Hi all
Just realised that so many of you are checking this website on a daily basis and I have also been told that trainee at the school are looking at this site as well. This is very flattering. It also means I feel the need to try and keep this updated as well.
Over the last 4 months I have been accumulating time at the controls on my own and just staying out of trouble really. For the first two years after you drive on your own you are what is know as "Post Qualified" it means that you lack experience and it entails that your manager will do more rides and checks on you then a normal driver. None of this bothers me much, as I drive very carefully anyway. At the moment because I am in my first 6 months, I am categorized as a "high risk" driver. Not because I am likely to go wrong and they only just trust me just simply that I have only 4 months (at the moment) experience of driving on my own. In early June once I have done 6 months I will drop (assuming, touch wood, that I have not had an incident!) down to being a medium risk driver. This means that I will still be monitored but not quite as much as I am now, but more than a normal driver. Sounds complicated doesn't it? Just compare it to when you first pass you car test. You can drive but everyone considers you a risk as a new driver and your insurance is sky high. As you drive more you get years no claims bonus and you become less risky. Its the same as train driving except I don't pay an insurance premium.
As I said nothing much has happened recently. This is not helped by the fact that I have had a lot of annual leave to take as well.
As I spent most of last year training I did not want to take any leave so that I could get on. Well this means that since December when I qualified I have had a year and half worth of leave to take which means I have taken it everywhere otherwise you will lose it.
I have just had 11 days off I am back for three including today then I am off again for 6. Back in for three days and then off for 11 again!! It sounds good but frankly as a new driver you want to be out there driving and I get so bored at home!
Anyway this is just an update and I am still alive and going well. No incidents in my driving (touch wood it stays that way!) and no real stories. I imagine there will be some to come and I'll write about them when they do, otherwise thanks for reading!!
Francis
Please note this site is to enable people aspiring to be drivers and to give them an idea of what the training is involved. It is not endorsed by South West Trains and all views are my own and not the companies...
Monday, 8 April 2013
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
02-01-2013 Happy New Year
Hello and firstly a Happy New Year.
Although I have nothing specific to tell you about I felt the need for a quick update.
I would like to thank everyone who views this web blog as I have noticed that in the last year I have had over 20,000 page views! Frankly I am absolutely amazed by this! Thanks!
I have been driving solo now for about 3 weeks and I am getting more confident as each day passes. Certain parts of routes I haven't been over since I qualified but I am trying to arrange trips so that I can refresh and keep it all in my memory.
I am really enjoying being a train driver (even double Waterloo's at the moment) there is something very special about driving a train and seeing sunrises and sunsets, watching hundreds of people leave your train when you terminate at London Waterloo or even being able to catch up late running (safely of course).
I have had a chance to do a bit of train racing at Waterloo which I won! (see early blog on train racing) and I have only had one slip up, which was today when I realised whilst chatting away in the mess room at Portsmouth & Southsea that I had 10 minutes to get to the siding, split a train and leave! I haven't run so fast in ages, but I left on time so no harm done and I'll keep a closer eye on time now!
The only other thing is that I have put a small camera in my bag so while I'm out about (and not when contravened by SWT rules on electronic items in cabs) I'll take some snaps between trains!
Thanks again for reading, I'm really pleased that I have over 20,000 pageviews!
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
18-12-12 Big BIG day
Well today is the day that I have been waiting for for a long time.
Friday last week I was assessed on the last route that my depot signs for beginners and yesterday I signed all the required paperwork.
As of today I became a fully productive driver at South West Trains and more importantly my pay went up!
So from the humble beginnings at Basingstoke train centre until this morning when I reported as the 0600 spare driver the following has elapsed...
344 days, 21 hours, 0 minutes and 0 seconds or:
Friday last week I was assessed on the last route that my depot signs for beginners and yesterday I signed all the required paperwork.
As of today I became a fully productive driver at South West Trains and more importantly my pay went up!
So from the humble beginnings at Basingstoke train centre until this morning when I reported as the 0600 spare driver the following has elapsed...
344 days, 21 hours, 0 minutes and 0 seconds or:
- 29,797,200 seconds
- 496,620 minutes
- 8277 hours
- 49 weeks (rounded down)
Seems like a long time and I must admit it has felt long on some days. When I came in I asked to cover some work, I haven't spent all this time training to sit today and do nothing and I was duly rewarded.
I was asked to cover the front half of a turn that was another drivers and so at 0709 I made my was as a passenger down to Portsmouth Harbour where my train was waiting.
and this is it 2P94 0729 Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo
All went well and I later returned with a different unit back to Fratton where I finished for the day.
a copy of my schedule today. I only had to drive up to where it crossed out and nothing on the right side but it was a nice run to ease it. The stations are crossed out as you stop at them and the large numbers are how many coaches the trains had!
Although my official training has come somewhat to an end I plan to try and update this blog every now and again if anything of interest happens. Feel free to leave messages if you want to ask questions and I'll do what I can to help!
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Route Learning
As I have mentioned before part of becoming a driver is "learning the road". Since my last post when I got my key and qualified as a driver I have been working hard to learn the routes I will drive my trains over.
It's important to point out as many readers will know that you must be assessed and know your routes thoroughly before you can drive on your own.
I have since "signed" (ie been assessed as competent) over half my routes. Namely I now know where I am going, from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford. I have just finished learning Portsmouth to Southampton and Eastleigh via Netley and Botley and also the line from Eastleigh to Southampton via the airport. I am waiting to be assessed on that particular route and why I am waiting I am half way through learning Eastleigh and Woking.
I'm looking at about 2-3 weeks of learning, then a week to refresh everything and all going well I will drive my first train on my own!!
So off to Woking again tomorrow and bit of map studying. Not long to go...
It's important to point out as many readers will know that you must be assessed and know your routes thoroughly before you can drive on your own.
I have since "signed" (ie been assessed as competent) over half my routes. Namely I now know where I am going, from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford. I have just finished learning Portsmouth to Southampton and Eastleigh via Netley and Botley and also the line from Eastleigh to Southampton via the airport. I am waiting to be assessed on that particular route and why I am waiting I am half way through learning Eastleigh and Woking.
I'm looking at about 2-3 weeks of learning, then a week to refresh everything and all going well I will drive my first train on my own!!
So off to Woking again tomorrow and bit of map studying. Not long to go...
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Monday, 10 September 2012
10-09-2012 Exam coming...
Hi all
I am back to blog! I have been working still towards my final and I finished my hours with my instructor about 4 weeks ago. As there are a lot of trainee drivers at my depot I gave up my instructor for someone else and I have been route learning since.
Route Learning consists of going up the front with another driver and sitting on the non-drivers side. You then look out the window with the aid of a route map and try and take in every aspect of the route as you go along. I have attached a video I made. It shows the route from Queenstown Road to London Waterloo via the Windsor Reversible Line. The talking is the driver and I discussing the route and what to look out for!
This I did for about 3-4 weeks and now I am just two weeks from my final I have again found a DI to just brush up ready.
My final date is 24th September and will last all the week.
During this time I will be driving passenger trains and watched to see how I handle the train, I will be in the simulators at Basingstoke being put through my paces regarding emergencies and dealing with events that would not normally encountered. I will be given a smaller version of the rules exam that I took earlier in the year (and will include the rules changes that happened in between in July!) and also a repeat of the PTS (Personal Track Safety) which I haven't done since week 1!
I will also have a route conducting exercise which will show whether I can give instructions to a driver that doesn't know the route (for example, when there is engineering works).
