A career as a signaller

[Seejwalker]

Got my Start date the 13th can anyone tell me the pay date and cycles as I relocated 6 weeks ago for this job for them to drag there heals with the paperwork so funds arnt exactly high at the moment just need to get a budget sorted out

For Feltham?

 

[leomc1627]

Pay is four weekly on a Friday (at 0200). Last pay day was Friday 8th March, so next one is 5th April then 3rd May.

So will I be paid on the 5th off April for the time worked or are we paid in arreas meaning I'll paid for that period on the 3rd off may

For Feltham?

No dullingham

 

[Cerebral]

So will I be paid on the 5th off April for the time worked or are we paid in arreas meaning I'll paid for that period on the 3rd off may

You get paid a week in arrears, so you should be paid 2 weeks and 3 days pay on 5th April and then full pay from May 3rd onwards.

 

[ljmac]

I'm considering applying for the positions at York...
In my mind I could get the train for the nightshifts.
Days is a canny commute, I'd guess 90 mins.

How doable is it? What if the train is late for nights?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Remember commute plus 12 hr isn’t fun - been there done it!

If your train is late, don’t expect any goodwill from your colleuges, no one likes being kept to the minute on a 12 hr because your Relief is late (again).

Also the flip side is do you want to have to fight your way home after a 12hr turn as it’s all gone pear shaped and your train is late, oh and don’t forget you’ll have to be back in 12hrs !

 

[LeGrimpeur]

Anyone on here starting Reigate box this summer?

 

[carriageline]

I'm considering applying for the positions at York...
In my mind I could get the train for the nightshifts.
Days is a canny commute, I'd guess 90 mins.

How doable is it? What if the train is late for nights?

Plus NR are about to bring a fatigue management plan, which will essentially limit you to 14 hours door to door.

 

[Judochop]

Hi all,

I know this was spoken about a while back but could someone private message me on how i can access my work emails from my private phone? I'm off close to 3 weeks and currently have 4 applications for signaller positions sat at "under consideration" I don't want to miss any email from HR.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Jay_123]

To be honest i dont think you can. Your work phone has to have a software installed on it for you to access them. I mean it would probably be possible but im not sure if its allowed for security reasons. Im not 100% sure though

 

[Jaysub]

Anyone know any details on the chichester box?

Hours?

quite busy?

 

[HelixUK]

Does anyone wish to share their experience as an external candidate coming from a different background to the railway, perhaps from a more busy and dynamic external job in to a quiet-ish grade 2, 3 etc. box?

I'm due to start as a signaller in the spring/summer but my current job in the private sector is a bit of a roller coaster shift by shift. Could be quiet or I feel like I'm running around putting out fires.

Signalling and having a career on the railway has always been something I've taken an interest in but was wondering what feelings other external candidates have coming in to the job?

Cheers

 

[nom de guerre]

Anyone know any details on the chichester box?

Hours?

quite busy?

Have you searched the forum, as suggested? Both of your questions have been answered fairly recently.

Real Time Trains is a useful tool for researching service frequency.

 

[Highlandspring]

Does anyone wish to share their experience as an external candidate coming from a different background to the railway, perhaps from a more busy and dynamic external job in to a quiet-ish grade 2, 3 etc. box?

I'm due to start as a signaller in the spring/summer but my current job in the private sector is a bit of a roller coaster shift by shift. Could be quiet or I feel like I'm running around putting out fires.

Be prepared to be bored and lonely.

 

[Jaysub]

Have you searched the forum, as suggested? Both of your questions have been answered fairly recently.

Real Time Trains is a useful tool for researching service frequency.

Sorry buddy,

Only got told it was 12 hr shifts but wanted to know if it was busy or quiet and what hours start and finish?

I couldnt find the other forum so came back to this one!

 

[Saracen_83]

Sorry buddy,

Only got told it was 12 hr shifts but wanted to know if it was busy or quiet and what hours start and finish?

I couldnt find the other forum so came back to this one!

He means search this forum and indeed this thread.....

Use the search bar above, you will find the answers within it

 

[Sunset route]

Anyone know any details on the chichester box?

Hours?

quite busy?

Most of your questions were answered on page 141 when you originally asked them.

 

[Jaysub]

Most of your questions were answered on page 141 when you originally asked them.

Yea it was only hours that i asked about on there,just wanted to find out any other details anyone had to offer...

 

[ljmac]

Hypothetical question.

If your box has one train, on the hour, every hour. How much of your time is taken up before and after the train? What do you do for the rest of the time? Wait? Or is there other things that need done?

 

[Sunset route]

Hypothetical question.

If your box has one train, on the hour, every hour. How much of your time is taken up before and after the train? What do you do for the rest of the time? Wait? Or is there other things that need done?

Is this hypothetical signalbox working AB absolute block, if so how long or short are the block sections, or if TCB track circuit block would it supervise this one train for miles or just over a short distance. In other words how long is a piece of string, every signalbox is different with different equipment and section lengths that it supervises.

