Driver ‘Must-haves’

[outsider26]

Hi all,

I signed up as a long term observer, who has now recently been offered a start as a trainee train driver which I’m very excited about!

As my name suggests I’m coming from outside the railway industry so I wanted some recommendations as such from those who are tried and tested.

I understand that all of the knowledge etc will be provided as a blank canvas, but what I want to know is there anything that you feel makes your job easier?

By this I mean a particular flask, or a watch, or a notepad, or a pen. Whatever it may be that you use as a driver that you feel makes your job a little better. Thanks!

 

[Gemz91]

Decent flask that keeps your drink hot in winter.

Pen with a light on so you can see your diagram at night without fumbling for the light.

Watch, company should issue you one. Just wear theirs. If you buy an expensive watch yourself and knacker it climbing up or down a train the company aren’t going to replace it. If you wear theirs and it breaks they’ll replace it.

I’ve never worn sun glasses driving a train (or a car) others say you need a decent pair. Personal preference I guess. If you wear sunglasses driving your car, wear sun glasses driving your train. If you wear a cap driving you car on long trips, think about wearing a cap driving the train. Just to add sunglasses need to meet certain standards, your company might issue you a pair.

Small notepad can be useful for jotting down shunt moves and keeping in your bag.

Decent insulated packed lunch box to keep your butties cool in summer.

Small flask for your milk for your tea.

 

[Teddyward]

Tissues for when the in cab HVAC makes your nose permanently run.

 

[Chucky]

Travel mug or flask
Knife, fork and spoon
Water bottle

 

[llimma]

If youre with a FOC depending on where you work to, anything short a camping kit would seem inadequate. Specially if you get tipped early and hear the dreaded “sorry drive but i have to keep you to time”.

A good portable usb charger just incase you end up short.

 

[dawny291]

A decent LED Torch, and a decent watch. Yes, the company will give you a watch, but how well will it keep time? I much prefer one of the Casio Wave Ceptor models that update the time automatically, and they can be had for as little as £35. I have the G-Shock model and its virtually bomb proof, recharges on solar power, and hasn't let me down for 6 years.

 

[richfoz84]

I’m constantly ill since I started driving trains, so carry hand gel in my bag & anti bac wipes and clean down surfaces I touch, and touch wood I’ve not been ill as much since I’ve been doing this!

 

[ThePeakNed]

More so once you actually start, but spare keys (driver / BR1 / T)

 

[InkyScrolls]

A decent LED Torch, and a decent watch. Yes, the company will give you a watch, but how well will it keep time? I much prefer one of the Casio Wave Ceptor models that update the time automatically, and they can be had for as little as £35. I have the G-Shock model and its virtually bomb proof, recharges on solar power, and hasn't let me down for 6 years.

The railway standard watch is radio controlled so it keeps time perfectly.

 

[Twotwo]

I don't even wear a watch, I got a digital clock on the HMI and DMI.

I'd say extra keys and a flask for hot/cold drinks

 

[Stigy]

if you wear glasses, then prescription sunglasses are handy. Might want to consider polarised lenses, but bear in mind you’ll need to have these signed off as suitable for driving trains. I used polarised lenses in my previous pair, but haven’t gone for them in my current pair (I was sure it was a requirement previously, but didn’t seem to be now when I checked).

 

[172007]

The railway standard watch is radio controlled so it keeps time perfectly.

TOC Watch 1 and 2 are the industry watches that are so called radio controlled. I have always needed up returning them as they either don't get any signal or end up multiple seconds quick or slow. Get a reputable brand with your own money is my advice.

 

[Ses16]

Anyone know if you can request crew kit Toclite equipment? After the torch they make but not sure who to ask in my TOC for it, driver manager maybe?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Anyone know if you can request crew kit Toclite equipment? After the torch they make but not sure who to ask in my TOC for it, driver manager maybe?

They're issued on an "as needed" basis.

If you need one, you'll be given one. Doubt any TOC will just give you one because you want one

 

[Juliet Barvo]

Decent flask that keeps your drink hot in winter.

Pen with a light on so you can see your diagram at night without fumbling for the light.

Watch, company should issue you one. Just wear theirs. If you buy an expensive watch yourself and knacker it climbing up or down a train the company aren’t going to replace it. If you wear theirs and it breaks they’ll replace it.

I’ve never worn sun glasses driving a train (or a car) others say you need a decent pair. Personal preference I guess. If you wear sunglasses driving your car, wear sun glasses driving your train. If you wear a cap driving you car on long trips, think about wearing a cap driving the train. Just to add sunglasses need to meet certain standards, your company might issue you a pair.

Small notepad can be useful for jotting down shunt moves and keeping in your bag.

Decent insulated packed lunch box to keep your butties cool in summer.

Small flask for your milk for your tea.

Not all companies issue watches in this day and age as it is no longer required by the rules. All that is required is a means of telling the time, and modern passenger units tend to do that themselves

Sunglasses cannot be polarised as new signals are LED and LED light is polarised.

 

[Ses16]

They're issued on an "as needed" basis.