Finally, I will spend a day in the depot doing slow speed movements, shunting, attaching and detaching units, and also repairing minor faults etc...
All being well come the Friday I will pass and be considered competent to drive a train and will be given my key.
Wish me luck!
I am back to blog! I have been working still towards my final and I finished my hours with my instructor about 4 weeks ago. As there are a lot of trainee drivers at my depot I gave up my instructor for someone else and I have been route learning since.
Route Learning consists of going up the front with another driver and sitting on the non-drivers side. You then look out the window with the aid of a route map and try and take in every aspect of the route as you go along. I have attached a video I made. It shows the route from Queenstown Road to London Waterloo via the Windsor Reversible Line. The talking is the driver and I discussing the route and what to look out for!
This I did for about 3-4 weeks and now I am just two weeks from my final I have again found a DI to just brush up ready.
My final date is 24th September and will last all the week.
During this time I will be driving passenger trains and watched to see how I handle the train, I will be in the simulators at Basingstoke being put through my paces regarding emergencies and dealing with events that would not normally encountered. I will be given a smaller version of the rules exam that I took earlier in the year (and will include the rules changes that happened in between in July!) and also a repeat of the PTS (Personal Track Safety) which I haven't done since week 1!
I will also have a route conducting exercise which will show whether I can give instructions to a driver that doesn't know the route (for example, when there is engineering works).
Finally, I will spend a day in the depot doing slow speed movements, shunting, attaching and detaching units, and also repairing minor faults etc...
All being well come the Friday I will pass and be considered competent to drive a train and will be given my key.
Wish me luck!
Monday, 2 July 2012
02-07-2012 Another month another post (again)
Hi all
as it has been over a month since I last posted I thought I better make an update. I am still progressing through my hours and have managed to rack up 187 hours now. Not bad and less than 40 until I reach the minimum needed to take my drivers final. This has left me understandably nervous as it has dawned on me that this will now be a matter of weeks instead of months!
I have also since completed a week of Advanced Route Learning (ARL). This is a week where you return to the school for a day before learning the route fully between Woking and Clapham Junction. Now I always knew that route learning would be the hardest part of the course for me and even said as much at the interview stage where they asked me that very question. This was no different. Although I drive the route everyday almost, I realised just how much I didn't actually know. When you are based at Fratton or Bournemouth or a similar depot, you almost always travel through the area on the fast. You rarely stop at the stations in between or go on the slow lines, so all of a sudden you are having to learn new speed limits, cross over speeds, station names (and their order) and other exciting things. Now as I usually pass through on the fast lines the speed limits are essentially 100 then 90 then 85 then 80 then 75. Fairly simple. But on the slow lines they are all over the place. Whilst travelling up and down on the trains you are looking out for all these markers and more and you are also compiling a map of the area (which I left at home the day I had to hand it in). The end result is a written exam on 100 questions where you are shown various photos and you have to answer questions about where you are and what the speeds are other such things. As I said one of the hardest parts of the course for me so far and I only managed 90% in the test which I was a bit disheartened about. Still a pass, but not my usual high standard. Still hey ho, after that went back to DI for a few more hours and now I am at today.
Today was the first day of my traction course. Some of my trainee colleagues have been at the school for the last two weeks learning all about 455's but as I am at a single traction depot I join them for the next 9 days to learn about Desiro trains. I then leave them and go back to my DI whereas some of those colleagues stay for another week of 458 training!
Today was day one as I said, and we got straight into it looking at formations and where different things are located on the train and what switches are where. After just a day the traction is starting to look a little daunting so will have to really concentrate and revise this one!
Tomorrow we are at Clapham Yard where we are going to look at a static train and have a look round and see the things that we learnt today and how they work and how to fix or isolate them when they go wrong.
So hopefully the rain holds off!!
as it has been over a month since I last posted I thought I better make an update. I am still progressing through my hours and have managed to rack up 187 hours now. Not bad and less than 40 until I reach the minimum needed to take my drivers final. This has left me understandably nervous as it has dawned on me that this will now be a matter of weeks instead of months!
I have also since completed a week of Advanced Route Learning (ARL). This is a week where you return to the school for a day before learning the route fully between Woking and Clapham Junction. Now I always knew that route learning would be the hardest part of the course for me and even said as much at the interview stage where they asked me that very question. This was no different. Although I drive the route everyday almost, I realised just how much I didn't actually know. When you are based at Fratton or Bournemouth or a similar depot, you almost always travel through the area on the fast. You rarely stop at the stations in between or go on the slow lines, so all of a sudden you are having to learn new speed limits, cross over speeds, station names (and their order) and other exciting things. Now as I usually pass through on the fast lines the speed limits are essentially 100 then 90 then 85 then 80 then 75. Fairly simple. But on the slow lines they are all over the place. Whilst travelling up and down on the trains you are looking out for all these markers and more and you are also compiling a map of the area (which I left at home the day I had to hand it in). The end result is a written exam on 100 questions where you are shown various photos and you have to answer questions about where you are and what the speeds are other such things. As I said one of the hardest parts of the course for me so far and I only managed 90% in the test which I was a bit disheartened about. Still a pass, but not my usual high standard. Still hey ho, after that went back to DI for a few more hours and now I am at today.
just a bit of my hand drawn map showing Surbiton station and the sort of things that we had to learn!
Today was the first day of my traction course. Some of my trainee colleagues have been at the school for the last two weeks learning all about 455's but as I am at a single traction depot I join them for the next 9 days to learn about Desiro trains. I then leave them and go back to my DI whereas some of those colleagues stay for another week of 458 training!
Today was day one as I said, and we got straight into it looking at formations and where different things are located on the train and what switches are where. After just a day the traction is starting to look a little daunting so will have to really concentrate and revise this one!
Tomorrow we are at Clapham Yard where we are going to look at a static train and have a look round and see the things that we learnt today and how they work and how to fix or isolate them when they go wrong.
So hopefully the rain holds off!!
Friday, 1 June 2012
01-06-2012 New month, new post
Hi all
Sorry for the lack of updates recently, been so very busy and then when I finally get a moment I'm too tired to write anything. But I am free today (don't start until 1509 today!) and decided to write up what's been happening lately.
First of all hours continue well, I think I am around the 110 hours mark now so almost half way through. The weather has been ridiculously hot and I have found it hard to get the temperature right in the cab but then I never really liked heat anyway. The only upside is that South West Trains very kindly allow drivers to wear shorts, which is good for me and perhaps not so good for the general public!
Basically, most of my driving has been along the Portsmouth direct line which means that I have a fairly good understanding of the route now, which is nice as although my DI is still in the cab with me, I can drive fairly independently without any prompting. We have also visited the Southampton line recently and an advantage of this is on earlies IKEA is across the road and they do a decent fried breakfast with free hot drink for £1.65!!
I have also had a bit of driving on the Basingstoke mainline which means I have had a bit of train handling at 100mph which is always a novelty.
Also witnessed something a little funny at Southampton central the other morning where we were just about to depart and a passenger was walking up the platform towards our train. Anyway the platform assistant shouted to her that she would have to be quick as were about to depart, without warning she then threw the coffee she had in her hand on the platform and then legged it to our train. Bit of an overreaction!
I have also had the opportunity to drive the diesels again. I like the diesels, there fun to drive an unfortunately my DI doesn't sign then (which isn't much of a problem as neither will I when I qualify) but it still makes a nice change to Desiros.
