A career as a signaller

[nom de guerre]

Willesden Carriage Shed North and South are indeed both NW&C (West Coast South), rather than Anglia. The latter remains an NR box.

If you download the Anglia Route PON, you’ll find a list of all the boxes on the route.

 

[Kay_M]

Good morning all

I was thinking of changing my career to become a signaller. Can anyone tell me what it was like to transition from their old career to become a signaller and what grade I should be looking at to begin with and could someone (if you can) point me into the right direction on possible interview tips for the role that may have been posted on this forum. I did search for some but they were more for other roles.

Many thanks

 

[Rockhopper]

Everything you could possible what to know is in this thread I know its a lot of pages but you really do need to read through it.

 

[Kay_M]

Everything you could possible what to know is in this thread I know its a lot of pages but you really do need to read through it.

Cheers for that.

 

[SWTurbo]

Willesden Carriage Shed North is LNW if I’m not very much mistaken (I think South is now on Alstom infrastructure)

Ok, thanks for that, slightly odd then, as the position im applying for lists Willesden as a possible location yet the post is down as Anglia?

 

[nom de guerre]

Ok, thanks for that, slightly odd then, as the position im applying for lists Willesden as a possible location yet the post is down as Anglia?

The nearest Anglia route boxes to Willesden are Acton Wells Jn, Acton Canal Wharf, Neasden and Dudding Hill Jn.

All are located within a couple of miles of Willesden, so they’ve probably used that as a convenient umbrella term.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Ok, thanks for that, slightly odd then, as the position im applying for lists Willesden as a possible location yet the post is down as Anglia?

Edit - nom beat me to it

 

[Kraken]

Good morning all

I was thinking of changing my career to become a signaller. Can anyone tell me what it was like to transition from their old career to become a signaller and what grade I should be looking at to begin with and could someone (if you can) point me into the right direction on possible interview tips for the role that may have been posted on this forum. I did search for some but they were more for other roles.

Many thanks

I changed career last year to become a signaller from an office job and I have to say the transition has been pretty decent. The training course was superb and I’m now being trained up in the boxes by the residents and MOMs who are absolute diamonds and really keen to pass on their knowledge.

My major concern beforehand was that it’s impossible to know whether you will like the job or not as there’s not a lot like it and box visits are largely out of the question. So it did feel a bit like a leap in the dark. But I’m pleased to say I’m really loving it so far which is a huge relief. There was a lot of waiting around and it feels an extremely long time before you are actually signalling trains for real though.

As far as interview tips are concerned try searching this thread for ‘NTS’ and ‘lifesaving rules’, there are some really good posts out there that basically lay open the entire structure of the interview for you. Certainly I only had one surprising question, the rest came up exactly as other posters on here had said which was a nice feeling.

 

[ArkUTD]

Hi all,

This might be a really stupid question, but for those with no experience in the world of being a signaller, for the 70 questions, you can normally only fill out half before they become signaller style ones that without knowledge you can't really fill out. Would it be helpful to say no you don't have experience in one of them but you did your own independent research and this is what you found to them? Would that be looked upon well or not?

Cheers

 

[Kay_M]

I changed career last year to become a signaller from an office job and I have to say the transition has been pretty decent. The training course was superb and I’m now being trained up in the boxes by the residents and MOMs who are absolute diamonds and really keen to pass on their knowledge.

My major concern beforehand was that it’s impossible to know whether you will like the job or not as there’s not a lot like it and box visits are largely out of the question. So it did feel a bit like a leap in the dark. But I’m pleased to say I’m really loving it so far which is a huge relief. There was a lot of waiting around and it feels an extremely long time before you are actually signalling trains for real though.

As far as interview tips are concerned try searching this thread for ‘NTS’ and ‘lifesaving rules’, there are some really good posts out there that basically lay open the entire structure of the interview for you. Certainly I only had one surprising question, the rest came up exactly as other posters on here had said which was a nice feeling.

Thank you for your detailed reply. That was helpful to take on board and I'll definitely be looking it up.

 

[SignallerJohn]

Hi all,

This might be a really stupid question, but for those with no experience in the world of being a signaller, for the 70 questions, you can normally only fill out half before they become signaller style ones that without knowledge you can't really fill out. Would it be helpful to say no you don't have experience in one of them but you did your own independent research and this is what you found to them? Would that be looked upon well or not?

Cheers

No. You have no experience so you write N/A

 

[Well Chuffed]

Evening, first post, hoping for some clarity. The recent grade 9 positions advertised for VASC state that position will move to TBROC in 2022. Am I right in thinking VASC is an NX set-up and that TBROC is pc based (apologies for wrong description if I’ve offended anyone). If I have thought correctly, whats the plan to teach people the different tech, or does the signal college cover this? I’ve likely interpreted this wrongly, but just trying to get head round what might be planned.
Great forum by the way, some really helpful individuals on here by the looks of it.

 

[Gs1]

No. You have no experience so you write N/A

Should the STAR technique be used when answering these questions, or will a short paragraph be ok? Not sure how much to write or the level of detail to go into.
Thanks for the help.

 

[nom de guerre]

Evening, first post, hoping for some clarity. The recent grade 9 positions advertised for VASC state that position will move to TBROC in 2022. Am I right in thinking VASC is an NX set-up and that TBROC is pc based (apologies for wrong description if I’ve offended anyone). If I have thought correctly, whats the plan to teach people the different tech, or does the signal college cover this? I’ve likely interpreted this wrongly, but just trying to get head round what might be planned.
Great forum by the way, some really helpful individuals on here by the looks of it.

Yes - VASC is NX (although I think it has one Westcad workstation, IIRC?) and TBROC is VDU.

