Willesden Junction Depot

PAD said:

Hi guys!

Hoping someone from Willesden depot can help answer my question.
I'm a qualified driver looking to transfer over to Willesden depot.
If I was to start at Willesden depot which roster link would I most likely be placed in?

Any information would be much appreciated.

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Val3ntine said:

I’m making this very same move with a confirmed start date in January. I’m keen to second view any helpful responses

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SRH said:

Afternoon Ladies Gents

As above I am in the same boat!!

I also want to know what routes are driven from this depot and the rest day patterns available. Im sure there were 2 for London Overground

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Twotwo said:

But of a silly q but any reason for the change? I've heard overground is intensive stop star DOO work

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Class2ldn said:

If you think LO will decrease your chance of an incident think again. With the intensity of the work it will probably increase.
Certainly not one place I'd think of going regardless of money

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dctraindriver said:

I think I can guess which TOC you’re currently at, and I share a lot of your concerns about how things are in respect to varying formations, different station stops, stopping patterns weekends etc.

Chances of an incident are not slim that’s for sure. I think you come up with some good reasons to consider LO, good luck with the move.

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Val3ntine said:

I reckon you’ve guessed correct
Thanks for the well wish mate

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Val3ntine said:

All 5 car trains, stop at the same places, stop at all stations, 1 diverging route where you can be routed either way depending on destination. Etc etc
Where I am the Main termination has over 20 platforms each with restriction on what stock can go in, what formation can go in and what can go in where depending on returning destinations. After each trip I return I have to consider all these things this can be over 5/6 times a day!

Each different trip you can be driving 4,5,8,10 or 12 car formations, again 5/6 times a day you have to consider where you should stop your train at the same stations you have may have just called at stopping somewhere different.

Multiple places you can be wrong routed with many many many diverging junctions in consecutive of each other where you could have taken one the previous trip but the next trip you are not to take it, or one trip you don’t accept the first one, but you accept the second, or accept the second but not the third etc etc and so on and vice versa.

Stop at certain stations one trip, miss them the other, you need a certain route indication to stop at certain stations, by the time you realise you needed a feather to call at your next stop it’s too late, but your previous working you didn’t need it.

I agree, overground certainly isn’t for everybody but I definitely disagree it’s made out to be as horrible and intense as it’s made out to be. I mean if the above isn’t intense then God help us to know what is lol.
If you can handle stopping a lot then really it should be a breeze with it’s mostly short-ish turns, of course if you hate stoppers then definetly it should be given a wide wide berth. Different drivers like and can handle different things.

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Val3ntine said:

All 5 car trains, stop at the same places, stop at all stations, 1 diverging route where you can be routed either way depending on destination. Etc etc
Where I am the Main termination has over 20 platforms each with restriction on what stock can go in, what formation can go in and what can go in where depending on returning destinations. After each trip I return I have to consider all these things this can be over 5/6 times a day!

Each different trip you can be driving 4,5,8,10 or 12 car formations, again 5/6 times a day you have to consider where you should stop your train at the same stations you have may have just called at stopping somewhere different.

Multiple places you can be wrong routed with many many many diverging junctions in consecutive of each other where you could have taken one the previous trip but the next trip you are not to take it, or one trip you don’t accept the first one, but you accept the second, or accept the second but not the third etc etc and so on and vice versa.

Stop at certain stations one trip, miss them the other, you need a certain route indication to stop at certain stations, by the time you realise you needed a feather to call at your next stop it’s too late, but your previous working you didn’t need it.

I agree, overground certainly isn’t for everybody but I definitely disagree it’s made out to be as horrible and intense as it’s made out to be. I mean if the above isn’t intense then God help us to know what is lol.
If you can handle stopping a lot then really it should be a breeze with it’s mostly short-ish turns, of course if you hate stoppers then definetly it should be given a wide wide berth. Different drivers like and can handle different things.

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Class2ldn said:

If you think LO will decrease your chance of an incident think again. With the intensity of the work it will probably increase.
Certainly not one place I'd think of going regardless of money

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Tooktook said:

Anyone know if shift swaps are permitted ? Ie permanent lates.

Thanks

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Skoodle said:

I've been at NXG since 2010, which is more intense work than Willesden by far. I have a 100% clean SOL record. The only thing that will increase the chance of an incident is attitude towards your role, your routes and to your company. As long as you have robust PPS and understand that you're more likely to encounter restrictive aspects at certain areas, you'll be fine. It's not like it's constant yellow/red/yellow/red.

The "intensity", is more in regards to the core route tunnel section, where 16tph all converge. Defensive driving and understanding where the train ahead of you is, considering there's shorter signalling sections, will keep you grand!

Due to the "intensity" of tight planning and diagramming, if you're late you'll end up detraining and going ECS in to a siding or depot and wait next working, or be made to run fast. That makes things easier for us drivers.

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Val3ntine said:

All 5 car trains, stop at the same places, stop at all stations, 1 diverging route where you can be routed either way depending on destination. Etc etc

Where I currently am each different trip you can be driving different car formations, you have to consider where you should stop your train at the same stations you have may have just called at stopping somewhere different.

Multiple places you can be wrong routed with many many many diverging junctions in consecutive of each other where you could have taken one the previous trip but the next trip you are not to take it, or one trip you don’t accept the first one, but you accept the second, or accept the second but not the third etc etc and so on and vice versa.

Stop at certain stations one trip, miss them the other, you need a certain route indication to stop at certain stations, by the time you realise you needed a feather to call at your next stop it’s too late, but your previous working you didn’t need it.

I agree, overground certainly isn’t for everybody but I definitely disagree it’s made out to be as horrible and intense as it’s made out to be. I mean if the above isn’t intense then God help us to know what is lol.
If you can handle stopping a lot then really it should be a breeze with it’s mostly short-ish turns, of course if you hate stoppers then definetly it should be given a wide wide berth. Different drivers like and can handle different things.

Click to expand...