Anyway, more hours to go and in just over a week I have my advance route learning between Clapham Jct and Woking to do. This will be a good opportunity to see other trainees in my course who I haven't seen for a while and hopefully some good stories that I can add to this blog!
Better go, got to get ready for work (and my weekend off!!!)
Sorry for the lack of updates recently, been so very busy and then when I finally get a moment I'm too tired to write anything. But I am free today (don't start until 1509 today!) and decided to write up what's been happening lately.
First of all hours continue well, I think I am around the 110 hours mark now so almost half way through. The weather has been ridiculously hot and I have found it hard to get the temperature right in the cab but then I never really liked heat anyway. The only upside is that South West Trains very kindly allow drivers to wear shorts, which is good for me and perhaps not so good for the general public!
Basically, most of my driving has been along the Portsmouth direct line which means that I have a fairly good understanding of the route now, which is nice as although my DI is still in the cab with me, I can drive fairly independently without any prompting. We have also visited the Southampton line recently and an advantage of this is on earlies IKEA is across the road and they do a decent fried breakfast with free hot drink for £1.65!!
I have also had a bit of driving on the Basingstoke mainline which means I have had a bit of train handling at 100mph which is always a novelty.
Also witnessed something a little funny at Southampton central the other morning where we were just about to depart and a passenger was walking up the platform towards our train. Anyway the platform assistant shouted to her that she would have to be quick as were about to depart, without warning she then threw the coffee she had in her hand on the platform and then legged it to our train. Bit of an overreaction!
I have also had the opportunity to drive the diesels again. I like the diesels, there fun to drive an unfortunately my DI doesn't sign then (which isn't much of a problem as neither will I when I qualify) but it still makes a nice change to Desiros.
Anyway, more hours to go and in just over a week I have my advance route learning between Clapham Jct and Woking to do. This will be a good opportunity to see other trainees in my course who I haven't seen for a while and hopefully some good stories that I can add to this blog!
Better go, got to get ready for work (and my weekend off!!!)
Friday, 18 May 2012
17-05-2012 Train racing and other fun things...
So today I got to race another train. May seem like an unusual thing to type but its not and I'll explain. First off all I would also like to point out that its not racing in the conventional sense (as in Forumla One) and is not speeding or anything else like that. It happens when you are at Woking station. If you are ever there at xx59 past the hour, you will notice that in the London direction two trains will arrive at much the same time. One comes up from Basingstoke the other from Portsmouth. Well both these trains are timed to depart from Woking at exactly the same second. So once you get the ready to start signal from the guard (which usually happens simultaneously between the two trains) you off and accelerating up to the linespeed (which is 100mph) at that point. Obviously, we are both on rails and have signals to obey (although these are usually greens for both) and can't steer so it's just a case of seeing which train is better than the other to accelerate.
Now as my train is a 444 (5 car train with two powered coaches) and my "opponent" is a 450 (4 car train with two powered coaches) I'm at a disadvantage as I have more weight for the power available, and this is obvious as we leave Woking as the 450 races away from me. My advantage is that my "opponent" has to call at Weybridge. So we head up the mainline still both perfectly safe and on green signals with him moving further away from me until we come round the corner approaching Weybridge. As we do so he has to start slowing for the station call whereas my next station is London Waterloo and I can carry on at 90mph! With Weybridge is sight I am gaining on the 450 very quickly and easily take victory on behalf of Fratton depot (my opponent being from Basingstoke I believe!)
Other fun things today..
Congratulations have to go to my DI who managed to have complete hicups all the way from Waterloo to Haslemere taking just over an hour! The ability to keep them despite trying every idea both of us have ever heard to get rid off hicups was truly something else. Fortunately, for him he got rid at Haslemere during our 11 stop!
And finally, while at Haslemere, I realised just how relaxed this job is. We are booked to arrive and wait at Haslemere for 11 minutes why the fast service overtakes. Well I secured the train, and sat out on the platform. I could hear birds singing and the sun was shinning with just enough breeze to make you think sometimes the weather is perfect! Below is a picture!
It's hard to believe when I got back here going towards London about 2 hours later there was heavy rain. Hey ho! It was lovely when this was taken!
Now as my train is a 444 (5 car train with two powered coaches) and my "opponent" is a 450 (4 car train with two powered coaches) I'm at a disadvantage as I have more weight for the power available, and this is obvious as we leave Woking as the 450 races away from me. My advantage is that my "opponent" has to call at Weybridge. So we head up the mainline still both perfectly safe and on green signals with him moving further away from me until we come round the corner approaching Weybridge. As we do so he has to start slowing for the station call whereas my next station is London Waterloo and I can carry on at 90mph! With Weybridge is sight I am gaining on the 450 very quickly and easily take victory on behalf of Fratton depot (my opponent being from Basingstoke I believe!)
Other fun things today..
Congratulations have to go to my DI who managed to have complete hicups all the way from Waterloo to Haslemere taking just over an hour! The ability to keep them despite trying every idea both of us have ever heard to get rid off hicups was truly something else. Fortunately, for him he got rid at Haslemere during our 11 stop!
And finally, while at Haslemere, I realised just how relaxed this job is. We are booked to arrive and wait at Haslemere for 11 minutes why the fast service overtakes. Well I secured the train, and sat out on the platform. I could hear birds singing and the sun was shinning with just enough breeze to make you think sometimes the weather is perfect! Below is a picture!
It's hard to believe when I got back here going towards London about 2 hours later there was heavy rain. Hey ho! It was lovely when this was taken!
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
15-05-2012 - back at the pointy end...
Hello
I am back after 5 rest days. Still with my DI at the moment and am still clocking up hours. Bad start this morning as well, after having the time off (and being quite busy over the weekend!) I come back and seem to have forgotten how to drive a train. Fratton was the first stop, and past the stop car mark I went. Had another go at Hilsea and had to brake quite hard to stop at the end! By Bedhampton, I'm starting to get the hang off it again and managed to stop well as Havant.
Then my DI said the cursed words... "Something is going to happen today..." So for the rest of the day were driving between Portsmouth and Waterloo waiting for something to happen, but nothing does. The weather has been mad today with it being dry but cold in Portsmouth, dry and bright coming up to Havant, little bits of rain up towards Guildford and when we get to Woking it is really raining. As I approach and brake to stop at Woking were sliding all over the place, but fortunately we get it under control and stop on the mark.
Come Waterloo, and there is cold wind, heavy rain (which turns to hail) and then even a few rumbles of thunder. I know enough about railways and weather to know that we really want to get as close to home as possible before it gets bad, as signalling doesn't tend to like thunder!!
Apart from a large emergency speed restriction which practically goes from Clapham Junction all the way to Wimbledon delaying us by Petersfield we are back on time and at Havant after some amazing work by the signallers we are a little early. Even as we approach Fratton where would normally approach and be checked down to a red as we come through Portsmouth we see nothing but greens! Arriving at the Harbour (routed straight in and not waiting for anything!) I made a bit of a mistake and stop no where the buffer stops (supposed to be 6 feet) but the train is definitely accommodated and seeing as how we are taking it back out in a minute we left it!
Despite the weather and the great work by Havant signallers nothing really has gone wrong and were starting to think that this would be a nice easy day. We leave the Harbour with our train empty back to the depot and even get the route set all the way to the depot (which is very unusual, you normally get held all over the place until the depot are ready for you!)
