Conductors/Guards - What do you enjoy about your job?

1571238 · 18 Mar 2016

Hi Guys -

Maybe this is a natural feeling but i'm feeling both excited and a tad anxious - as today I handed my notice in with my current employer (with whom i have been with for the past 17 years.), I have been offered and accepted a post for Trainee Conductor. Working in the rail industry is something that i am looking forwards to.

I'd like to hear from any existing conductors in real terms, what are the things you enjoy about your job / day to day role?

I've done quite alot of reading on this site and I must say from what i've read most conductors (I appreciate not all) seem to really enjoy their job.

I've also read a few posts about Driver Only Operation trains - which seems to cast a little shadow on the future role of the Conductor (this part made me anxious).

Think i'm hoping to hear some positive words of wisdoms from the guys already in the job ..... please !

RailUK Forums

12guard4 · 18 Mar 2016

My days off, love them.

the sniper · 19 Mar 2016

I like the working culture of the railway. I really like the people I work with. Probably location and/or TOC dependent, but I enjoy essentially just being left to get on with the job. You can pretty much make it as easy or as hard as you want it to be. I can go many months without seeing my manager as I don't cause them any hassle. I enjoy being able to watch the world go by sometimes, feet up in the back cab, which are probably the best of times. And finally the pay and conditions are good, the former particularly if you don't mind working rest days and Sundays.

There are negatives. Personally I find the entirely predictable, pointless conflict involved in doing tickets to be fairly soul destroying sometimes. I don't like having to pander to all the scum bag yobs, p*ss heads and druggies who don't give a damn about anyone and know they're largely untouchable.

The good times largely outweigh the bad though. I'd rather do this than a proper job...

1571238 · 19 Mar 2016

Thanks for this reply sniper, it's a great insight.

What about your interaction with workmates?, I imagine as you will often work the train alone how do you find this?

As you say, I've read many people say the positives far outweighs the negatives in the conductor role and I think that's why it seems to be such a recommended job.

Let's be honest there isn't a job out there that doesn't have its bad sides to the role and I know the same will apply to the conductor job.

the sniper said:
I like the working culture of the railway. I really like the people I work with. Probably location and/or TOC dependent, but I enjoy essentially just being left to get on with the job. You can pretty much make it as easy or as hard as you want it to be. I can go many months without seeing my manager as I don't cause them any hassle. I enjoy being able to watch the world go by sometimes, feet up in the back cab, which are probably the best of times. And finally the pay and conditions are good, the former particularly if you don't mind working rest days and Sundays.

There are negatives. Personally I find the entirely predictable, pointless conflict involved in doing tickets to be fairly soul destroying sometimes. I don't like having to pander to all the scum bag yobs, p*ss heads and druggies who don't give a damn about anyone and know they're largely untouchable.

The good times largely outweigh the bad though. I'd rather do this than a proper job...

12guard4 · 19 Mar 2016

You still get a fair bit of interaction with your workmates. You can get spare shifts and just sit in the mess room all day and not work a train. With my TOC breaks are usually around an hour and then you get 20/30 minutes here and there between trains. However my TOC does generally local services so this maybe different for you.

bonelorry · 20 Mar 2016

I work for Northern and I am based at Sheffield, Really great bunch of colleagues both Drivers and Conductors. Its more like a big family to be fair.

I go out drinking with fellow colleagues from Sheffield depot regular, The CTM's and DTM's are also a great bunch.

Plenty of friendly banter too, I cant walk into the Mess Room without someone shouting something but its all in good fun.

Very helpful bunch too, Think you will be fine Nick

the sniper · 20 Mar 2016

nick1981 said:
What about your interaction with workmates?, I imagine as you will often work the train alone how do you find this?

Exactly what 12guard4 said. Thinking about it now the way it works is actually ideal, as you see people about on and off all the time, but you're not just constantly stuck with the same colleagues day in, day out. I imagine in something like an office familiarity breeds contempt, whereas most train crew don't usually spend too much time with the same people. Well, other then in the Instructor and Trainee scenario.

