After meeting with an instructor who can drive we boarded our first train (159009) and headed in the front cab to Waterloo. To get this opportunity with a experienced driver was brilliant. For one thing we finally got a look at our "office" and for another we got to see exactly what is involved in driving a train.
up until now we had heard lots of different terms such as AWS, TPWS the driver vigilance alarm and many others and today we got to see these things in action and also what they do and how the driver responds.
After arriving at Waterloo we boarded the front of a 8 car 455 and headed to Hampton Court and back (somewhere I had never been!!)
All in it was a brilliant experience and I look forward to spending the week doing it from Thursday. Anyway below are a few photos of what I could capture safely (and with permission) and hopefully more will follow next week. Finally, how amazing is the approach to Waterloo?? So many lines and signals to look out for!!
our 455 just before we left Waterloo platform 2
the view from the front at platform 2, a train is just arriving into platform 1
same again with signal W3 shown
my first visit to Hampton Court!
The starter signal at Hampton Court showing the route set for the "up Hampton Court line" it can also allow you to use the line to the right which is reversible
A shot of the line showing W206 signal (you can tell I haven't signed the route as I have already forgotten where it is!!?! Answers on a postcard!)
A shot out the side window of New Malden
What a great insight, keep them coming Francis, your blog is great.
ReplyDeleteI have applied to TPE so hope to follow you in the not too distant future
Good luck with your training