A career as a signaller

[Tom Quinne]

At a single manned location like Crickewood you could probably get away with being naked on duty to be honest !

Ive heard some very strange stories of what goes on in sole manned locations!!!!

No, is the short answer. Uniform standard varies across the regions and locations, generally jeans or smart shorts with your company t shirt is ideal

 

[danners430]

Uniform standard varies across the regions and locations, generally jeans or smart shorts with your company t shirt is ideal

Bermuda shorts a non-starter then?

 

[LOM]

Bermuda shorts a non-starter then?

Depends how laid back your LOM is. I could not care less.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Probably not to be fair, my OM isn’t bothered about shorts on days or nights - but a short term LOM (you’ll get used to those) didn’t allow them full stop.

OM outrank LOM if that’s the correct term to use, another links LOM was okay with shorts !
Thankfully they’ve gone now, and the box can now marvel at my fantastic legs lol

 

[godfreycomplex]

One LOM in my neck of the woods tried to ban shorts. The result, predictably, was even more people wearing them than normal. When somebody turned up in denim cutoffs on a snow day they quite rightly admitted defeat

 

[Tom Quinne]

Ha! I’ll admit some should be banned from wearing shorts ! lol

 

[danners430]

One LOM in my neck of the woods tried to ban shorts. The result, predictably, was even more people wearing them than normal. When somebody turned up in denim cutoffs on a snow day they quite rightly admitted defeat

You made short work of him then...

 

[Signaller2020]

Grade 9 position at Wimbledon gone external. I'd imagine that will get a lot of interest

 

[Tom Quinne]

Much easier grade 9 jobs out there, plus travelling in not so extractive as you may think.
Compare to TVSC grade 9 jobs which much easier to get to overall from a similar travel radius as Wimbledon.

 

[CivilAv96]

Thanks to @Tom Quinne for pointing me in the direction of this thread.

I applied for Didcot Signalling Centre role (Passed initial assessments), I am from outside the "Train" world. It would be a transition from Airline Operations, so maybe some transferable skills (I hope).

Just had a few questions for anyone what is the shift pattern at Didcot?

Can you add some few "pennies" to your salary with overtime etc.

Really cannot wait to hopefully pass the next stage.

Thanks

 

[LOM]

Thanks to @Tom Quinne for pointing me in the direction of this thread.

I applied for Didcot Signalling Centre role (Passed initial assessments), I am from outside the "Train" world. It would be a transition from Airline Operations, so maybe some transferable skills (I hope).

Just had a few questions for anyone what is the shift pattern at Didcot?

I cannot help you with specific Didcot info but airline operations definitely offers plenty of transferable skills and experience. Good luck!

 

[CivilAv96]

I cannot help you with specific Didcot info but airline operations definitely offers plenty of transferable skills and experience. Good luck!

No worries.

I always appreciate replies on here so thanks so much, I have always had an interest in the Railway but sadly from leaving College I went into the Airline world.

It has certainly been a great time of my life but with the uncertain future, I thought "why not" to get into the railways now.

I have some colleagues criticising my possible move, but I want a new challenging environment where I can make a career.

 

[Llanigraham]

Thank you so much. All sorts of random questions are popping into my head since receiving the job offer!

The other thing I would add is that the pull can vary from day to day, and is affected by weather.
You will be shown how to pull a lever but I found that everyone soon finds their own comfortable method because it varies so much with the build of the puller.

 

[Nippy]

All links at TVSC are 12 hours. So on average 3-4 day weeks. Most are 7-19-7 except Link 2 (Reading) and the crossings 6-18-6. Overtime normally available.

 

[Llanigraham]

I sign about 11 different boxes. Some are panels that are all colour light signals. Other locations still have the 'proper' semaphore signals, but to assist the signal(wo)man a motor is fitted to the distant signal - in order to make it easier to pull. It was sometimes cheaper to convert the signal like than rather replace it with a colour light signal.

As LOM mentioned the respective manager has to risk assess each semaphore signal, and keep a record of 'heavy pulls'. These should be tested regularly, but if the signal(wo)man on duty thinks they are a problem then they comply with the rule book, report the problem to control and ask for a test to be carried out. Any deficiencies should also be advised to the Health & Safety representative.

And when it gets really bad you refuse to pull it, delaying trains.
It soon gets sorted out then!

One thing I would recommend is that you ensure that the distance of the hand reach between the lever and the release is not a problem, especially if you have small hands. After 8 years it wasn't for me and I ended up injuring my right hand, having to have a carpal tunnel operation and getting medically discharged due to no stregth in that hand.
And I won my case against NR.

 

[Yorks1179]

Hi,

Another newbie about a third of the way through this thread and I’ve got to say it’s a gold mine.

