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Sorry to be ignorant but in my twenty six years as a driver I've never come across Mitrac, would anybody care to elaborate please ?

D7100 at Penzance and D7021 at Bescot. Both photos copyright of Paul Dalton

In most other circumstances the Driver would question the route but not this one. The instruction for all VT services is if you are routed via Northampton then take it without question. This avoids delays escalating from drivers questioning the route when the decision to re route has been taken...

I did my rules last Wednesday. Rule Book Reference: G1 Sec 3. http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book/Rule%20Book%20Modules/G%20-%20Personal%20Safety%20and%20General%20Responsibilities/GERT8000-G1%20Iss%204.pdf

One of the girls off on board catering at Wolves recently got a job as a route manager in Control. She had a detachment for a couple of weeks to see if it was what she wanted to do then when a vacancy came up she applied and got it. Speak to your manager about it. I'd imagine it's possible for...

He simply means that the old fashioned way coming up through the footplate grades had a lot going for it. You learned the job as you worked your way up the ladder so that you knew long before it was time to be passed for driving whether or not you were up to it. I've got a trainee with me now...

A "swinger" is an unbraked vehicle it's that simple. Can be a loco or a coach or a wagon. I once moved 90024 to Crewe ETD after it had been in a collision with some livestock. It's brake pipes and pipe work underneath were all smashed so had no working brake. We top and tailed it with two...

Just wandering, from a professional point of view, this "route conductor" must have driving competency in order to route conduct so how does he maintain his driving competence if he doesn't sign any traction ?

TDK, a new existing driver to VT at Wolves gets 4 months to learn Wolves to Euston via Weedon and Northampton inc via Bescot and Aston to Stetchford. Then there's the Trent Valley (3 weeks), Wolves to Crewe (3 weeks), Crewe to Preston (3 weeks), Crewe to Colwich and Norton Bridge via Stoke (3...

"deals" have been plentiful through December to get Drivers to work their RDs. An example, and it wasn't offered to me, one of the drivers at my depot was offered 32 hours money (around £900) to do half a shift. He declined ! The trouble now at certain depots is that the "deals" have created...

I'll throw my hat in the ring and admit my earnings this financial year. I drive for VT and if the rest of this financial year continues like the last nine months then my gross earnings this year will be around 87 to 88K off a basic of £53724. I don't live at work to earn that money and could...

VT Control is in Meridian Birmingham. Moved from the Mail Box a short while ago.

Tyseley had after steam days an allocation of 08's and still has two on it's books to this day. Tyseley also did a lot of running repairs to class 20's, 47's etc in BR days. --- old post above --- --- new post below --- The current shed at Soho was built solely to maintain the 323s and even...

Then as a train driver you should know only former Western Region calls them relief lines, up here in Stafford they're slow lines, and yes I'm a driver myself.

The average cost to train a trainee driver to the point where he / she becomes productive is around 150 K. There are six trainees in the school at the Virgin Trains Crewe Talent Academy at the moment. When we instructors / mentors went to Crewe a few weeks ago to be briefed on what will be...

Preston / Manchester / Liverpool and Wolves all have Voyager work which starts at Crewe station and or the LNWR. We travel pass to / from Crewe to start / finish the jobs. Liverpool and Manchester drivers sign all the way to Holyhead, Euston drivers sign to Chester and Preston drivers are in...

Euston and Manchester TM's do both routes as booked work, you could get a Preston TM on a Manchester if they're struggling to cover jobs but it's not common. "West Midlands" TM's as you call them are based at Wolves.

Hi, our next pay dates are Fri 13th Sept, Friday 11th Oct and every four weeks after that. As far as I know entry to the VT section of the railway pension scheme is mandatory. Your contributions are, I think, a percentage of your basic pay. VT will make employer contributions as well and you...

A pity Dawlish box couldn't have survived, it was grade II listed and of a unique design AFAIK, now sadly demolished. RIP http://antony-christie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-demolition-of-dawlish-signalbox-3rd.html

Your existing route / traction knowledge is irrelevant, we've just had two start at Wolves, one from Brighton the other from Machynlleth. It all depends if your application meets the grade.