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A career as a signaller

nom de guerre

Member
Joined
24 Nov 2015
Messages
774
You having a laugh right?
We’re so short even the residents get one every week without fail

“Having a laugh” how?

We’re fully staffed. Overstaffed, in fact. I'm averaging five shifts per period this year (not including overtime). So in that context, five Sundays by April isn't bad going... I'd gladly work them every week if I could!

Prior to my current box I'd always worked with 'normal' staffing levels, but my current route has gone on a recruitment splurge to get extra bodies in ahead of the forthcoming ORR diktat re a max 60hr week. Will be interesting to see how other routes accommodate this when it comes in next year. The traditional approach of carrying vacancies and relying on Grabbers to keep the job going ain't gonna cut it...


It certainly highlights the differences between areas .If we had continuity of Management it would help but I've had about twenty people refer to themselves as my LOM in the past fourteen years, so getting replacements for boxes, and indeed Management positions, that are simply turnstiles for better jobs is difficult and tends to take an age.

Worst of all some areas get free tea and coffee, something we've never had!:D

It's tricky if a LOM's patch has a higher-than-average number of 'blow-through' boxes as not only are the signallers often looking for a quick exit, but the LOMs - understandably - get fed up too. IMO any LOM working such a patch should be able to enforce the 12 month rule (as in, a minimum of a year after passing out in the box) at their 'worst' boxes. At least that would (slightly) slow the churn.

Amazed to hear you don't get tea and coffee o_O. Milk seems much more up for debate, but I've never worked in a box where tea and coffee hasn't been provided. Surely the financial savings are inconsequential compared to the effect on staff morale ...? What's the union's view?
 
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MidlandsChap

Member
Joined
15 Apr 2018
Messages
194
It's tricky if a LOM's patch has a higher-than-average number of 'blow-through' boxes as not only are the signallers often looking for a quick exit, but the LOMs - understandably - get fed up too. IMO any LOM working such a patch should be able to enforce the 12 month rule (as in, a minimum of a year after passing out in the box) at their 'worst' boxes. At least that would (slightly) slow the churn.

Do blow through boxes tend to have similar general characteristics?
 

KendalR

Member
Joined
22 Aug 2020
Messages
38
Location
.
How is that working at the minute with candidates that have finished IST but have no "Home box?"
I've accepted an apprenticeship position at Colchester but have been told I may end up applying anywhere in Anglia Route. Is it a case of moving around and learning the basics in lots of boxes in the hope a post comes up?
What seems to be happening in the North West
 
Joined
2 Apr 2013
Messages
95
Just had confirmation that I will commence Initial Signaller Training (Signalling School) on 07/06/21 at Rugby.

Has anybody been to Rugby to train recently? Also, is anybody from this forum starting at Rugby at the same time?
 

ArkUTD

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2020
Messages
67
Location
Hinckley
Just a random question for those here who might know, but have any of you had your applications go straight to "under consideration for assessment 2"?
This is the normal route I'd expect it to go:

Application Under Review19-Feb-2021 17:12:25
Application Accepted22-Feb-2021 07:08:51
Application Under Consideration24-Feb-2021 13:32:31
Test Completed24-Feb-2021 14:00:16
Test Completed24-Feb-2021 14:38:33
Application under consideration for assessment 222-Mar-2021 10:36:47
Invite to Assessment 2 Pending22-Mar-2021 14:22:14
Yet one of my other applications went to this:

Application Under Review23-Mar-2021 13:25:03
Application Accepted24-Mar-2021 07:03:50
Application Under Consideration24-Mar-2021 10:07:17
Application under consideration for assessment 206-Apr-2021 12:14:12

Just seems strange to me, though I'm not complaining one bit!
 

Nemo01

Member
Joined
6 Apr 2021
Messages
24
Location
UK
Just had confirmation that I will commence Initial Signaller Training (Signalling School) on 07/06/21 at Rugby.