LowLevel · 20 Mar 2016

I love it. You'll work more closely with your driver than with other guards. Sometimes it will go wrong. The train will fail in the middle of nowhere, you'll be stuck for hours and have to look after your passengers, you might hit a person and see your colleague in a bad way, or you might get into grief over tickets (and sometimes it will get to you).

On the other hand I think it's important to just the negatives to make the most of the positives.

You'll realise most people are lovely folk who will smile and say hello back when you check their ticket. You travel around without being trapped in an office. You don't get watched continuously by managers. Your colleagues will be there for you through thick and thin. You'll work with your driver and when it goes wrong and you manage to put it right feel like you've achieved something. Occasionally you'll touch someone's life in a way that actually really matters - a friendly word, a bit of encouragement, being nice to a child. The pay and perks are good.

In short it's the best job I've ever had. Don't worry about DOO for now, to an extent what will be, will be.

coxxy · 20 Mar 2016

tbh I love my job...

It can be challenging at time but the majority of the time it can be a nice mixture of things. You can literally go from having a laugh with somebody one minute to unfortunately arguing with someone the next.. The variety is a massive plus point for me!

The shifts may not be the best but 6-12 months and your sleeping pattern goes, so you start to get used to it then.

Most importantly the people. You will most likely spend the majority of your life around the guys and girls in the mess room and the camaraderie is brilliant. Everyone in the same boat and always able to take the P**S out of each other (Banter of course)

All in all a great job and you will never look back

1571238 · 20 Mar 2016

Thanks guys , some very reassuring words from you all.

Once again many comments saying such as "it's a great job you will never look back" and "best job I have ever had", it's exactly comments like that which drew me to applying.

Really looking forwards to it and thank you all for your advice.

louie1993 · 20 Mar 2016

Nick, when do you start your training?

Louie

1571238 · 20 Mar 2016

Hi Louie - my training programme starts on Monday 18th April, i think ive read you start on Monday 4th April so you will be a few weeks ahead of me.

Very best of luck to you.

louie1993 said:
Nick, when do you start your training?

Louie

amateur · 21 Mar 2016

SO nobody likes their job, they just like their colleagues and the people they interact with.

12guard4 said:
My days off, love them.

hope your boss/employer isn't reading this

LowLevel · 21 Mar 2016

amateur said:
SO nobody likes their job, they just like their colleagues and the people they interact with.

hope your boss/employer isn't reading this

Interacting with people is the vast majority of the job one way or another. I can't say I have any particular feelings towards opening and closing the doors but I enjoy the all round experience and trouble shooting that goes on.

the sniper · 21 Mar 2016

amateur said:
SO nobody likes their job, they just like their colleagues and the people they interact with.

I forgot to say that I adore looking down the side of a train and get giddy every time I hear that sweet, sweet buzz buzz...

amateur said:
hope your boss/employer isn't reading this

Don't worry about it.

bonelorry · 21 Mar 2016

amateur said:
SO nobody likes their job, they just like their colleagues and the people they interact with.

My comments with reference to Sheffield depot and how well I get on with everybody is relevant to Nick1981 the OP on this thread. He is going to be based at my depot once he has completed his training and asked the question about how well people get on with fellow staff members.

I really enjoy my current job as a Guard, Each day is different!

I have had my share of bad luck early on with 2 x Tree Collisions with Line inspections, A division at Leeds and Power Door failures all within about 4 Months of passing out. I also talked someone out of a potential suicide at Wakefield a few weeks ago.

Just put it all down to experience and take each day at a time.

I don't enjoy some of the late night drunk trains, Last Sheffield to Worksops, Last Leeds to Sheffield on a Friday and Saturday night but you just get on with it.

I have my favourite routes that I like to work, Others I don't like as much. As with every job.

On the whole its a great job and one I have really enjoyed doing, I enjoy the responsibility.

I will be going Driving in a few weeks and begin training in April so only have about 6 shifts left to work as a Guard.

notadriver · 21 Mar 2016

bonelorry said:
My comments with reference to Sheffield depot and how well I get on with everybody is relevant to Nick1981 the OP on this thread. He is going to be based at my depot once he has completed his training and asked the question about how well people get on with fellow staff members.

I really enjoy my current job as a Guard, Each day is different!

