I'm a 'boil in the bag' Driver. That was our nick names when I started. That aside....
Why can't you go direct to the footplate ? What are the reason(s) why you need to go through cleaner/fireman ? Is it because they are keeping to tradition or using it as a method to control the enthusiasts and prevent the gold rush to Driver and not other grades ?
I'm certainly interested why someone may have years of experience driving would seemingly be penalized for their experience, rather than celebrated. Is there a reason why experience doesn't count ?
Cheers in advance.
I meant no offence by the term, I agree that it's a good and efficient way to train full time professional drivers who are being paid to be there, and if they leave, can be replaced relatively easily. All being equal, I'll be the same in a matter of months. But that's not what we're talking about here.
It's primarily to prevent the gold rush to driver, such as the likes of MattVick. (well done for being committed and continuing to the do the jobs you were paid for, do you want a medal?)
Also, the experience required to drive steam can't be learnt in a matter of weeks. They are responsible for not only themselves but the fireman as well. The traction knowledge requirement is greater also. It also shows you're committed to it. Getting covered in oil and crap is not for everyone at 0600 on a cold and rainy winter morning. If you could just go straight to the footplate top grades, you couple get to a morning like that and decide it's not for you and never been seen again, leaving a driving vacancy. This way, by the time you are a driver you have been there and done it enough times that if you didn't want to, you wouldn't still be there. It keeps the turnover down.
You have to be a fireman first, as to be assessed as competent to drive, you must show you are competent to fire, as you are in charge of the loco and what the fireman is doing is down to you. You need to know when they're on top of it and when they're not, and know how to drive accordingly.
As for your driving experience, they are potentially not comparable. For example, and with no disrespect or disservice to you as a driver or, your experience may count for very little when driving a steam loco. You drive modern EMUs with state of the art braking systems - a steam locomotive worked off a vacuum brake on 8 coaches will handle very differently. As it will in the wet, under leaf fall. All of that can be learnt, but you learn it by doing, as you do when you learn to drive on the mainline. But you learn to do that 5 days a week full time, this you do in your spare time. So that means it takes longer anyway. Next, we use semaphore signalling and Electric Train Token, now, can't specifically speak for the routes you sign, but I know many mainline drivers who've never seen a semaphore signal or have used a single line token.
You have transferable skills. I have no doubt you would have little trouble driving one of our DMUs straight away. And the driving experience will help when learning the road and the rule book and most of that you would know already or pick up and understand quicker than someone who's not in the driving grade. But you still have to prove you are there for the long haul.
Heritage railways would fold if they had to sustain a lot of short term "good time charlies" who only want to drive a steam loco on a sunny Saturday in July. That's why they run paid driver experience days. In my time on the footplate I have spent more time not on the footplate, in the shed working with the staff and other volunteers to keep the engines in good running order, various shunts and bits of miscellaneous work, than I have firing.
After all, this a hobby, and everyone there has the same goal. To become a driver. If you're not prepared to do the work behind the scenes, why should you get the chance ahead of someone who has spent years doing just that?