So I slow the train down to 3mph to go through the carriage wash thinking almost done, and as I come out of the carriage wash I hear an almighty bang and see a flash. My DI sticks his head out the window and says he can see smoke coming from under our train. I'm getting warning lights on the cab panel in front of me, so on go the emergency brakes. The shunter comes running towards me shouting have you had a SPAD (signal passed at danger)? I'm shouting back saying NO, No (the signal was definitely clear) and so he says "whats wrong then?" So I'm shouting at him to cut the power to the third rail as something has gone bang and affected my train.
He does and also calls for the Network Rail Manager to come and have a look. So everyone starts looking round my train and the power is discharged. Bearing in mind at this time of day there are lots of trains that are behind me waiting to come into the depot and so delays are starting to build.
Eventually, nothing can be found so they decide to recharge the power and see what happens. While I am sat in the cab, the power is put on and I'm watching to see if any fault appear. Quite a few do (as seen in the picture below) but they can all be attributed to the power being off. The shunter then gives us permission to carry on into the depot, and so I try and take power to move the train and nothing happens. A new red fault appears on the saying traction package fault. Fortunately, I manage to clear this fault by turning power off and starting again. Once I did this, the train started to move which is a relief so I take it all the way into the depot and shut it down. As were walking back down the depot we bump into the Network Rail Manager and ask him what happens. He believes that a piece of foil he found had blown onto the third rail and shorted against something which knocked all the power off! Amazing to think something so small, broke our train and blocked an entire depot. Even when I got home after writing the report there are still delays in the Fratton area because of empty trains making the area congested why they wait to enter the depot!!
So my DI was right and the moral of this story is never say you think something is going to happen!!!
I am back after 5 rest days. Still with my DI at the moment and am still clocking up hours. Bad start this morning as well, after having the time off (and being quite busy over the weekend!) I come back and seem to have forgotten how to drive a train. Fratton was the first stop, and past the stop car mark I went. Had another go at Hilsea and had to brake quite hard to stop at the end! By Bedhampton, I'm starting to get the hang off it again and managed to stop well as Havant.
Then my DI said the cursed words... "Something is going to happen today..." So for the rest of the day were driving between Portsmouth and Waterloo waiting for something to happen, but nothing does. The weather has been mad today with it being dry but cold in Portsmouth, dry and bright coming up to Havant, little bits of rain up towards Guildford and when we get to Woking it is really raining. As I approach and brake to stop at Woking were sliding all over the place, but fortunately we get it under control and stop on the mark.
Come Waterloo, and there is cold wind, heavy rain (which turns to hail) and then even a few rumbles of thunder. I know enough about railways and weather to know that we really want to get as close to home as possible before it gets bad, as signalling doesn't tend to like thunder!!
Apart from a large emergency speed restriction which practically goes from Clapham Junction all the way to Wimbledon delaying us by Petersfield we are back on time and at Havant after some amazing work by the signallers we are a little early. Even as we approach Fratton where would normally approach and be checked down to a red as we come through Portsmouth we see nothing but greens! Arriving at the Harbour (routed straight in and not waiting for anything!) I made a bit of a mistake and stop no where the buffer stops (supposed to be 6 feet) but the train is definitely accommodated and seeing as how we are taking it back out in a minute we left it!
Despite the weather and the great work by Havant signallers nothing really has gone wrong and were starting to think that this would be a nice easy day. We leave the Harbour with our train empty back to the depot and even get the route set all the way to the depot (which is very unusual, you normally get held all over the place until the depot are ready for you!)
So I slow the train down to 3mph to go through the carriage wash thinking almost done, and as I come out of the carriage wash I hear an almighty bang and see a flash. My DI sticks his head out the window and says he can see smoke coming from under our train. I'm getting warning lights on the cab panel in front of me, so on go the emergency brakes. The shunter comes running towards me shouting have you had a SPAD (signal passed at danger)? I'm shouting back saying NO, No (the signal was definitely clear) and so he says "whats wrong then?" So I'm shouting at him to cut the power to the third rail as something has gone bang and affected my train.
He does and also calls for the Network Rail Manager to come and have a look. So everyone starts looking round my train and the power is discharged. Bearing in mind at this time of day there are lots of trains that are behind me waiting to come into the depot and so delays are starting to build.
Eventually, nothing can be found so they decide to recharge the power and see what happens. While I am sat in the cab, the power is put on and I'm watching to see if any fault appear. Quite a few do (as seen in the picture below) but they can all be attributed to the power being off. The shunter then gives us permission to carry on into the depot, and so I try and take power to move the train and nothing happens. A new red fault appears on the saying traction package fault. Fortunately, I manage to clear this fault by turning power off and starting again. Once I did this, the train started to move which is a relief so I take it all the way into the depot and shut it down. As were walking back down the depot we bump into the Network Rail Manager and ask him what happens. He believes that a piece of foil he found had blown onto the third rail and shorted against something which knocked all the power off! Amazing to think something so small, broke our train and blocked an entire depot. Even when I got home after writing the report there are still delays in the Fratton area because of empty trains making the area congested why they wait to enter the depot!!
So my DI was right and the moral of this story is never say you think something is going to happen!!!
list of my faults caused by the power being cut... (except the bottom two which are just air con faults!)
my train stranded in the depot why we try and find out what happened. Where the man is stood is roughly where the bang came from!
Sunday, 6 May 2012
06/05/2012 - Eastleigh, Eastleigh, Eastleigh again...
Well a new route today, and also first day where I have driven with a huge cold. My concentration levels were hard to maintain with a blocked nose, then a runny nose, then congestion etc but I made it through with no mishaps.
Portsmouth to Eastleigh is a nice route and not overly complicated. All the braking points I was taught were at bridges and signals so not too difficult to remember. Returning to Eastleigh was a bit memorable as that was my first railway job on the platform there in 2005 and it was nice to see Mr Keeling still there after all this time.
I also had my first decent scare. It might not sound much but today was my first proper drive on a single line (between Fareham and Botley) and as the evening drew in and I was driving my third trip to Eastleigh, my headlight reflected off a substation and before I knew it I could have sworn there was a train coming towards me. On go the brakes before my DI points out that it is a substation! My heart was thumping but fortunately I didn't put the emergency brake in!! As I came of the single line there was a Southern service waiting to go on, but he was no where near me!
It was also another good day for a few smaller reasons. I had two separate passengers thank me for a smooth journey which is always nice and I also had my fianceé on the train for the first time, so she has been on a train driven by me!
Hey ho, another good day I feel and hopefully I haven't passed this cold on to everyone I have met today and more importantly I hope that it goes by tomorrow so that I can enjoy my day!
Good night!
Portsmouth to Eastleigh is a nice route and not overly complicated. All the braking points I was taught were at bridges and signals so not too difficult to remember. Returning to Eastleigh was a bit memorable as that was my first railway job on the platform there in 2005 and it was nice to see Mr Keeling still there after all this time.
I also had my first decent scare. It might not sound much but today was my first proper drive on a single line (between Fareham and Botley) and as the evening drew in and I was driving my third trip to Eastleigh, my headlight reflected off a substation and before I knew it I could have sworn there was a train coming towards me. On go the brakes before my DI points out that it is a substation! My heart was thumping but fortunately I didn't put the emergency brake in!! As I came of the single line there was a Southern service waiting to go on, but he was no where near me!
It was also another good day for a few smaller reasons. I had two separate passengers thank me for a smooth journey which is always nice and I also had my fianceé on the train for the first time, so she has been on a train driven by me!