 

[ljmac]

Is this hypothetical signalbox working AB absolute block, if so how long or short are the block sections, or if TCB track circuit block would it supervise this one train for miles or just over a short distance. In other words how long is a piece of string, every signalbox is different with different equipment and section lengths that it supervises.

I'm glad you gave the "other words" bit!
Cheers

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hypothetical question.

If your box has one train, on the hour, every hour. How much of your time is taken up before and after the train? What do you do for the rest of the time? Wait? Or is there other things that need done?

As per above it really depends on how busy your location is.

An example of my Grade 7 panel last night about 0100.

The last trains of the night where going onto depot at a flood rather than the usual trickle as they had some issues which caused trains to back up into the station.

Drivers call up to declare this intention to leave the station and move onto shed, to be literally told they where X in the queue!

I had a pretty steady flow of freights from 0100 through to the first empty trains off depot onto the station about 0430.

I also had a line blockage to oversee which took out 2 of my platforms, so I had to platform and liaise with the station staff for the 2 trains that run in the small hours.

Then there was looking at the roster trying to gauge what time I’d be relieved in the morning !

Checking the WON for the weekend as I’m on all over it.

Checking tonight’s GZAC (Line Blockages) for any errors so I can prepare myself for the drama of potential refusal tonight.

More checking of roster to see who my Relief is over the weekend and weighting up when I can expect to book off.

Assisting the Staff swing points and test signals on their line block.

Signal the last passenger train through.
Signal the flow of freights.

More checking of roster to see if I’ve been riddled out of RDW next week.

Looking at the control log to see if I’ve made it into the hall of fame from the day before.

Checking roster again to realise one of my reliefs next week its a “ten to the hour”, then feel bad as ill have to return the favour to a decent Relief so I’m not going nearly 12.5hrs.

Speak to station staff to replatform the first few trains off shed as my line block is blocking their booked platform.

Oh what’s this half hour nothing! Time to have a quick read of my magazine and a cuppa.

Line blockage handed back, so I needed to complete the paperwork and remove the protection.

It’s now about 0445, the morning flood of empty trains is now in full flow into the station and it’s count down to home time.

One last look at the roster to see who I relieve tonight and it’s home time.

That was 0100 to 0500 on a night shift, days are pretty much non stop on this panel.

 

[Tom Quinne]

I also work a grade 4 panel, last train is circa 0100 with the first about 0450.

Between those hours if you’ve no line blocks or possessions literally nothing happens so it rule book revision and roster checking !

 

[Jay_123]

So basically tom, im internal and have applied for a grade 7. Safe to say its going to be really busy! Which isnt a problem, i suppose your shift would go alot faster

 

[Tom Quinne]

Personally I find 12hrs goes quickly, we had an incident last night on top of the above I literally don’t recall seeing the time from 0300 until 0530 as I was engaged in what I had to do.

You’ll find even under normal running you’ll drop into the zone of being immersed in the panel, planning your next few moves, watching what’s going on etc time will fly.

But it’s what you make of it, I’ll be honest when I’m on the level crossing desk I see every minute go forward one and then back two ! It’s like watching paint dry sometimes, this is when a good book comes in handy !

 

[ljmac]

Ten to the hour...

Is it the done thing that you get to go home when your relief turns up, even if it's say 30 mins to go and then you would do the same in return?
Is there a clocking in system in place?

 

[Tom Quinne]

At my place turns are 0700-1900-0700, if your not there by the top of the hour your late.

However, on my link it’s tradition/accepted practice that we relieve at 0630/1830 as traffic is better at that time of day.

99% of people will relieve at 0630/1830 without issue, or just sign on when jou arrive and have got a cuppa etc so it could be a little earlier, once your relief is signed on, and happy with the hand over your out of there even if it is 0630.

You then return the favour when you return, and the link runs like a happy family....

Until.....you get the one...who relieves at ten to the hour....they have the favour returned as well.

Your booking on process is signing the occurrence book to say your on duty and your relief is off duty, the LOM will check and sign it every week I think it is.

 

[ljmac]

Cheers. I thought that would be the case.
Shifts overlap in my current job so there's no relief as such, but there are the people who live on the doorstep, legging it through the door to clock in on the minute! Never understood it

 

[nom de guerre]

...but there are the people who live on the doorstep, legging it through the door to clock in on the minute! Never understood it

Because they can!

What I don't understand is the people who arrive 30 minutes early and sit in their car for 28 minutes, before signing on at two minutes to the hour

 

[ljmac]

Because they can!

What I don't understand is the people who arrive 30 minutes early and sit in their car for 28 minutes, before signing on at two minutes to the hour

Ha! We've got one who rocks up at least an hour early and is late for their shift more often than not...

Next question. I'm on a roll!

Would it be wrong to assume a box doesn't have nights or Sunday's if there's nothing on the lines during those hours? I'd imagine there may be exceptions for maintenance etc...

 

[Tom Quinne]

Because they can!

What I don't understand is the people who arrive 30 minutes early and sit in their car for 28 minutes, before signing on at two minutes to the hour

That is strange ! lol