Has anybody been to Rugby to train recently? Also, is anybody from this forum starting at Rugby at the same time?
IST at Rugby must be new as they had been running Signaller training from The Quadrant in Milton Keynes. I suspect your class will be the first to be trained at Rugby
 

Woody27

Member
Joined
10 Apr 2020
Messages
155
Location
Plymouth
Just a random question for those here who might know, but have any of you had your applications go straight to "under consideration for assessment 2"?
This is the normal route I'd expect it to go:

Application Under Review19-Feb-2021 17:12:25
Application Accepted22-Feb-2021 07:08:51
Application Under Consideration24-Feb-2021 13:32:31
Test Completed24-Feb-2021 14:00:16
Test Completed24-Feb-2021 14:38:33
Application under consideration for assessment 222-Mar-2021 10:36:47
Invite to Assessment 2 Pending22-Mar-2021 14:22:14
Yet one of my other applications went to this:

Application Under Review23-Mar-2021 13:25:03
Application Accepted24-Mar-2021 07:03:50
Application Under Consideration24-Mar-2021 10:07:17
Application under consideration for assessment 206-Apr-2021 12:14:12

Just seems strange to me, though I'm not complaining one bit!
Hi, in my experience, it would possibly be that you have already taken and passed the 3 tests that are sent out! And these tests are valid for 12 months, so no need to take them again, hope that makes sense.
 

ArkUTD

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2020
Messages
67
Location
Hinckley
Hi, in my experience, it would possibly be that you have already taken and passed the 3 tests that are sent out! And these tests are valid for 12 months, so no need to take them again, hope that makes sense.
Cheers,

Though I had thought they only held the tests for 6 months. If it's the 12 month then I'll stop sweating about retaking them in the coming months :lol:
 

Rigchick

Member
Joined
5 May 2019
Messages
49
Does anyone know if there’s been a policy change about training? Finished AB IST and been told I’m on a TCB course straight after but I’m not going to a TCB area so won’t use it.
 

Tomnick

Established Member
Joined
10 Jun 2005
Messages
5,827
Does anyone know if there’s been a policy change about training? Finished AB IST and been told I’m on a TCB course straight after but I’m not going to a TCB area so won’t use it.
Quite a few years ago now, but I did the TCB conversion even though I was going to a pure AB box. It meant that I didn't have to go back to school when I went for a job on the relief and thus had to learn the fringe boxes at either end of the patch. It'd have put me in a better position if I'd wanted to go into the ROC too, I guess. Definitely worth doing it if it's on offer, either way.
 

NoEyeDeer

Member
Joined
14 Sep 2020
Messages
34
Location
Aberdeen
Does anyone know if there’s been a policy change about training? Finished AB IST and been told I’m on a TCB course straight after but I’m not going to a TCB area so won’t use it.
Not a policy change as people on ours wasn’t going to be doing it, all ended up getting put on it though after requesting it
 

traingeek97

Member
Joined
7 Jun 2020
Messages
85
Location
Kent
Sorry if this has been covered before but are signallers expected to remember the location of each signal in their area? For example if a driver calls to say they are standing at AB 123 would the signaller know where that is without having to look? I’m sure over time you do learn where each signal is, but I’d be interested to know whether it is a requirement. I can imagine it being daunting for somebody starting out in the big IECC if that is the case.
 

ArchangelA

Member
Joined
4 Feb 2020
Messages
264
Location
West Midlands
Sorry if this has been covered before but are signallers expected to remember the location of each signal in their area? For example if a driver calls to say they are standing at AB 123 would the signaller know where that is without having to look? I’m sure over time you do learn where each signal is, but I’d be interested to know whether it is a requirement. I can imagine it being daunting for somebody starting out in the big IECC if that is the case.
In short YES. Signallers have to prove competent working a particular panel (area of responsibility) which can be very short or large depending on the signal box. It's important so that should a driver or anyone else call in and request an emergency situation then the signaller needs to know quite sharpish so that emergency procedures can be put into place.
 

lineclear

Member
Joined
29 Mar 2016
Messages
133
Location
Yorkshire
Sorry if this has been covered before but are signallers expected to remember the location of each signal in their area? For example if a driver calls to say they are standing at AB 123 would the signaller know where that is without having to look? I’m sure over time you do learn where each signal is, but I’d be interested to know whether it is a requirement. I can imagine it being daunting for somebody starting out in the big IECC if that is the case.
No, but the signaller would be able to find out quickly by looking in the area of similarly numbered signals. They can also ask the person which line the signal is on and for its geographical location.
 