Hey ho, another good day I feel and hopefully I haven't passed this cold on to everyone I have met today and more importantly I hope that it goes by tomorrow so that I can enjoy my day!
Good night!
Saturday, 5 May 2012
05-05-12
Good morning all, I promised an update the other night but the thing with these lates is that when I get home I am knackered so go straight to bed!
Double Waterloo's are quite long but for the most part (especially at my stage of training) really good because you get a lot of driving in!
Driving at night is still going well, after the first night it doesn't faze you as much as my DI has taught me braking points for stations that are either audible (ie AWS magnets) or visual in the dark (whistle boards, substations etc). Plus as we have been solely on the Portsmouth to Waterloo via Guildford route I'm already starting to pick up the route which is very pleasing and I have already developed my own braking technique for Petersfield!!
I am in process now of starting to learn level crossings and CSR (Cab Secure Radio) channels along the route and as they weeks progress my DI is going to add more and more so that it sinks in and this will continue until mid-June when I go back to Basingstoke for a week for Advanced Route Learning (which is between Woking and Clapham Junction) and because I travel over the ARL route a lot I am trying to learn this piece of route as well so that I am ready for it.
Anyway, today's agenda is seeing me go out route learning as my DI is on leave, and for a change of scenery (and because my duty on Sunday goes that way) I am going to head to Eastleigh and back a few times!
See you later...
Double Waterloo's are quite long but for the most part (especially at my stage of training) really good because you get a lot of driving in!
sat at Waterloo before going back to Portsmouth
Last nights train ready to go home!
Driving at night is still going well, after the first night it doesn't faze you as much as my DI has taught me braking points for stations that are either audible (ie AWS magnets) or visual in the dark (whistle boards, substations etc). Plus as we have been solely on the Portsmouth to Waterloo via Guildford route I'm already starting to pick up the route which is very pleasing and I have already developed my own braking technique for Petersfield!!
I am in process now of starting to learn level crossings and CSR (Cab Secure Radio) channels along the route and as they weeks progress my DI is going to add more and more so that it sinks in and this will continue until mid-June when I go back to Basingstoke for a week for Advanced Route Learning (which is between Woking and Clapham Junction) and because I travel over the ARL route a lot I am trying to learn this piece of route as well so that I am ready for it.
Anyway, today's agenda is seeing me go out route learning as my DI is on leave, and for a change of scenery (and because my duty on Sunday goes that way) I am going to head to Eastleigh and back a few times!
See you later...
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
01/05/2012 - New Day, New Month, New Post
Just a quick update from my last post.
I am still steadily building up my hours and I am now up to 18ish hours. That's out of the 225 hours that I have to complete (which is looking at being around the end of July!)
Since my last update, I have still been driving Desiro trains in varying formations and I have also been down to Poole, where while I was waiting in the sidings to go back a steam train passed me heading to Swanage!
The weather was nice today as well which is a first since I started driving, and it was actually quite warm. I'm on my firsts double Waterloo tomorrow, and I'll report back then. Otherwise nothing else out of the ordinary has happened! One of my colleagues on the same course had a signal go back to red on him because of a trespasser on the track, and ironically I was in my either guise as a Special Constable at the time heading to the area to try and find him!!
Anyway, I'll keep updating this blog as and when anything happens, take care all!
I am still steadily building up my hours and I am now up to 18ish hours. That's out of the 225 hours that I have to complete (which is looking at being around the end of July!)
Since my last update, I have still been driving Desiro trains in varying formations and I have also been down to Poole, where while I was waiting in the sidings to go back a steam train passed me heading to Swanage!
The weather was nice today as well which is a first since I started driving, and it was actually quite warm. I'm on my firsts double Waterloo tomorrow, and I'll report back then. Otherwise nothing else out of the ordinary has happened! One of my colleagues on the same course had a signal go back to red on him because of a trespasser on the track, and ironically I was in my either guise as a Special Constable at the time heading to the area to try and find him!!
Anyway, I'll keep updating this blog as and when anything happens, take care all!
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
25-04-2012 First day...
Well I was hoping that a short entry would be needed tonight so that I can reflect on today's driving but I don't think it's going to be that short.
For someone on day 1 I had quite a lot thrown at me! The weather itself down south has been abysmal and my first journey resulted in me sliding past the 5 car stop at Fratton and that was quite scary in itself.
Anyway eventually back down at the Harbour (Portsmouth) ready to depart for a service to Waterloo via Basingstoke, everything was going fine until we approached Fareham and there's a very bright red signal on the end of the platform. Lo and behold as we came to a stop the radio springs into life and its the signaller. He tells us that there's some flooding up ahead and that can we stop at the signal at Botley and give him a ring back. So signal clears and off we got towards Botley. Next signal we come to (before the station) is red as well. As we come to a stand again the radio jumps into life and the signaller is back. As were still approaching the signal we don't answer him (as per the rules) but by the time we stop he has gone. We try and call him back but there's no answer, so on with the Hi-Viz jackets and were climbing out of the train to go and use the phone at the station. I wish I had a camera on me today as seeing your train on a single line in the middle of no where is something of a novelty. Anyway we speak to the signaller, and he tells us that he has had reports of a trespasser somewhere between us and Botley station and that we are to travel at caution and try and spot them. So off we go again and this time we are only going between 15-20mph (again as per rules) looking for someone who might be wandering along the track. As we roll into Botley station we can see the police on the platform and they have someone detained with them so its obvious that they have found who we were looking for. As I stop at the stop mark we have yet another red in front of me. Again we try and contact the signaller but we can't get through so its back out of the train and down to the signal phone. The signaller tells us that there's flooding ahead and that as a result he can't clear our signal. We're to pass it at danger with authority and proceed at caution. When we arrive at the flooding we are authorised to travel over it at no more than 5mph.
So back to the train and after speaking to the guard I pass my first signal at danger (with authority!)
Proceeding at caution to where the signaller told us the flooding was and I could see it on the track, the local fields have flooded and are leaking onto the track. Its not too bad but as the rules state 5mph is the top speed and this flooding stretched for 1/2 a mile! At 5mph, it takes ages!!!
Anyway the flooding by then had started to affect the other line so we had to contact the signaller again to tell him that the other line was now affected. As you can see in this picture taken from SWT's twitter feed the flooding caused a fair amount of delays and our train arrived at Eastleigh just over half hour late.
The journey then continued fairly normally until we arrived at Basingstoke where (and not to our surprise) given a NOT TO STOP order to run fast to Waterloo. Sounds good to us! With a good run we could gain a bit of time and our next service would leave London on time.
We leave and accelerate up to 100 mph (a first for me) and we go flying up the fast line. I looked across as we came through Farnborough (what should have been one of our stops) and see a few people hanging about on the platform. As we pass, the guard contacts us and says that control have asked if we can NOW stop at Woking. Fortunately, we have enough time to do so and we start braking for it. It turns out there was miscommunication between the guards at Basingstoke where one relieved another and they had not told passengers that our trains stopping pattern had been altered, so when we arrived at Woking there were a number of people getting off!
We had a fairly good run from there to Waterloo and we eventually arrived at 26 minutes late. No break for us and after a quick check its straight round to platform 14 where our next train is already waiting for us to go. A passenger stood next to the train asked me as I walked past if there was a problem with this train (it was already 6 minutes late) and I told him that it was missing me! He laughed and left me to go and set up.
