Good God, never had any of that when I joined the footplate grade as a cleaner in 1975 at Straford MPD, East London. Made Driver 2years later. Richard, you remind of a Driver who got me through the 1972 edition of Rules 6hr oral exam. He used to run the MIC (mutual improvement class) at Stratford shed on a purely voluntary basis for us Secondmen to become Drivers. We gave up our off duty time to learn. In those days, the maximum age to join the Footplate grade was 30., I just scraped in at 28 after 5 years in the RAF.
Us Pway were lucky,, we had the rules read to us .... am guessing it was because early days, labourers couldn't read. Rule reading or Shoveling, easy choice for me lol. Afternoon spent in Pway cabin, kettle singing nicely . 😁😁😀😎👍👍
Excellent! Takes me back to sitting in a classroom in the 90s! I passed my rules test with 99.9%, the only question I got wrong was the speed through a train wash which I said 5mph and of course it's 3mph! Thanks for doing this, I look forward to seeing what has changed!
I heard a story of someone who was on track for 100%. But answered a question on whistle boards wrong. What times do you have to sound horn upon sight of whistle board? I believe they said Between 06:00-00:00 (24:00) Instead of Between 06:00-23:59
Hi Richard, just as yourself I wanted to be a train driver from the age of 4. However life has taken me a completely different direction from that so railway and transport is just one of the many subjects I take a keen interest on. I'm glad that you're doing this series for any aspiring train drivers out there. I'm pretty sure we will all have much to learn from your years of experience. I'll definitely be watching religiously, time permitting. Cheers! PS: As a portuguese man I definitely agree on Costa Nova/Portugal being the best destinations in the world :)
Nice one! Costa Nova is beautiful. My wife is Portuguese and her mother lives in Vagos. We visit as often as we can, although I prefer Praia de Barra. The sea is much calmer thanks to the harbour wall, better for young children :-)
Up here in the North West, some of our lines are being electrified with overhead. As my wife and I regularly travel over a railway bridge, where I saw a track maintenance car, with a static blue light on it. Never seen that on the railway before. So I googled, it now states "Railroad blue lights signal to railroad operators that workers are on, under or between railroad rolling equipment." before it mentioned something about, being qualified for the electrics. Richard, perhaps you could or someone else in here might be able to clarify. Cheers, great info as always.
JUMP ! Great job driving (in my 40 year experience),just be ready for horrendous early starts,random rostering and late finishes.Aside from that ,go for it ,sooner rather than later!
Wow just realized how much the railways have changed my late dad was a driver/guard on the Cardiff valleys back in the 70s so much change over the years
I don't think i'll ever become an actual driver, but as a keen simmer, it'll be interesting to learn the rules properly. In the gaming world, you can pretty much do what you like and don't really get taught the rules, but it'll be good to know how it's "supposed" to be done.
I started on the footplate with BR in 1980 and was a driver early '80s into the '90s before moving into supervisory then management. Drove freight and passenger, preferred freight, nobody standing waiting to ask why you arrived two minutes late!
I've been in the railway for 5 years now and I just got a position of Depot driver/shunter. I would be interested in a video about your experience doing that role!
The ammount of books my dad carried around in his drivers bag, for BR traction, plus The Bible (rule book) and appendices, plus Wtt , i think you will need a longer video . Lol. I remember dad would sit for hrs reading, more so, when he went from steam to diesel. 😀👍😎
Thanks for the video. Good luck with your career path. Once you're in the educational role, do you have to maintain a certain amount of hours driving to keep yours skills refreshed? Thanks
Yep, random D&A can happen when you least expect it.... Most annoyingly when you have just got back from a PNB and are unable to provide until you have managed to drink a litre of water and wait a few minutes (thankfully they were understanding in this case!) I did say that if they had come to me 2 minutes earlier it would have been no problem! (I'm in S&T and a PTS and COSS holder although I am normally office based) For me certain over the counter medicines have come back with a 48h after last dose restriction, (which isn't a big deal being office based) where you can't do certain safety critical work for 48h after the last dose you have taken. Mainly stuff that can make you drowsy... falling asleep at your desk in the office is not a safety hazard, falling asleep while working lineside could be a hazard
Hi Richard, yep just like i wanted to be train driver from a very young age, but i very short sighted in my right eye (nerve did not form properly before birth, rare to happen in one eye, very rare in both) so it's only ever going to be a dream. However i enjoy my job in the motor industry, Im an MOT tester/tech, our drink drive level is the same as the legal limit, but DVSA have the power to give random tests, and yes if you test positive and it's above the limit we are struck off from testing straight away, and we can also be liable to prosecution and can loose our driving licence. i also played safe and told my VE (vehicle examiner) that i'm on antidepressants i can of ramdom drug test, so it's logged. I'm fine to carry on in my role and drive as the one im taking don't cause any effects like falling asleep or dizzyness
Thank you for doing this series I'm sure it will help me alot as I have just applied for a train driver job and my application status is saying under consideration so fingers crossed 🤞 you definitely have a sub from me 😊
Hi Richard and to think how many are getting away with it on the roads I'm a railway enthusiast since about 4years old and remember the golden days of steam locomotives I'm 68 now and still miss the golden days
Look forward to the series. I’m currently looking for a trainee driver position and I have some experience in the interview stages (Passed at National level). Can you recommend sites to visit, it seems very quiet on the TOC’s web sites. Keep up the great work.