New "tech" is usually taught in the box. TBROC has at least one simulator so the plan would likely be for those moving there to be progressively released from duty at VASC to learn the new kit during the months leading to the move (with the gaps at VASC covered by FTC Scheme Support signallers).

 

[Well Chuffed]

Yes - VASC is NX (although I think it has one Westcad workstation, IIRC?) and TBROC is VDU.

New "tech" is usually taught in the box. TBROC has at least one simulator so the plan would likely be for those moving there to be progressively released from duty at VASC to learn the new kit during the months leading to the move (with the gaps at VASC covered by FTC Scheme Support signallers).

Thank you for the info

 

[Sunset route]

Yes - VASC is NX (although I think it has one Westcad workstation, IIRC?) and TBROC is VDU.

New "tech" is usually taught in the box. TBROC has at least one simulator so the plan would likely be for those moving there to be progressively released from duty at VASC to learn the new kit during the months leading to the move (with the gaps at VASC covered by FTC Scheme Support signallers).

That one westcad workstation was part of VASC Panel 6 which transferred to TBROC as Thameskink Core south Workstation quite a few years back, the remainder of VASC Panel 6 was transferred on to VASC Panel 8 when the workstation was still temporary inside VASC.

 

[nom de guerre]

That one westcad workstation was part of VASC Panel 6 which transferred to TBROC as Thameskink Core south Workstation quite a few years back, the remainder of VASC Panel 6 was transferred on to VASC Panel 8 when the workstation was still temporary inside VASC.

Ta.

 

[Liam60009]

Ok. Thanks. The application was a bit different this time. Only 14 questions instead of the usual 70. Had an email today saying I will know by March 18th. I'm hoping they haven't changed too much as my SHL passes are good until end of June.

Hey up. I applied for the North West opportunities too, similar situation to yourself where my SHL scores are still good for a few months. Have you heard anything since that email saying you’d hear by the 18th?... I appreciate it’s a lengthy process but this is the first time they actually gave a date they’d respond by but still heard nothing other than the application on the career site sitting at ‘Application under consideration’...

 

[Rover77]

Hi. Not heard a thing. My application is at the same stage as yours. I've applied for settle and hellifield in the northwest opportunities ad. A few weeks later separate ad appeared for settle and hellifield. I applied again to be on the safe side. All very strange and frustrating.

 

[SWTurbo]

Just had the news that I've got the job! I've been accepted onto the first Operations Apprenticeship (Signalling) with NR, to be based at Colchester! Subject to checks etc. should be starting sometime in May! Thanks to all those who post to this thread, it's a brilliant resource! (To those still hunting, there are jobs there, don't lose hope, something comes up when you least expect it!)

 

[Liam60009]

Hi. Not heard a thing. My application is at the same stage as yours. I've applied for settle and hellifield in the northwest opportunities ad. A few weeks later separate ad appeared for settle and hellifield. I applied again to be on the safe side. All very strange and frustrating.

Will sit and wait a while longer then. Yes same here, Settle Junction and Hellifield, but I also put Guide Bridge into the mix just so that I wasn’t restricting the application to those two. I didn’t apply for the other vacancy that appeared as it said you didn’t need to, I’m sure it won’t matter if you have though. Best of luck and hopefully we will hear something positive soon!...

 

[nom de guerre]

Just had the news that I've got the job! I've been accepted onto the first Operations Apprenticeship (Signalling) with NR, to be based at Colchester! Subject to checks etc. should be starting sometime in May! Thanks to all those who post to this thread, it's a brilliant resource! (To those still hunting, there are jobs there, don't lose hope, something comes up when you least expect it!)

Congrats

 

[usualmidlander]

Just had the news that I've got the job! I've been accepted onto the first Operations Apprenticeship (Signalling) with NR, to be based at Colchester! Subject to checks etc. should be starting sometime in May! Thanks to all those who post to this thread, it's a brilliant resource! (To those still hunting, there are jobs there, don't lose hope, something comes up when you least expect it!)

Congratulations! So have I, will be based in Cambridge and starting in June! Was a lengthy process but worth in the end!

 

[SWTurbo]

Congratulations! So have I, will be based in Cambridge and starting in June! Was a lengthy process but worth in the end!

Great news! No doubt we’ll bump into eachother at some point or speak over the phone! Were you given the June intake or did you choose? I was given a choice (and the sooner I can get out of retail the better!)

 

[TheNewGuy]

Great news! No doubt we’ll bump into eachother at some point or speak over the phone! Were you given the June intake or did you choose? I was given a choice (and the sooner I can get out of retail the better!)

I'm on a June intake for Didcot ROC. So excited!

 

[usualmidlander]

Great news! No doubt we’ll bump into eachother at some point or speak over the phone! Were you given the June intake or did you choose? I was given a choice (and the sooner I can get out of retail the better!)

I was given a choice of location and date. Chose Cambridge and decided that June would be better for me! And yes, can finally wave goodbye to retail too!

 

[Defenestrate]

Just had the news that I've got the job! I've been accepted onto the first Operations Apprenticeship (Signalling) with NR, to be based at Colchester! Subject to checks etc. should be starting sometime in May! Thanks to all those who post to this thread, it's a brilliant resource! (To those still hunting, there are jobs there, don't lose hope, something comes up when you least expect it!)

Congratulations!

 

[Qball]

Does anyoneon here work at/have experience of Doncaster PSB grade 9.
If so, would you be able to send me a PM, so I can ask some questions?

Thanks

 

[ROCsteadycrew]

Is there someone here who works at Cardiff ROC who wouldn't mind DMing me, so I could ask a couple of questions please?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheNewGuy]

I'll join the trend... Anyone here work at Didcot ROC that may be able to answer a couple of questions? Could you dm me please. Thank you!