The rest of the day to be honest was fairly quiet running with delays because of the weather which also made station stops very tricky, especially when you consider that I was day 1 trainee with my Instructor. Still hopefully tomorrow will be much easier and after today I feel that I am almost ready for anything!!
For someone on day 1 I had quite a lot thrown at me! The weather itself down south has been abysmal and my first journey resulted in me sliding past the 5 car stop at Fratton and that was quite scary in itself.
Anyway eventually back down at the Harbour (Portsmouth) ready to depart for a service to Waterloo via Basingstoke, everything was going fine until we approached Fareham and there's a very bright red signal on the end of the platform. Lo and behold as we came to a stop the radio springs into life and its the signaller. He tells us that there's some flooding up ahead and that can we stop at the signal at Botley and give him a ring back. So signal clears and off we got towards Botley. Next signal we come to (before the station) is red as well. As we come to a stand again the radio jumps into life and the signaller is back. As were still approaching the signal we don't answer him (as per the rules) but by the time we stop he has gone. We try and call him back but there's no answer, so on with the Hi-Viz jackets and were climbing out of the train to go and use the phone at the station. I wish I had a camera on me today as seeing your train on a single line in the middle of no where is something of a novelty. Anyway we speak to the signaller, and he tells us that he has had reports of a trespasser somewhere between us and Botley station and that we are to travel at caution and try and spot them. So off we go again and this time we are only going between 15-20mph (again as per rules) looking for someone who might be wandering along the track. As we roll into Botley station we can see the police on the platform and they have someone detained with them so its obvious that they have found who we were looking for. As I stop at the stop mark we have yet another red in front of me. Again we try and contact the signaller but we can't get through so its back out of the train and down to the signal phone. The signaller tells us that there's flooding ahead and that as a result he can't clear our signal. We're to pass it at danger with authority and proceed at caution. When we arrive at the flooding we are authorised to travel over it at no more than 5mph.
So back to the train and after speaking to the guard I pass my first signal at danger (with authority!)
Proceeding at caution to where the signaller told us the flooding was and I could see it on the track, the local fields have flooded and are leaking onto the track. Its not too bad but as the rules state 5mph is the top speed and this flooding stretched for 1/2 a mile! At 5mph, it takes ages!!!
Anyway the flooding by then had started to affect the other line so we had to contact the signaller again to tell him that the other line was now affected. As you can see in this picture taken from SWT's twitter feed the flooding caused a fair amount of delays and our train arrived at Eastleigh just over half hour late.
The journey then continued fairly normally until we arrived at Basingstoke where (and not to our surprise) given a NOT TO STOP order to run fast to Waterloo. Sounds good to us! With a good run we could gain a bit of time and our next service would leave London on time.
We leave and accelerate up to 100 mph (a first for me) and we go flying up the fast line. I looked across as we came through Farnborough (what should have been one of our stops) and see a few people hanging about on the platform. As we pass, the guard contacts us and says that control have asked if we can NOW stop at Woking. Fortunately, we have enough time to do so and we start braking for it. It turns out there was miscommunication between the guards at Basingstoke where one relieved another and they had not told passengers that our trains stopping pattern had been altered, so when we arrived at Woking there were a number of people getting off!
We had a fairly good run from there to Waterloo and we eventually arrived at 26 minutes late. No break for us and after a quick check its straight round to platform 14 where our next train is already waiting for us to go. A passenger stood next to the train asked me as I walked past if there was a problem with this train (it was already 6 minutes late) and I told him that it was missing me! He laughed and left me to go and set up.
The rest of the day to be honest was fairly quiet running with delays because of the weather which also made station stops very tricky, especially when you consider that I was day 1 trainee with my Instructor. Still hopefully tomorrow will be much easier and after today I feel that I am almost ready for anything!!
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
24-04-2012 And so to the driving...
Well I am at the point of the training I have been looking forward too. Proper driving! :) Monday I spent the day at Basingstoke training school, where I had a human factors brief. It showed how your mind works and how different factors can adversely affect you. It also showed how your short term memory can only hold about 7 items and for no more than about 10 seconds although for me that sounds wildly optimistic!! We further learned how, being tired effects you and what you can do to make sure that your concentration remains high. An interesting day in all and at the end of it we had a nice chat about the next stage in our training. It was also the first day in a few weeks where the entire course was together again in one place and it was good to trade stories and experiences and was good to see only a few mistakes were made like missing the AWS!
I came back to the depot today and as luck would have it (as I was raring to start driving) I had a company development day. It was a day you do twice a year with other drivers and you get together and discuss what's going on with the company and what drivers can do to help. We talk over incidents that may have occurred not just at SWT but all over the UK and try to learn why they happened and what can be done to avoid doing it as well. Not a bad day and it gave me a chance to meet some other drivers and also spend the day with my DI ready for tomorrow.
And here it is... This is my first duty in full driving and as you can see has a 0700 start so I think an early night after dinner for me!
I came back to the depot today and as luck would have it (as I was raring to start driving) I had a company development day. It was a day you do twice a year with other drivers and you get together and discuss what's going on with the company and what drivers can do to help. We talk over incidents that may have occurred not just at SWT but all over the UK and try to learn why they happened and what can be done to avoid doing it as well. Not a bad day and it gave me a chance to meet some other drivers and also spend the day with my DI ready for tomorrow.
And here it is... This is my first duty in full driving and as you can see has a 0700 start so I think an early night after dinner for me!
Just a quick one to help you with abbreviations...
PC - Prepare Circuits (Set up cab for service)
TC - Trip Circuit (Close cab down when finished)
RELD - Relieved by (someone takes your train)
REL - Relieve (you take the train from someone)
PNB - Personal Needs Break ( Grub :) )
PASS - Travel Passenger (Get on the train but don't drive it)
AP - Attach Portion (Couple to another train)
DOO - Driver Only Operated (Empty coaching trains that have no guard)
444/450 - Class of train that service should be
Anything else you would like to know, leave a comment and I'll try and answer it!!
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
18-04-2012 an update...
Good afternoon
Just a bit of an update, nothing really new has happened to me as of late, but I thought an update would be an idea just to show that I am still alive and well!
Since my last update when I was driving a diesel down to Exeter I have spent a few days on class 455 suburban stock and have seen visits to both Chessington South, and I also had a go from Waterloo to Guildford via Epsom and actually drove past the house of Jimmy White the snooker player!!
I must admit that I had a comfortable feeling driving one of these trains. They are so simple and are very good for braking, it was also nice not to have any modern technology on this units like a train management system, it felt like the train was much more "mechanical". It's a shame that I won't be driving these at Fratton!
Since the 455's I have started on 458 "Juniper" class trains. These are mostly found on the Reading line and when I drove one on the slow speed days I must admit I didn't really like them. However, since driving one empty yesterday and driving a very busy 0724 from Reading to Waterloo this morning I now have a new respect for them. Their braking is absolutely amazing. the brake control is fully adjustable and goes from Low to High. When driving normally, to brake the train you put it to Low which is the trains lightest braking setting and the deceleration is amazing. You very rarely move the controller past "Low" and I can only imagine just how good the brakes are if you put it into High!!
On another note, I had my first train fault today on the above service. I pulled into Richmond and after the doors released and alarm sounded on the cab. Consulting the TMS (Train Management System) it told me that the Call for Aid button had been pressed in coach 6. After contacting the guard to let him know what was happening I contacted the signaller to tell him of the delay. While I was waiting I saw that the Call for Aid was sorted and that I could continue. However, it immediately came on again and we got no response when we attempted to speak to it. The guard could not reset it and neither could we, so being very wary of the fact that my train was 5 minutes late already, was absolutely packed and there were trains starting to stack up behind me, we contacted fleet control at Waterloo to see if they could help us. It turned out they couldn't but they did give us permission to continue and allow us to be met at Waterloo by a fitter (which is good as I didn't really want to turf everyone out at Richmond!!)
