out there a train driver will nearly always be self analytical and always find something that they might have done better, even just marginally so. A good train driver will learn from every experience and use it to get closer to ideal of perfection that can never be truly attained day in day out.

Thanks, Latecomer, I had a hunch about the braking distances. I actually like to run my life to a time table. In the course of my heritage work, I like to keep a diary making a record of advice that has been issued to me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

To keep your record clean over a long period you need to be a near perfectionist. By this I mean trying to keep exactly to the line speed, taking notice of all notices, making lists for everything so you have a reference to any out of course workings, correcting any small errors you may make, ensuring you check your station stops at every stop, always react to anything out of course. To maintain this you need to be a near perfectionist. OCD is over the top I would say

As with Latecomer, not all of the advice was immediately obvious but it makes sense now. OCD is not too bad with me, I know the difference between double-checking and wasting time.

 

[387star]

If you don't mind me commenting on bus/lorry drivers being a coach driver myself, many aspire to become train drivers but fail to make the grade. These are someone else's comments :

"ive cleaned buses and we need to do windows, upholstery,dash, seats etc and its the same as trains but £8000 less, why, and also train guards on £thousands, why everytime im on a train they punch my ticket and announce what station we are at, hardly seems hard, as with bus drivers need to know about tail swing,wind, congestion, pedestrains, tickets, steeering,highway code, and lots, ive been in the footplate of a class 37 and it was footpedal and handle, not much more to worry about except speed limits, even driver said it was easy.
after 20 yrs off and on driving buses I didn't even get to round 2 of last job advert for train driver, what sort of people get past stage 2, Tesco workers or what, I mean I was in transport for 20 yrs , all about safety and passenger comfort and rules, but didn't make stage 2."

Awful attitude problem

 

[carriageline]

Beside his awful attitude and obvious lack of understanding of the job, he does have a point in a round about way. Driving isn't the hardest job on the railway (speaking 99% of the time, obviously ) but because of the wages T/FOCs can be very particular of who they hire.

For example, I imagine a grade 9 signaller managing SLW, T3s, line blockages, S+T phone calls, all sorts of problems and signalling trains goes home with a much bigger headache than a driver going over the aforementioned single line! Yet, it's much easier to get into, mainly because we don't get 5000 applications. I wonder why

 

[Beveridges]

There are a lot of jobs on the railway that are a lot easier than driving driving. The pay has to reflect that.

 

[ExTankieAaron]

Evening all,
I was going to try and read through 46 pages of this but frankly on a phone isnt much fun, so from what i read i can for now assume that being a driver and i personaly want to be freight, is that for people like i with ex forces back ground it is a good job. Id assume that i personal skills being ex Tanks and all that it comes with as job i should... Should be okay. I say this because the last time i saw DB Schenker looking for trainee drivers for the walsal area and else where was that they did say they were looking for those of a ex millitart police etc bus driver included.

Ive submitted a aplication to DRSl and explained in fine detail of exactly what my skillset and how it matches upto what they wanted.

SO lol for sombody like me, are we or i suited to this job? As a rail freight driver.

Also can anybody answer this. The job i applyed for, exactly what is it? Freight, nuke casks?

Regards,
Aaron.

 

[387star]

Anyone forking out for that how to become one day course? Rip off surely as is the pretend discounted price

 

[TDK]

Evening all,
I was going to try and read through 46 pages of this but frankly on a phone isnt much fun, so from what i read i can for now assume that being a driver and i personaly want to be freight, is that for people like i with ex forces back ground it is a good job. Id assume that i personal skills being ex Tanks and all that it comes with as job i should... Should be okay. I say this because the last time i saw DB Schenker looking for trainee drivers for the walsal area and else where was that they did say they were looking for those of a ex millitart police etc bus driver included.

Ive submitted a aplication to DRSl and explained in fine detail of exactly what my skillset and how it matches upto what they wanted.

SO lol for sombody like me, are we or i suited to this job? As a rail freight driver.

Also can anybody answer this. The job i applyed for, exactly what is it? Freight, nuke casks?

Regards,
Aaron.

The question you first need to ask yourself is: Do you want to drive trains or do you want to be a train driver? There is a huge difference.

Anyone from any job as long as they have experience in the fields required can become a train driver and the only reason that people from the military/Police/fire brigade etc. have an advantage is that they have the qualities to get them through the sift. In your case you may have these qualities you may not, it all depends on how you complete the application from.

I would have certainly looked into what the job involves before applying unless I was desperate to drive trains and for this you need to look at and understand the first paragraph of this reply.

 

[ExTankieAaron]

I want to drive my train do my shift go home and do it all again the next day. I had in mind id like to do this until i retire. So what part would that fit to, drive trains or be a train driver?

 

[TDK]

I want to drive my train do my shift go home and do it all again the next day. I had in mind id like to do this until i retire. So what part would that fit to, drive trains or be a train driver?

There are many train enthusiasts who want to drive a train and that can be accomplished without doing it as a career but to become a train driver is a career that is not as great as it is made out to be, maybe the first 2 years will be great but when you have done 15 years plus you will just be looking forward to retirement. Don't get me wrong but it is a great job and many would actually do it for nothing but the shifts, the monitoring, the rules and regs etc. will get to you after a while.