If you need one, you'll be given one. Doubt any TOC will just give you one because you want one

Got given a style of sunglasses I didn’t like, requested a different pair during training and got them. Was purely wondering if that would be the same for any other equipment in the driver bag.

 

[Undiscovered]

Not a driver, but snack bars and boiled sweets for keeping up your energy, for when delayed.

Pocket first aid kit and spray plaster, general meds- paracetamol, ibuprofen, hayfever etc al and enough of any prescription meds (all declared) to cover your next dose. tiny jam jar of coffee and one of them concentrated squirty squash things for redoing drinks. Karibinas are useful on kit.

 

[Leeds Driver]

Got to strike a balance, you’re already mandated to carry around quite a lot of stuff so adding much more just means your bag weighs a ton.

 

[InkyScrolls]

TOC Watch 1 and 2 are the industry watches that are so called radio controlled. I have always needed up returning them as they either don't get any signal or end up multiple seconds quick or slow. Get a reputable brand with your own money is my advice.

Odd! I've never had a problem - not that I don't believe you, maybe I've just been lucky (or you've been unlucky?).

I don't even wear a watch, I got a digital clock on the HMI and DMI.

The clocks on the units I drive are always wrong!

 

[driver9000]

Welcome to the industry! As others have said you'll be given what you need but I keep a couple of pens, notebook and a highlighter pen (for marking out any information I may need such as train formation and additional stops that we don't call at on each trip) in my pockets. I keep a small tub filled with tea bags, sugar and coffee sachets along with a mug and I also often take an insulated can of hot water with me in case the onboard water boiler isn't working although granted you may not be working for a company which has a catering galley. I got my insulated cup from Home Bargains for about £2 and it is great for keeping a brew at a drinkable temperature for an hour or so. My flask came from Mountain Warehouse and keeps water hot for 8 hours or more. Your employer may even give you a thermal cup or flask (I've been given several over the years). Don't weigh yourself down with too many extras as you'll soon find your bag becomes very heavy when added to what you must carry.

If you buy your own sunglasses make sure they meet the railway standards and any smartwatch you might wear must be in flight mode when you're driving in line your employers MPED policy. Personally I still use the same basic Timex analogue watch I was given on my first day nearly 19 years ago and I wear the issued sunglasses.

 

[Gemz91]

Not all companies issue watches in this day and age as it is no longer required by the rules. All that is required is a means of telling the time, and modern passenger units tend to do that themselves

Sunglasses cannot be polarised as new signals are LED and LED light is polarised.

Obviously my toc operates units a lot older then most in that case

My watch does loose time, but I just remember to add one or two minutes to the time it displays to make up for it.

 

[notadriver]

Emergency water and food - like biscuits that will last at least 6 hours. Only for emergency use.

Small power bank and charging cables (5000 mah) to charge phone. Emergency use only.

 

[75A]

Most important of all - a sense of humour

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Personally I still use the same basic Timex analogue watch I was given on my first day nearly 19 years ago.

x2. Mine is a Timex Indiglo that does nothing more than tell the time (not even a date display) and is easily the best timekeeper I have ever had. If you avoid using the illumination the battery will last many years. Must be more than 6 months since it last needed adjustment. If you get one prepare to be impressed, much better than any so-called radio controlled watch.

 

[chuff chuff]

I've got two timex ones both now given up the ghost. We got issued some really crap radio controlled one a few years back threw it away pretty quickly however the current toc watch has been spot on.

 

[AverageJoe]

Decent black out blinds, ear plugs, a fan to keep the bedroom cool.

Getting to sleep on hot summer days when there is noise and bright sunshine outside isn’t easy.

Also comfortable safety shoes, I don’t use toc provided ones I use my own.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

Decent black out blinds, ear plugs, a fan to keep the bedroom cool.

Getting to sleep on hot summer days when there is noise and bright sunshine outside isn’t easy.

Also comfortable safety shoes, I don’t use toc provided ones I use my own.

I'd add "padded sleep mask" and "get sleep every time you can

 

[S-Car-Go]

TOC issued watch is perfectly fine,. My TOC's driving policy forbids any smart watch or device switched on in the cab.

Water bottle, paracetamol/Lemsip, cappuccino sachet, decent thermos flask, spare pens and highlighters, spare railway keys, oaty bites/cereal bars for when there's delays. Pretty much everything that has been said already.

Oh and when I was new, I had a pair of mini-binoculars, so I could read signal ID plates from a distance at less familiar locations
(This helps when registering your GSMR radio)

When you are sitting spare at the depot, and there's not a lot going on, have in your locker or car the following:
A pair of headphones to plug into your phone for music/Netflix etc.
A good book/Kindle.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

Wet wipes, antiseptic wipes and handheld plus small bin bags, for when there is no loo

 

[InkyScrolls]

Oh and when I was new, I had a pair of mini-binoculars, so I could read signal ID plates from a distance at less familiar locations
(This helps when registering your GSMR radio)

I hadn't thought of that! Good advice especially where there's no alias plate.