Worst weather for train crew to work in.

[Trainfan344]

I was wondering, what's the worse weather that a driver has to drive in? and what about Guards, do they match up or do Drivers prefer a different type of weather to Guards?

Why is this the case?

Sorry if it's in the wrong place but couldn't think of a better place for it.

 

[westcoaster]

Light drizzle makes it all slippy. It tends to sit on the rail and stay there. Where as if it rains it seems to roll of the rail.

 

[trentside]

As I guard, I really don't enjoy working the rain - especially on busy trains where you're likely to be doing dispatch duties with your Avantix over your shoulder. I prefer to avoid getting the machines wet, as they're temperamental enough as it is

Anything that causes slippery platforms is also high up on the list!

 

[scott118]

drivers and guards have different roles, so will have very different specifics. What can a guard do, when the unit picks up it's wheels? Nothing. That said, what does that matter to a DOO?

What conditions do you prefer, to drive your car in? At least you have the 'luxury' of a radio in there...

 

[tsr]

Heavy rain + a Class 455 will often = a lot of slipperiness around the vestibules, handles etc. It can become rather unpleasant, especially climbing into/out of the cab.

 

[fairysdad]

I was wondering, what's the worse weather that a driver has to drive in? and what about Guards, do they match up or do Drivers prefer a different type of weather to Guards?

Why is this the case?

Sorry if it's in the wrong place but couldn't think of a better place for it.

Sorry to be "that guy", but any chance you could change your 'worse' to 'worst' in the thread title at least?

(Interesting topic by the way!)

 

[Trainfan344]

Sorry to be "that guy", but any chance you could change your 'worse' to 'worst' in the thread title at least?

(Interesting topic by the way!)

Cheers for picking that up!

 

[theageofthetra]

As a new driver- drizzle seems to be the worst, with snow being less common around London.

 

[DaleCooper]

I would have thought doing 125mph in fog was pretty scary, or do you slow down?

 

[scott118]

slow down?! your route knowledge will save you a please explain time delay, from control..

 

[A-driver]

Personally I find low sunlight hard work. Signals become barely visible from a distance, forget seeing any kind of picture in many DOO monitors with sun reflecting off them, sun glaring from all the rail heads...

I don't mind driving in rain, poor adhesion just adds to the fun really!

 

[DaleCooper]

slow down?! your route knowledge will save you a please explain time delay, from control..

I assumed that wasn't an optiom but had to ask the question.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Once had an XC TM who spent an entire newcastle to Edinburgh run telling pax on his packed 220 how lucky they were to have it as the HST he'd worked down had coped badly with the semi frozen leavs on the ECML. Cant say I shared his pleasure. Does anyone here share his viewpoint about the 22x's capabilitty during Autumn?

 

[45107]

Anything not on the diagram is an issue.

 

[jamesst]

As a guard I'd say drizzle has to be the worst.
Weirdly I don't mind pouring rain but drizzle where it can be dry at one station,wet at the next then dry again does annoy me!

 

[notadriver]

One very foggy dark morning at 4am I could barely see past the bonnet oh my car as I crawled to work at no more than 20 mph. Half an hour after that the speedo needle in my train hit the 90 mph limit in exactly 2.5 minutes after departing the last station and I eased back the controller to notch one. Visibility no more then about 10 yards with the headlights reflecting back off the fog.

 

[scott118]

One very foggy dark morning at 4am I could barely see past the bonnet oh my car as I crawled to work at no more than 20 mph. Half an hour after that the speedo needle in my train hit the 90 mph limit in exactly 2.5 minutes after departing the last station and I eased back the controller to notch one. Visibility no more then about 10 yards with the headlights reflecting back off the fog.

did you switch to using a daytime light to reduce the glare? Or did the unit you where driving, not have that option?

 

[DaleCooper]

One very foggy dark morning at 4am I could barely see past the bonnet oh my car as I crawled to work at no more than 20 mph. Half an hour after that the speedo needle in my train hit the 90 mph limit in exactly 2.5 minutes after departing the last station and I eased back the controller to notch one. Visibility no more then about 10 yards with the headlights reflecting back off the fog.