Many enthusiast want to work on the railway and the majority want to be drivers and I have noticed that many are desperate to get the job, so desperate they would do anything to get it. When I used to interview potential drivers the most important question in interview was "why do you want to become a train driver" and if the answer was I want to drive trains it was a fail

 

[JAMBO]

Most drivers these days are in it for one reason only and thats the £££ thats on offer. Most drivers I speak to hate the job, have no interest in trains whatsoever and cant wait to retire .Lets be honest here, would the majority of these thousands who apply to become drivers now be interested if you got paid 15/20k a year?! I think the 40 plus a year may be has something to do with it.

 

[TDK]

Most drivers these days are in it for one reason only and thats the £££ thats on offer. Most drivers I speak to hate the job, have no interest in trains whatsoever and cant wait to retire .Lets be honest here, would the majority of these thousands who apply to become drivers now be interested if you got paid 15/20k a year?! I think the 40 plus a year may be has something to do with it.

I don't think that is completely correct I think many on this forum would do the job for 15k a year if they were solvent enough to live. In DRS many drivers offer their services free without pay to drive the rubbish old traction. I am in it for the money, I don't like trains, I enjoy the job as I like my own company and I love the money and pension, take either away and I am off.

 

[455driver]

If you have no interest in trains why do you post on an enthusiasts forum?

 

[JAMBO]

Majority especially freight like the fat happy cheques, why is it most chase the money and just keep jumping ship to whoever pays the most. Its not because of the traction or colour of the engine and its not like they love trains and the job it's the 60 plus a year that does it. A few may get excited about driving an engine, but not many and if any it will be at DRS. If driving paid half the money, had little time off, a crap basic pension then the job probably wouldn't get half the interest it does today. Where else can you come out of a training school without a degree or qualifications to speak of and get a salary like that!

 

[TB93]

Well the company I work for doesn't hand out happy cheques as you like to call them and we don't get paid 60k a year,unless you live at work.

 

[TDK]

If you have no interest in trains why do you post on an enthusiasts forum?

To keep up with the news and posts from fellow railway workers I have no interest in trains whatsoever that includes looking at them, photographing them, travelling on them as a passenger or noting the numbers. I thought this was called RailUK and was for anyone either interested or connected to the railways.

 

[JAMBO]

Most freight men are on canny little number now, I'm stating that the majority of drivers I know and speak to on a daily basis are in it for one reason only and that's the pound signs on offer.

 

[455driver]

To keep up with the news and posts from fellow railway workers I have no interest in trains whatsoever that includes looking at them, photographing them, travelling on them as a passenger or noting the numbers. I thought this was called RailUK and was for anyone either interested or connected to the railways.

Okay only asking, calm down dear!

 

[SPADTrap]

Okay only asking, calm down dear!

Is that a spotter's confession, 455? :P

 

[455driver]

Is that a spotter's confession, 455? :P

Yep. I am a train spotter/ rail enthusiast/ train geek etc etc.

I am too bloody old to worry about name calling now although a fellow driver pointing at me and yelling "you train spotter" while I was on Clapham jn with my lad was quite funny!

I must catch up with my numbers, I havent even filled in my 2013 P5 L&CS yet, never mind the 2014 one.

 

[ExTankieAaron]

If you have no interest in trains why do you post on an enthusiasts forum?

Im just on here learning what the job is about, ins and outs to see if its what i want, again im not a spotter etc but i do have a instrest because they in my mind are a tank, if ever i get a job as a driver dont be supprised to see me helping fix my own loco with the mechanics. But like most i should imagin i have a family, my son dose ice hockey and the mrs ghost hunting so i need a big wage to support all that. I honestly do want to work for DB Schenker as they are here in Doncaster. And thats that.

 

[Minilad]

Well I am a driver and I am quite happy to say I am enthusiast too. I am in the job because it's the one job I have wanted since school. I am not in it for the money. I love my job and I don't even see it as a job. I enjoy being at work and I enjoy being one little cog in the railway machine. I don't care one bit if people call me sad. I was at Claydon crossing all afternoon photographing. I was recognised and blown up at by quite a few drivers passing and I am sure I will get a gentle ribbing next time I see them. But I really don't mind.

 

[TDK]

Well I am a driver and I am quite happy to say I am enthusiast too. I am in the job because it's the one job I have wanted since school. I am not in it for the money. I love my job and I don't even see it as a job. I enjoy being at work and I enjoy being one little cog in the railway machine. I don't care one bit if people call me sad. I was at Claydon crossing all afternoon photographing. I was recognised and blown up at by quite a few drivers passing and I am sure I will get a gentle ribbing next time I see them. But I really don't mind.

That is fine as long as it don't affect your ability as a driver or distract you. If it's you hobby so be it. The main reason that many say do not mention it at interview is that an interviewer only needs a minuscule clue that any hobby may affect your concentration to fail you at interview and being a train enthusiast is one of them. When I was doing my interview techniques course the assessor did say that if a candidate is very enthusiastic what would the distraction be? He then went on to say if a driver is approaching a red signal and there is an unusual train in the depot adjacent will this take their concentration away from the task. I could only think possibly so therefore when interviewing did take this into account.