GingerRH

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2015
Messages
176
No, but the signaller would be able to find out quickly by looking in the area of similarly numbered signals.
Agreed on that.

After a period of time you will learn where key signals are such as junctions and ones commonly used for line blockages just through repetition. After that, you’ll be able to have a good educated guess at roughly where a specific signal is on the panel/workstation if you don’t already know it.

Driver will tell you the signal number and the line their on, specific line narrows it down and then as above too.
 

Brye2112

New Member
Joined
19 Apr 2021
Messages
2
Location
Mulben
Hi all. I found this forum around August last year when making my first application for a signal job. All the information contained in the thread was immensely helpful during my application. At first I was put on the reserve list and then offered a grade 2 position in Kennethmont.

Been a long wait since the job offer but I now have a provisional start date of 24th May. I've tried the search function to no avail. But wondering if anyone has any experience with that particular box and could give me any further information? Also wondering if anyone else has recently been given the same provisional start date and has any idea where training is likely to take place?

Thanks
Brian
 

Defenestrate

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2019
Messages
130
Hi all. I found this forum around August last year when making my first application for a signal job. All the information contained in the thread was immensely helpful during my application. At first I was put on the reserve list and then offered a grade 2 position in Kennethmont.

Been a long wait since the job offer but I now have a provisional start date of 24th May. I've tried the search function to no avail. But wondering if anyone has any experience with that particular box and could give me any further information? Also wondering if anyone else has recently been given the same provisional start date and has any idea where training is likely to take place?

Thanks
Brian
No info but the photos may be of use here:
 

ellebizzle

Member
Joined
20 Apr 2021
Messages
5
Location
Ecosse
Hi all. I found this forum around August last year when making my first application for a signal job. All the information contained in the thread was immensely helpful during my application. At first I was put on the reserve list and then offered a grade 2 position in Kennethmont.

Been a long wait since the job offer but I now have a provisional start date of 24th May. I've tried the search function to no avail. But wondering if anyone has any experience with that particular box and could give me any further information? Also wondering if anyone else has recently been given the same provisional start date and has any idea where training is likely to take place?

Thanks
Brian
Hi Brian,

I have a similar provisional start date, 27th. I will be heading to Glasgow for signalling school.
 

SWTurbo

Member
Joined
19 May 2020
Messages
108
Location
South West
Anyone able to tell me (roughly) how long it took after the medical for NR to process it and come back with a firm start date?
 

Defenestrate

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2019
Messages
130
Anyone able to tell me (roughly) how long it took after the medical for NR to process it and come back with a firm start date?
My medical results came back in about 3 weeks (pre covid), then a start date was agreed after another week.
 

Csb362

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2021
Messages
29
Location
Falkirk
Have you heard any more about you are headed for training yet? I'm going to be in Barrhill, assuming that all the pre employment etc is all good :)
Congrats Ellebizzle I was unsuccessful for Barrhill, looks to have been a very quick turnaround from the closing date to you being offered the job which is good to see as a lot of posters on this forum seem to need to wait an age, all the best and hopefully I will be joining the signalling grades somewhere in the not too distant future
 

ellebizzle

Member
Joined
20 Apr 2021
Messages
5
Location
Ecosse
Congrats Ellebizzle I was unsuccessful for Barrhill, looks to have been a very quick turnaround from the closing date to you being offered the job which is good to see as a lot of posters on this forum seem to need to wait an age, all the best and hopefully I will be joining the signalling grades somewhere in the not too distant future
Thanks Csb362. Yea, it's been a pretty intense time. Pretty thankful I don't have a huge wait like some others did/do. I hope you get something soon.
 

Csb362

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2021
Messages
29
Location
Falkirk
Thanks Csb362. Yea, it's been a pretty intense time. Pretty thankful I don't have a huge wait like some others did/do. I hope you get something soon.
Thank you hopefully some more jobs closer to the central belt come up shortly however like everyone if needed a little relocate wouldn’t be out of the question, once again the very best of luck for the future and you never know out paths may cross at somepoint
 

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