I have had my share of bad luck early on with 2 x Tree Collisions with Line inspections, A division at Leeds and Power Door failures all within about 4 Months of passing out. I also talked someone out of a potential suicide at Wakefield a few weeks ago.

Just put it all down to experience and take each day at a time.

I don't enjoy some of the late night drunk trains, Last Sheffield to Worksops, Last Leeds to Sheffield on a Friday and Saturday night but you just get on with it.

I have my favourite routes that I like to work, Others I don't like as much. As with every job.

On the whole its a great job and one I have really enjoyed doing, I enjoy the responsibility.

I will be going Driving in a few weeks and begin training in April so only have about 6 shifts left to work as a Guard.

Congrats on getting the driving job. Is that with Northern ?

bonelorry · 21 Mar 2016

notadriver said:
Congrats on getting the driving job. Is that with Northern ?

Thank you!

Yes with Northern, I applied internally in December.

tsr · 22 Mar 2016

A job as a conductor shows you the best and worst of the railway, of passengers and indeed life in general. If you like variety, and dealing with people, you'll love it.

You go to work when everyone else is going home, or when they're all in bed. You'll see more drunk people than you ever thought existed, but you'll also see more sunsets and sunrises than anyone you know. You will see what it's like to be in an urban area in the mess at the end of the day, and you'll see what it's like when stations and their surroundings are clean and shiny ready for the next one.

You'll be surrounded by people who you work closely with, who you'll manage to wind up from time to time, and from whom you will get a merciless ribbing if you mess up. But they'll also support you in your darkest hours at work - the fatalities, the signals going back to red at midnight when you're dispatching in the pouring rain, the angry passengers and the times when you wonder if it's all worth it because you've missed your cousin's wedding because there was no leave available. And you'll probably know as much about your colleagues as you do about the more distant members of your family by the end of a couple of years. The railway is full of legendary people and supports itself well.

You will work trains where you thought "why did I do that?", when you've just done another rush-hour shuttle filled with hundreds of moany people who think that a three minute delay is a big price to pay for safety of the line. But then you get to open the doors at a rural station with an hourly service, and see kids get off and run to meet their grandparents for the first time that year. There's the moment you're looking out of a droplight on arrival in London, see all the doors open in sync and hear a thousand footsteps descend from a 12 coach train as people go to work, and think "I did that".

You'll save somebody a tenner on their ticket at the end of a 10 hour shift and walk away with a bit of a smile. Or you'll report a tissue beggar who's swearing at you for stopping them fleece passengers. Both are different challenges, both have their rewards. Anything can happen at any time. You are the calm voice on the PA and the voice which shouts at people when they're leaning on the train at 3am. And you might have to do this for 13 days in a row. And the forms at the end of it. And then you've still got to drop a dodgy machine into the Avantix office. But then the next week, you'll only be working two days, and you'll be home by midday. Unless someone pulls a passcom at Purley again.

See what I mean by variety? It's utterly brilliant. If you do the job well, and conscientiously, you'll always find something to keep you occupied, and reap the rewards; and as above, you may move on to achieve other goals, like driving, or managing operations of some sort. There's massive scope, which keeps many people going.

CromptonLad · 22 Mar 2016

tsr said:
A job as a conductor shows you the best and worst of the railway, of passengers and indeed life in general. If you like variety, and dealing with people, you'll love it.

You go to work when everyone else is going home, or when they're all in bed. You'll see more drunk people than you ever thought existed, but you'll also see more sunsets and sunrises than anyone you know. You will see what it's like to be in an urban area in the mess at the end of the day, and you'll see what it's like when stations and their surroundings are clean and shiny ready for the next one.

You'll be surrounded by people who you work closely with, who you'll manage to wind up from time to time, and from whom you will get a merciless ribbing if you mess up. But they'll also support you in your darkest hours at work - the fatalities, the signals going back to red at midnight when you're dispatching in the pouring rain, the angry passengers and the times when you wonder if it's all worth it because you've missed your cousin's wedding because there was no leave available. And you'll probably know as much about your colleagues as you do about the more distant members of your family by the end of a couple of years. The railway is full of legendary people and supports itself well.

