paulf Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 I'm tempted to apply as a trainee driver, I'm currently self employed but feel I'm at a turning point of either heavy investment or a career change. Basically i wonder what the pitfalls to the job are and if you'd recommend it. PM me if you wish. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) im not a driver mate, but work in the rail industry. Its a hard game to get into, but the good benifits seem the outwiegh the bad. Firstly, look at the wage... lots of wonga. Always the chance of overtime ( the TOC i work for anyway), and you can get some good health packages. The other side is that from what i can remember is you have to do 18 month road learning (gradients..ect). Have a look at some of the big firms like Virgin. They do something called the "boil in the bag drivers", they just stick em all in training together, and have a short turn around to get them working asap. Meant to add, have you thought about being a shunter first? Edited January 13, 2009 by martinmoreton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryhawk Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Brother-in-law is and he's a member on here, I'm seeing him later and will let him know someone's asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thanks for the replys folks. Martin, Hadnt considered shunting but would be ok as a second option and would get me aquainted with the railways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom boom Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 hi mate i am a train driver ,i started 32 year ago first as a traction trainee ,drivers asst then a driver ,back then it was british rail the wages were **** but the conditions were good ,when it privatised it went the other way about good money but **** conditions but if you dont mind shift work go for it ,its an easy anough job once youve done your training ,give it a try you wont regret it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thanks, apreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 hi mate i am a train driver ,i started 32 year ago first as a traction trainee ,drivers asstthen a driver . Same route here but i'm only a laddie,just 23 years in. back then it was british rail the wages were **** but the conditions were good . Often described by those of us old enough to remember as a holiday camp when it privatised it went the other way about good money but **** conditions yep some of the franchise holders can be tossers to work. but if you dont mind shift work go for it . I love the shifts,gives me plenty of 'me' time for shooting and the like when the wife's at work and the kids at school. its an easy anough job once youve done your training . Jobs not to bad but can be hell of a monotinous.It carries a lot of responsibility and some of the companys/managers can't wait to jump on their 'overpaid' drivers for almost any error.Depending on the amount of traction and routes to be learned training likely to be anywhere from a year to two.There is a lot of stuff to learned in the rules and regs,but there is a pretty high pass rate. give it a try you wont regret it Yeah give it a go,it certainly beats working for a living Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 just dont mention SPAD'S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Have lookee http://www.connexions-direct.com/Jobs4u/in...ueContentID=680 http://www.careers-scotland.org.uk/CareerI...TrainDriver.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Pm sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) Just a cautionary thought. A friend of mine changed careers from being a scaffolder to a train driver. He was shunting one day, checked the coupling, slipped under the wheels and lost both legs. Edited January 14, 2009 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Just a cautionary thought. A friend of mine changed careers from being a scaffolder to a train driver. He was shunting one day, checked the coupling, slipped under the wheels and lost both legs. if its going to happen its going to happen, he could just as easily fallen off the scaffolding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 if its going to happen its going to happen, he could just as easily fallen off the scaffolding This is the reason the railway is full of rules and regs for safe working.It seems without more detail someone didn't follow them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 surely he must have stepped between moving wagons then? or left the brake off? carelessness on someones part......not the norm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom boom Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 hi mr smith we have never met but i know your a driver up at dundee ,i know one of you work mates who also shoots ,keith i nearly bought a rifle of him but was to late he sold it to someone else you will probebly know tony h down at perth cheers tam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Just a cautionary thought. A friend of mine changed careers from being a scaffolder to a train driver. He was shunting one day, checked the coupling, slipped under the wheels and lost both legs. Most modern trains all coupling and uncoupling is done from within the cab. Frieght train are stiil made up the old way, but as mr smith says the railway is full of rules, in fact a big part of driver training is learning the network rail rule book this takes about 3 months to learn and pass out on, you then stiil get tested bi-annualy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 hi mr smith we have never met but i know your a driver up atdundee ,i know one of you work mates who also shoots ,keith i nearly bought a rifle of him but was to late he sold it to someone else you will probebly know tony h down at perth cheers tam Aye i know those two,what rifle was he selling don't remember him mentioning it. If you don't mind just wondering how you had the misfortune of bumping into those two. Ta,Graeme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) This is the reason the railway is full of rules and regs for safe working.It seems without more detail someone didn't follow them. Dunno the detail, and he tells me that he can't work out how it happened either - trauma and all that. But yes, it was a private freight line, so perhaps the standards are less rigorous. Still a bit of a b u m m e r .... Edited January 14, 2009 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom boom Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Aye i know those two,what rifle was he selling don't remember him mentioning it.If you don't mind just wondering how you had the misfortune of bumping into those two. Ta,Graeme. :good hi mate it was a 243 ( cant remember make) with a s&b scope itwas nearly 4 year ago iv known tony for a few years ,im a driver at queen st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 "im a driver at queen st" Small world,there seems to be a few shooters on the railway,mostly drivers from this thread and from other forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.