After speaking to the signaller again, we continued on and eventually arrived at Waterloo 7 late. My old habit as a guard kept making me want to reach for the handset and make a PA announcement but then it occurred to me that I had a guard of my own to do that for me!!
Other than that, an uneventful day. Heavy rain has made driving a little challenging today and it is set to be the same tomorrow. Back to Reading again tomorrow which means getting up at 0400! Might as well go to bed now!!
Just a bit of an update, nothing really new has happened to me as of late, but I thought an update would be an idea just to show that I am still alive and well!
Since my last update when I was driving a diesel down to Exeter I have spent a few days on class 455 suburban stock and have seen visits to both Chessington South, and I also had a go from Waterloo to Guildford via Epsom and actually drove past the house of Jimmy White the snooker player!!
I must admit that I had a comfortable feeling driving one of these trains. They are so simple and are very good for braking, it was also nice not to have any modern technology on this units like a train management system, it felt like the train was much more "mechanical". It's a shame that I won't be driving these at Fratton!
Since the 455's I have started on 458 "Juniper" class trains. These are mostly found on the Reading line and when I drove one on the slow speed days I must admit I didn't really like them. However, since driving one empty yesterday and driving a very busy 0724 from Reading to Waterloo this morning I now have a new respect for them. Their braking is absolutely amazing. the brake control is fully adjustable and goes from Low to High. When driving normally, to brake the train you put it to Low which is the trains lightest braking setting and the deceleration is amazing. You very rarely move the controller past "Low" and I can only imagine just how good the brakes are if you put it into High!!
On another note, I had my first train fault today on the above service. I pulled into Richmond and after the doors released and alarm sounded on the cab. Consulting the TMS (Train Management System) it told me that the Call for Aid button had been pressed in coach 6. After contacting the guard to let him know what was happening I contacted the signaller to tell him of the delay. While I was waiting I saw that the Call for Aid was sorted and that I could continue. However, it immediately came on again and we got no response when we attempted to speak to it. The guard could not reset it and neither could we, so being very wary of the fact that my train was 5 minutes late already, was absolutely packed and there were trains starting to stack up behind me, we contacted fleet control at Waterloo to see if they could help us. It turned out they couldn't but they did give us permission to continue and allow us to be met at Waterloo by a fitter (which is good as I didn't really want to turf everyone out at Richmond!!)
After speaking to the signaller again, we continued on and eventually arrived at Waterloo 7 late. My old habit as a guard kept making me want to reach for the handset and make a PA announcement but then it occurred to me that I had a guard of my own to do that for me!!
Other than that, an uneventful day. Heavy rain has made driving a little challenging today and it is set to be the same tomorrow. Back to Reading again tomorrow which means getting up at 0400! Might as well go to bed now!!
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
10-04-2012 Diesels to Exeter
Just a bit of an update.
I drove my first diesel today in the form of a class 159 down from Salisbury to Exeter St David's. It is probably the only time I will ever drive down here considering that Fratton do not sign this route. Nevertheless it was fun and I did enjoy it and its a shame that I won't sign the units for a good few years.
Still it was good to drive down into deepest Devon and got experience with the driving of a 159 as they are somewhat different to the Desiro's that I am used to so far.
Tomorrow sees me up at Clapham Yard to drive a class 455 for the next few days. We will be an empty train tomorrow and then back to passenger services for the rest of the week!
I drove my first diesel today in the form of a class 159 down from Salisbury to Exeter St David's. It is probably the only time I will ever drive down here considering that Fratton do not sign this route. Nevertheless it was fun and I did enjoy it and its a shame that I won't sign the units for a good few years.
Still it was good to drive down into deepest Devon and got experience with the driving of a 159 as they are somewhat different to the Desiro's that I am used to so far.
Tomorrow sees me up at Clapham Yard to drive a class 455 for the next few days. We will be an empty train tomorrow and then back to passenger services for the rest of the week!
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
04-04-2012 Calmer now
I still haven't got rid of the smile I got from driving yesterday. It got bigger today as I walked up platform 8 at London Waterloo watching passengers board my 8 car class 450. It suddenly dawned on me that I was going to be one that is driving them to their destinations and that scared me a little.
I got into the front cab and set the cab up ready for service. I had about 5 minutes before I was due to leave and I was watching the sheer number of movements of trains coming and going. A minute before departure and my controlling signal W15 is stubbornly refusing the clear and is still red. We had heard as we walked up the train that there were line problems causing hassle around the Basingstoke area so I just assumed that this was what was delaying me leaving. Still that all changed when 2 minutes late the signal finally cleared for the Up Relief line and seconds later I got the ready to start signal from the guard. This in itself was unusual as I, in the past, have always been the guard giving the driver the signal and so it was really a strange feeling to be the other end.
Anyway, we left Waterloo 2 late and headed down towards Clapham Junction watching trains coming and going, still in awe about how busy it is. Despite being checked down by signals towards Clapham Jct and giving someone a heart attack when I blew the horn going through the station as they were near the edge, it was fairly uneventful down to Woking. My station stops are already improving no end and I don't think passengers would have noticed my inexperience. Driving truly is something else and would recommend it even now to anyone, and I realised that I cannot wait until I am fully qualified and doing this everyday for myself!
We were still two minutes late at Woking as I didn't really have the chance to catch any time up. One of the best feelings today was being confident enough to wave at passing drivers and better still sound a quick horn to children who were stood on overbridges (something that I used to do about 10 years ago!) and before I knew it I was coming down the mainline and had left Basingstoke with just one more station to go! We were almost back on time as there is a bit of time between the last two stations and as I approached I was checked down to the last signal before the station waiting for the return service to depart the platform. I was preparing to stop as it passed me but fortunately the signal cleared for me and rolled into Basingstoke platform 1, 1 minute early. After securing the train, I could finally relax!
All again tomorrow!! :D :D :D
I got into the front cab and set the cab up ready for service. I had about 5 minutes before I was due to leave and I was watching the sheer number of movements of trains coming and going. A minute before departure and my controlling signal W15 is stubbornly refusing the clear and is still red. We had heard as we walked up the train that there were line problems causing hassle around the Basingstoke area so I just assumed that this was what was delaying me leaving. Still that all changed when 2 minutes late the signal finally cleared for the Up Relief line and seconds later I got the ready to start signal from the guard. This in itself was unusual as I, in the past, have always been the guard giving the driver the signal and so it was really a strange feeling to be the other end.
Anyway, we left Waterloo 2 late and headed down towards Clapham Junction watching trains coming and going, still in awe about how busy it is. Despite being checked down by signals towards Clapham Jct and giving someone a heart attack when I blew the horn going through the station as they were near the edge, it was fairly uneventful down to Woking. My station stops are already improving no end and I don't think passengers would have noticed my inexperience. Driving truly is something else and would recommend it even now to anyone, and I realised that I cannot wait until I am fully qualified and doing this everyday for myself!