You will work trains where you thought "why did I do that?", when you've just done another rush-hour shuttle filled with hundreds of moany people who think that a three minute delay is a big price to pay for safety of the line. But then you get to open the doors at a rural station with an hourly service, and see kids get off and run to meet their grandparents for the first time that year. There's the moment you're looking out of a droplight on arrival in London, see all the doors open in sync and hear a thousand footsteps descend from a 12 coach train as people go to work, and think "I did that".

You'll save somebody a tenner on their ticket at the end of a 10 hour shift and walk away with a bit of a smile. Or you'll report a tissue beggar who's swearing at you for stopping them fleece passengers. Both are different challenges, both have their rewards. Anything can happen at any time. You are the calm voice on the PA and the voice which shouts at people when they're leaning on the train at 3am. And you might have to do this for 13 days in a row. And the forms at the end of it. And then you've still got to drop a dodgy machine into the Avantix office. But then the next week, you'll only be working two days, and you'll be home by midday. Unless someone pulls a passcom at Purley again.

See what I mean by variety? It's utterly brilliant. If you do the job well, and conscientiously, you'll always find something to keep you occupied, and reap the rewards; and as above, you may move on to achieve other goals, like driving, or managing operations of some sort. There's massive scope, which keeps many people going.

This is just beautiful, and encouraging for someone lined up to join in the next few weeks.

70014IronDuke · 23 Mar 2016

CromptonLad said:
This is just beautiful, and encouraging for someone lined up to join in the next few weeks.

It's a very well written piece. TSR should be in recruitment, or journalism (except he wouldn't get so much space normally speaking). :cry:

1571238 · 23 Mar 2016

Wow - tsr !!!
What can I say other than thank you.

That's a wonderful response to my thread and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your words.

Really looking forwards to my start date in a few weeks.

tsr said:
A job as a conductor shows you the best and worst of the railway, of passengers and indeed life in general. If you like variety, and dealing with people, you'll love it.

You go to work when everyone else is going home, or when they're all in bed. You'll see more drunk people than you ever thought existed, but you'll also see more sunsets and sunrises than anyone you know. You will see what it's like to be in an urban area in the mess at the end of the day, and you'll see what it's like when stations and their surroundings are clean and shiny ready for the next one.

You'll be surrounded by people who you work closely with, who you'll manage to wind up from time to time, and from whom you will get a merciless ribbing if you mess up. But they'll also support you in your darkest hours at work - the fatalities, the signals going back to red at midnight when you're dispatching in the pouring rain, the angry passengers and the times when you wonder if it's all worth it because you've missed your cousin's wedding because there was no leave available. And you'll probably know as much about your colleagues as you do about the more distant members of your family by the end of a couple of years. The railway is full of legendary people and supports itself well.

You will work trains where you thought "why did I do that?", when you've just done another rush-hour shuttle filled with hundreds of moany people who think that a three minute delay is a big price to pay for safety of the line. But then you get to open the doors at a rural station with an hourly service, and see kids get off and run to meet their grandparents for the first time that year. There's the moment you're looking out of a droplight on arrival in London, see all the doors open in sync and hear a thousand footsteps descend from a 12 coach train as people go to work, and think "I did that".

You'll save somebody a tenner on their ticket at the end of a 10 hour shift and walk away with a bit of a smile. Or you'll report a tissue beggar who's swearing at you for stopping them fleece passengers. Both are different challenges, both have their rewards. Anything can happen at any time. You are the calm voice on the PA and the voice which shouts at people when they're leaning on the train at 3am. And you might have to do this for 13 days in a row. And the forms at the end of it. And then you've still got to drop a dodgy machine into the Avantix office. But then the next week, you'll only be working two days, and you'll be home by midday. Unless someone pulls a passcom at Purley again.

See what I mean by variety? It's utterly brilliant. If you do the job well, and conscientiously, you'll always find something to keep you occupied, and reap the rewards; and as above, you may move on to achieve other goals, like driving, or managing operations of some sort. There's massive scope, which keeps many people going.

Dai_Llama · 23 Mar 2016

Just started my training but from what I have seen to date its interesting, rewarding and a friendly place to work. Time will tell if I am right or wrong but the initial impression is a positive one.

Conductors/Guards - What do you enjoy about your job?

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