I work as a shunter on the freight side. Basically tonight I will turn up to accept the train, lay the road for the correct line and then in co-operation with the driver, berth and secure the train and detach the loco.
The terminal will unload and then reload the train it is then my job to walk around the train making sure the load and wagons are in good order go back to the office and produce a train list for the driver. The loco gets reattached to the other end of the train and a brake test is carried out. The train departs I go home to bed
Basically as a shunter for either freight or passenger you will pull points, detach/attach vehicles and prepare units/trains for service etc etc.
The required training will be given to you. And yes, you can most definitely get the job without having previous rail experience.
Cricklewood? I applied for the same thing, looks reasonably exciting. The long and short of this position is that Cricklewood is a berthing place for East Midlands Trains and First Capital Connect services both overnight and in between peaks, I believe the most likely thing to say is that you will be letting a "proper" driver bring them in, set him the road, get him to secure it, and then leave it. When the train goes back out, you make sure the road is set again, and get it away. With First Capital Connect units, I believe you will also be responsible for driving the units within the Depot complex, bolting one unit onto another, unbolting them and seperating them, etc etc.
I used to work at wgc and as other posts say you will see the train in making sure you have got the correct units then the same procure to all arrivals are in then if its at night you will have a driver come and prep the units. Then its just a matter of seeing them out.its a good place to work with good people but the only thing is you must like your own company because it can get boring for periods when your on your own.
I am a passenger Depot Driver/Shunter (job that combines the two) and its a good job except for the night shifts. This is a huge downside to an otherwise good job. In my job duties are pulling points, seeing units on and off, prep units that are going off in the early hours (a prep involves over 200 checks or tests per unit!), carry out fuelling, engine oil and water, CET Tanking. This is in addition to driving within depot, fault diagnosis, couple and uncouple, but thats only if you do depot driving as well. Lots of communication as well via hand held radio is required. Its a mix of duties which makes it good, and not boring as it is normally busy and *relatively* varied (compared to most other rail jobs), but the downside is feeling tired a lot of the time (at work and at home) due to the extreme shifts, which can finish at 07:00 in the morning. Training for the job can be hard but its a lot better once that is out of the way.
Just being nosey in case any shunter jobs come up in my area... Whats the money like?
Good luck with Welwyn. I've applied for Cricklewood, so hoping that works out alright.
Hi there, just curious to see if anybody on here works as a shunter and if you do could you possibly give me an insight to what your day to day routine involves please
kleb15, I failed at shortlist stage for WGC and I live within a stones throw. I was quite
confident of getting through to interview stage at least, got through to managers interview at Hornsey earlier in the year (maintenance role), thought I had it made. Makes me think though, this position (WGC) was originally available at the end of april then withdrawn within a week, put up again 1st June and not a thing for nearly 2 months. Did it exist in the first place? was it filled internally? the way these people operate it's anyones guess. I'm done with the railway now, can't stand around waiting for them to get their act together, life goes on for us fodder.
Regards,
u51