We were still two minutes late at Woking as I didn't really have the chance to catch any time up. One of the best feelings today was being confident enough to wave at passing drivers and better still sound a quick horn to children who were stood on overbridges (something that I used to do about 10 years ago!) and before I knew it I was coming down the mainline and had left Basingstoke with just one more station to go! We were almost back on time as there is a bit of time between the last two stations and as I approached I was checked down to the last signal before the station waiting for the return service to depart the platform. I was preparing to stop as it passed me but fortunately the signal cleared for me and rolled into Basingstoke platform 1, 1 minute early. After securing the train, I could finally relax!
All again tomorrow!! :D :D :D
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
03-04-2012 Aaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS in all my excitement I forgot to wish BDT4-12 the best. they started yesterday and I have a personal friend on that course. Good luck mate, and if any of you read this, feel free to say hello if you see me!!
Well I am just home from my first day on the mainline and I still have a massive smile on my face.. I just don't seem to be able to shift it! :D I started at Clapham Yard and almost immediately I was slow speed driving again up to the outlet signal and onto the mainline. We sat quietly for about 5 minutes while trains whizzed by still sat at my red position light, then without warning the points ahead of me swung over and my signal cleared. No more hesitation for me and I reset the DRA and took power at 5mph over the points onto the mainline.
As soon as my train was clear I was told to open up and then for the first time I went above 5mph and accelerated up the linespeed of 60!! Now I was in a class 450 and frankly the power these units give is amazing and before I knew it I was shutting off and coasting.
I was waving at passing trains and watching like a hawk for signals even though I had a very knowledgeable trainer sat next to me giving instructions.
In a manner of speaking I went in at the deep end and anyone who has ever been in that area will know that it is an incredibly complex area with many tracks, trains and signals to watch for.
I felt comfortable though and I decided that the cab of a train is definitely where I want to be for a job.
My first shock was approaching my first red mainline signal, and that was a nerve wracking experience as the signals around Waterloo have been passed before (definitely to be avoided!!) but I stopped and as I did so it cleared showing me entering platform 9 but also that there was a train already there.
I pulled in very cautiously knowing that a train will be there and lo and behold a class 444 was there and I had to approach carefully. The instructor knew the train much better than me and had to keep telling me to take the brake off, but its hard to do that when you are approaching a train and it feels like it is getting very close, very quickly!!
Still I stopped 6 feet away as per the rules, and secured the train and could finally relax (phew!!) What I didn't realise how much my hands were sweating and I had only done a 5 minute trip!!
I changed ends and set the train up ready to take it as far as Woking when one of the other trainees on the train would take over. I should stress why I remember that today was an empty train so we didn't have to worry too much about passenger comfort.
My signal cleared and we were given right away by the platform assistant and off we go again!
I took the train down towards Woking on both the fast and slow lines and the instructor commented on how well I handled the train, I put this down to all the years of driving I have done on OPENBVE!!
I braked well for cautionary signals and also for speed limits both permanent and emergency and also tried my hand at stopping at Walton on Thames and Woking. The first station I had to brake a bit harder than was usual as I was going faster than the train appeared to be going, however I still stopped at the mark with no jolt. At Woking, I feel that I managed a much better stop and sat bang on the 4 car mark.
So 450042 is the first mainline unit I have driven and as for tomorrow....
2L25 1012 South West Trains service from London Waterloo to Basingstoke. In passenger service. With yours truly driving. Wish me luck, there's rain on the forecast ......
Well I am just home from my first day on the mainline and I still have a massive smile on my face.. I just don't seem to be able to shift it! :D I started at Clapham Yard and almost immediately I was slow speed driving again up to the outlet signal and onto the mainline. We sat quietly for about 5 minutes while trains whizzed by still sat at my red position light, then without warning the points ahead of me swung over and my signal cleared. No more hesitation for me and I reset the DRA and took power at 5mph over the points onto the mainline.
As soon as my train was clear I was told to open up and then for the first time I went above 5mph and accelerated up the linespeed of 60!! Now I was in a class 450 and frankly the power these units give is amazing and before I knew it I was shutting off and coasting.
I was waving at passing trains and watching like a hawk for signals even though I had a very knowledgeable trainer sat next to me giving instructions.
In a manner of speaking I went in at the deep end and anyone who has ever been in that area will know that it is an incredibly complex area with many tracks, trains and signals to watch for.
I felt comfortable though and I decided that the cab of a train is definitely where I want to be for a job.
My first shock was approaching my first red mainline signal, and that was a nerve wracking experience as the signals around Waterloo have been passed before (definitely to be avoided!!) but I stopped and as I did so it cleared showing me entering platform 9 but also that there was a train already there.
I pulled in very cautiously knowing that a train will be there and lo and behold a class 444 was there and I had to approach carefully. The instructor knew the train much better than me and had to keep telling me to take the brake off, but its hard to do that when you are approaching a train and it feels like it is getting very close, very quickly!!
Still I stopped 6 feet away as per the rules, and secured the train and could finally relax (phew!!) What I didn't realise how much my hands were sweating and I had only done a 5 minute trip!!
I changed ends and set the train up ready to take it as far as Woking when one of the other trainees on the train would take over. I should stress why I remember that today was an empty train so we didn't have to worry too much about passenger comfort.
My signal cleared and we were given right away by the platform assistant and off we go again!
I took the train down towards Woking on both the fast and slow lines and the instructor commented on how well I handled the train, I put this down to all the years of driving I have done on OPENBVE!!
I braked well for cautionary signals and also for speed limits both permanent and emergency and also tried my hand at stopping at Walton on Thames and Woking. The first station I had to brake a bit harder than was usual as I was going faster than the train appeared to be going, however I still stopped at the mark with no jolt. At Woking, I feel that I managed a much better stop and sat bang on the 4 car mark.
So 450042 is the first mainline unit I have driven and as for tomorrow....
2L25 1012 South West Trains service from London Waterloo to Basingstoke. In passenger service. With yours truly driving. Wish me luck, there's rain on the forecast ......
me before proceeding on my first trip
cab of 450042
another picture showing my work "office"
450042 today's unit that I drove...
Monday, 2 April 2012
02-04-2012 Last day of slow driving...
After driving a class 450 today up and down 49 road at Clapham Yard at 5mph, tomorrow is another big day...
I will be taking an empty train onto the mainline for the first time and travelling at normal linespeeds and also observing signals. Definitely brown trousers time.
If all goes as planned, I will be driving my first train (which should be a class 450) out of Clapham Yard just towards the end of the morning peak and then go up to Waterloo. Then change ends and make my way towards Woking on the slow lines.
That will be it for tomorrow but that's plenty to be getting on with. After that day, the following one will see me driving not only mainline, but with passengers!!
It's also goodbye today for 7 of my colleagues as for this part of the training we split up into groups of 4 and won't see the other trainees until we go back to the training school (for a human factors brief) on 23rd April! Hopefully, there will be some good stories to tell and hear by then!
Wish me luck!!
I will be taking an empty train onto the mainline for the first time and travelling at normal linespeeds and also observing signals. Definitely brown trousers time.
If all goes as planned, I will be driving my first train (which should be a class 450) out of Clapham Yard just towards the end of the morning peak and then go up to Waterloo. Then change ends and make my way towards Woking on the slow lines.
That will be it for tomorrow but that's plenty to be getting on with. After that day, the following one will see me driving not only mainline, but with passengers!!
It's also goodbye today for 7 of my colleagues as for this part of the training we split up into groups of 4 and won't see the other trainees until we go back to the training school (for a human factors brief) on 23rd April! Hopefully, there will be some good stories to tell and hear by then!
Wish me luck!!
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