Russell 926

When you get past the route learning and into your minder weeks, there are plenty more things which you will need to be looking for, none of it at all daunting - you wouldn't have got to the stage of route learning if 'they' weren't certain that you are capable of it! You'll find very quickly your own network of help in whichever depot you are going to, but if you need an impartial opinion from a current guard who has been involved in training for quite a while now, just drop me a PM and I'll do my best to help.

Cheers,
Paul.

Beware of people - I had one guard with me on two occasions during my initial route learning, and both times the one-sided conversation went along the lines of 'beer, bikes, babes, chelsea'. Learnt very little from him, though he is a great bloke and really good with passengers! Some will want to chat, others will want to know about you, and a few will be able to give you genuine help whilst doing either of the above. Try and work them out, and if you find some useful guards don't be afraid to try and alter your learning schedule to be with them.

One thing that we have always done (though we are on a more rural patch so can 'get away' with a bit more) is to have route learners working the doors at stations. Don't get involved in tickets, but just opening and closing the doors will really key you into what you are looking for. If your guard is happy for you to do that under their supervision, then get on and do. It really is the best way to learn. One proviso - you'll often hear the phrase 'come to a clear understanding' and it is particularly important for you now: whilst you are still learning you must never do the doors on your own. The weight of responsibility is as much yours as of the guard you are with to clarify that he must be with you and monitoring you at any time you are doing his work.

Basically, I feel that you need to look at the routes now in the daylight to get your bearings. Darkness is very different, you'll get to see that probably a bit more after next weekend! However, getting used to things in the dark is, I believe, best left to your minder weeks. That's the time when you're really putting everything together and (hopefully) still having useful instruction from your minder. For route learning, try to see as much as you can. Listen to sounds as well - that may not mean much now, but if you can recognise where you are by track noise, tunnels etc it will be a great help to you.

Hi,

I was typing up a reply to the thread (about trying routes in the dark), but thought it may seem a bit contradictory to the previous post, and there are some things I can say in a PM that I'd rather not put out on a public forum. When reading this, please understand that these are my own opinions formed from approximately eight years of instructing, minding and assessing. (there's a limit on characters, this will be multiple messages)