It's always best to drive fast in fog, that way you get home before you have an accident.

 

[muz379]

As a guard I find when its really hot is the worst weather to work in , no matter how many windows you open or how hard you will the aircon to do its thing you just cant cool the trains down . You end up with instances of passengers fainting because of the heat which is never a nice situation to be in . And generally heat sends a lot of passengers a bit loopy . Not to mention there being nothing worse IMO than getting a soaking wet sweaty £5 note that has just been in someones back pocket all day . Also the sun is a real hindrance to carrying out station duties especially when its low in the sky .

I dont mind when its cold or wet because you can always wrap up to keep warm , the only cold weather that is a real problem is the snow or ice which makes platforms a nightmare . Because of the shifts you can be the first person to be driving on snowy or icy roads because of the times you drive to/from work so that can get a bit hairy in the depths of winter .

I imagine for drivers fog can be bad for exposing any gaps in route knowledge , and when the sun is low in the sky it can be a nightmare for sighting signals , I know it is a hindrance when trying to carry out station duties and sighting starting signals so I cant imagine how bad it is when hurtling along at 75+mph .

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Would also depend on where you were - North of Queens Park on the Bakerloo would not be much fun when freezing or wet, South of Queens Park not too much fun when the weather is hot. For train drivers leaf season or any time rail adhesion isn't too great tends to be a more problematic time.

 

[hassaanhc]

Would also depend on where you were - North of Queens Park on the Bakerloo would not be much fun when freezing or wet, South of Queens Park not too much fun when the weather is hot. For train drivers leaf season or any time rail adhesion isn't too great tends to be a more problematic time.

Last summer I used the Bakerloo Line many times to/from Paddington, and it seemed like a sauna compared to the Jubilee Line.

 

[Ploughman]

Forget the wimps in their nice warm dry cabs.
How about some thought for the poor guys down trackside.
Out in all weathers no matter what.
All times of day or night.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Never really minded the cold when working outside - shunting / seeing off trains etc - as you can always put multiple layers on.

Nothing more dispiriting than getting wet early in a shift - and staying wet ! - especailly on a night / late turn.

 

[MCR247]

Last summer I used the Bakerloo Line many times to/from Paddington, and it seemed like a sauna compared to the Jubilee Line.

I've often found it to be warmer than other lines I've used on the same day

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Last summer I used the Bakerloo Line many times to/from Paddington, and it seemed like a sauna compared to the Jubilee Line.

It's an old line with the oldest trains and has dead end sidings at the Elephant meaning less through draught keeping in more heat. I believe the highest recorded temperatures on the underground were recorded on the Bakerloo.

 

[Holly]

We know that on the chunnel, the worst weather is:
"Wrong kind of snow".

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It's an old line with the oldest trains and has dead end sidings at the Elephant meaning less through draught keeping in more heat. I believe the highest recorded temperatures on the underground were recorded on the Bakerloo.

The line has been around since 1906 or so --- apparently the clay surrounding the tunnel segments has baked solid over the years. Toasty warm on Winter days down there , agreed.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Personally I find low sunlight hard work. Signals become barely visible from a distance, forget seeing any kind of picture in many DOO monitors with sun reflecting off them, sun glaring from all the rail heads...

I don't mind driving in rain, poor adhesion just adds to the fun really!

low angle sunlight is identified as an issue in operating road / rail / floating / flying machines ....

 

[bramling]

I was wondering, what's the worse weather that a driver has to drive in? and what about Guards, do they match up or do Drivers prefer a different type of weather to Guards?

Why is this the case?

Sorry if it's in the wrong place but couldn't think of a better place for it.

Snow has to be worst for me, especially when it's just started.

Always hassle and trouble, trains getting stalled unable to pick up power from the conductor rail, having to be 'dug out' with the ice scraper. Trouble with crews getting to work which can destroy the service in itself. Risk of slipping on walkways especially in depots/sidings. Finally trains much more troublesome, defects and issues galore. Then when you've dealt with all that, possible nightmare journey home either by train or car. For me by far the worst nothing else comes close.