Theoretical versus practical exams

[Steam Man]

How many of the exams are theoretical and how many are practical on the mainline.
i think that’s what would stop me from getting a job because I’m better at one than the other I know it sounds silly but that’s me I’m afraid I’m better at the theoretical side than the practical side I do think that’s what would trip me up not literally obviously. I do remember starting at the heritage railway again 2 and a half years ago I absolutely panicked at the practical test but the theory I just brushed it off and did the same with my driving test.

 

[43066]

How many of the exams are theoretical and how many are practical on the mainline.
i think that’s what would stop me from getting a job because I’m better at one than the other I know it sounds silly but that’s me I’m afraid I’m better at the theoretical side than the practical side I do think that’s what would trip me up not literally obviously. I do remember starting at the heritage railway again 2 and a half years ago I absolutely panicked at the practical test but the theory I just brushed it off and did it same with my driving test.

Can I ask if you meant to say the opposite, and find practical exams easier than written tests? From your previous posts I seem to remember you said you’d struggled with the written PTS paper.

PTS, rules, traction paper are written. Driving competency is assessed through a combination of route questions (written or oral) and practical assessment drives.

If there is something that makes assessments of either type particularly difficult (ie a disability or learning difficulty), it would be worth mentioning that when you apply.

 

[Ducatist4]

As most of a drivers job is practical (ie actually driving a train) would that be a problem in itself?

 

[Stigy]

How many of the exams are theoretical and how many are practical on the mainline.
i think that’s what would stop me from getting a job because I’m better at one than the other I know it sounds silly but that’s me I’m afraid I’m better at the theoretical side than the practical side I do think that’s what would trip me up not literally obviously. I do remember starting at the heritage railway again 2 and a half years ago I absolutely panicked at the practical test but the theory I just brushed it off and did the same with my driving test.

The driving of the train itself is the easiest part to be honest (in my opinion anyway). It’s the rules, traction and route based knowledge you have to retain that’s the hardest part. Most of the rules and traction is theory, although it does vary to what extent depending on TOC/FOC. At my TOC most of traction is (or should be) practical work, but paper based assessments. I find that I’m not great under exam conditions for practical/verbal assessments personally.

There are further assessments with managers at certain intervals of the train handling to see how you’re down, but from my experience they’re more laid back than actual structured assessments. The only other practical assessments are the simulator assessment and final pass out.

In theory, you’ll know if you’re cut out for it before training starts if the psychometric assessments have worked . These gauge your ability both to be able to learn/train about rules etc (TRP etc), and to be able to physically undertake the role of driving a train (computer based/coordination tests).