I’m sitting with five applications (grades 2 thru to 7) waiting patiently to see if I make the cut for interview. While waiting I’ve been looking into the five posts I’ve applied for and I’m stuck on one.

There is a grade 2 post for Guide Bridge (location shown as Guide Bridge), but all I’ve been able to find is Guide Bridge SB closed in late 2011 with its responsibilities moving to Manchester East. If it’s a help the Dept is: OB Guide Bridge LOM H (105435) G2


Does anyone know the actual location for this post (tried email to HR with no reply yet)?

 

[nom de guerre]

Compare to TVSC grade 9 jobs which much easier to get to overall from a similar travel radius as Wimbledon.

Depends where you live. If you’re based in London or the SE, Wimbledon is probably much easier to reach than Didcot. Plus it qualifies for Inner London.

8s though.

 

[nom de guerre]

You made short work of him then...

Reminds me of the fairly recent NR docu series featuring, amongst others, a Stockport siggie who insisted on working in bare feet (seemingly mainly to annoy his LOM ).

 

[Allaboard78]

Reminds me of the fairly recent NR docu series featuring, amongst others, a Stockport siggie who insisted on working in bare feet (seemingly mainly to annoy his LOM ).

What programme was that?

 

[jmoz]

Grade 9 position at Wimbledon gone external. I'd imagine that will get a lot of interest

Hi - As an off the street applicant with no previous railway experience, is there any chance you could get a grade 9 job? If not, why do these get advertised externally, for people returning to the railway perhaps?

 

[ILoveLamp]

Hi - As an off the street applicant with no previous railway experience, is there any chance you could get a grade 9 job? If not, why do these get advertised externally, for people returning to the railway perhaps?

Hi. From what I can gather, the grade and it’s associated salary isn’t related to seniority or experience but the relative difficulty or workload of that particular site or role at that site. And like you say, it is advertised externally so it is open to all to apply. Go for it, you have nothing to lose!

 

[LOM]

Hi - As an off the street applicant with no previous railway experience, is there any chance you could get a grade 9 job? If not, why do these get advertised externally, for people returning to the railway perhaps?

Yes these do get filled 'off the street' but it is a steep learning curve. It can take a long time to get fully passed out and working on your own - and a percentage never do. The reason they sometimes struggle to fill them internally is that a lot of signallers consider the financial reward not to be worth the amount of hassle and stress that goes with a busy grade 9 job. If you are already in a steady grade 6/7/8 the only real motivator to move would be more money.

 

[ljmac]

One LOM in my neck of the woods tried to ban shorts. The result, predictably, was even more people wearing them than normal. When somebody turned up in denim cutoffs on a snow day they quite rightly admitted defeat

I heard about a signaller in a ROC that resorted to wearing a kilt in order to get around the no shorts policy. Pretty sure he wasn't a Scotsman either!

 

[Woody27]

Hi, I have received an offer to test for signaller opportunities, I have taken these tests before, but this time I have been asked to only take the numerical test, not sure why only the one test this time, when previously it was three tests, can anyone shed some light on this! Thank you

 

[danners430]

Hi, I have received an offer to test for signaller opportunities, I have taken these tests before, but this time I have been asked to only take the numerical test, not sure why only the one test this time, when previously it was three tests, can anyone shed some light on this! Thank you

I had the same - had to sit the verbal test... I assumed it had to do with me changing my email

 

[Woody27]

I had the same - had to sit the verbal test... I assumed it had to do with me changing my email

 

[Tom Quinne]

Depends where you live. If you’re based in London or the SE, Wimbledon is probably much easier to reach than Didcot. Plus it qualifies for Inner London.

8s though.

Didn’t realise about the Inner London, Didcot is South East allowance.

Is Wimbledon NX style, or fitted with ARS?

 

[Tom Quinne]

What programme was that?

If you tap in Railway documentary on YouTube it’s on there, the west coast Mainline program.

 

[Cjbennett10]

Hi all, I’ve just received my test results having applied for the Oakham vacancy but been told I didn’t meet the benchmark required. I’m absolutely gutted! More so because I felt like I did quite well - the maths questions were a little difficult but I felt strong in the majority. My question is how long is it until I can reapply? Also if there’s a way I can see where I failed and need to improve? Like I said I felt good upon completion of each test so that’s a hard pill to swallow. I’ve been waiting and watching for years for the opportunity to arise so I need to make sure I leave no stone unturned for the next time I can apply.

 

[godfreycomplex]

What programme was that?

Reminds me of the fairly recent NR docu series featuring, amongst others, a Stockport siggie who insisted on working in bare feet (seemingly mainly to annoy his LOM ).

Rule number 1 of any multi crewed signalling location - never let anyone know what annoys you.

Didn’t realise about the Inner London, Didcot is South East allowance.

Is Wimbledon NX style, or fitted with ARS?

NX (church organ style) but fitted with ARS in some areas