Not many TOCs are running training courses, there is currently a surplus of drivers post COVID, this is also why the government are putting the pressure on in wage negotiations. This will change sometime soon because many of us older drivers are nearing retirement age and will need to be replaced.
I remember my first medical, made the mistake of having a wee when I arrived at the station before walking to the actual medical. When I got to the medical, I couldn’t go, so I must of drank at least 2-3 litres of water before finally being able to go. Then the flood gates opened had to go twice on the way back to the station. 😂 With the alcohol testing, I know it’s happened in the passed where someone has had an issue in the yard, and they’ve alcohol tested everyone present, and caught others out. Not worth the risk of even thinking about drinking (or drug) working.
Great videos - thank you! I do have a question though! When you go from class 66 to another loco do you need additional training or is the training basically related to driving itself and that's it?
You will have to complete a course for every loco that you drive. Sometimes this is as simple as a cab conversion Where types are similar, or sometimes it may be a week or so in the classroom. Most of that relates to learning about the way locomotive works and how to fix it when it goes wrong rather than the physical act of driving.
Great video and buzzing for more🎉. Not sure if it's off-topic, but can I ask. Whiles route learning do conductor sit in the cab with the driver or do they have to learn from the passenger cabin or back cab. I'm only asking as im starting as a trainee conductor in June 😀
Normally from the passenger compartment. Conductor route learning is more about learning the platform train interface procedures at each location, and general route familiarisation. You can only ask though, some drivers may Let you in the front if they are allowed.
@@DadRail You CANNOT learn a route from the side window of a passenger train, nor from a video. If you can, then clearly rail safety has gone downhill since I left.
@@Mariazellerbahn You most certainly can not learn from the passenger compartment if you are learning roads as a driver. You need to be in the cab where you can see the road ahead and learn the signals and speed limits. However for a guard it’s not necessary to know all the line speeds and signal locations. It’s more about knowing the PTI requirements and being familiar with your location on the route.
@DadRail thank you 😊 just another thing I've had some people tell me not to become a conductor if I want to progress to be a driver as they are completely different roles and may put me at a disadvantage as they have to backfill my role if I left to become a driver. Would you say that's true at all because at my current TOC we are encouraged to apply for internal vacancies to further our career.
Hi Richard, I'm not much of a drinker, but I wanted to clarify something. I'm assuming you mean substances can remain in your bloodstream for months, but how much time between your last drink and your next shift to have 0 alcohol in your bloodstream? I assume train drivers can still drink but must ensure a timeframe to become sober again. What do you think that timeframe would be?
It all depends on your Metabolic rate, im not much of a drinker myself but i play it really safe, if i have 1 pint of stout or bitter (i don't do lager) i won't drive for 12 hours, it is said that a fit and healthy person's liver can git rid of a a pint of alcahol in approx 1 hour. i still don't drive for 12 hours after 2 pints, i won't drink more then 2 though, unless it's a birthday bash or christmas, i don't like tyhe feeling of being drunk.
That’s a hell of a lot, have you got a dodgy reputation? I’m not joking I was reputed to like a drink when I started and had 3 randoms in my first year, I’ve only had 2 more in the subsequent 20+ years.
@@paulm2467 nope not at all it is just really weird how i have had that many and some people have been there years and not had one! I've passes 100% everytime so i dunno guess they just like me so much they wanna see me lots! :p
Good God, never had any of that when I joined the footplate grade as a cleaner in 1975 at Straford MPD, East London. Made Driver 2years later.
Richard, you remind of a Driver who got me through the 1972 edition of Rules 6hr oral exam. He used to run the MIC (mutual improvement class) at Stratford shed on a purely voluntary basis for us Secondmen to become Drivers. We gave up our off duty time to learn.
In those days, the maximum age to join the Footplate grade was 30., I just scraped in at 28 after 5 years in the RAF.
Us Pway were lucky,, we had the rules read to us .... am guessing it was because early days, labourers couldn't read. Rule reading or Shoveling, easy choice for me lol. Afternoon spent in Pway cabin, kettle singing nicely . 😁😁😀😎👍👍
Neil with the Ponytail, he was a Stratford driver, moved to Salop.. late 80s, Hell of a nice fella.,, fellow biker too. 😎😎👍
I’m never going to be a train driver, but that was really interesting. Looking forward to the next videos.
Excellent! Takes me back to sitting in a classroom in the 90s! I passed my rules test with 99.9%, the only question I got wrong was the speed through a train wash which I said 5mph and of course it's 3mph!
Thanks for doing this, I look forward to seeing what has changed!
I heard a story of someone who was on track for 100%.
But answered a question on whistle boards wrong.
What times do you have to sound horn upon sight of whistle board?
I believe they said
Between 06:00-00:00 (24:00)
Instead of
Between 06:00-23:59
Hi Richard, just as yourself I wanted to be a train driver from the age of 4. However life has taken me a completely different direction from that so railway and transport is just one of the many subjects I take a keen interest on. I'm glad that you're doing this series for any aspiring train drivers out there. I'm pretty sure we will all have much to learn from your years of experience. I'll definitely be watching religiously, time permitting. Cheers! PS: As a portuguese man I definitely agree on Costa Nova/Portugal being the best destinations in the world :)
Nice one! Costa Nova is beautiful. My wife is Portuguese and her mother lives in Vagos. We visit as often as we can, although I prefer Praia de Barra. The sea is much calmer thanks to the harbour wall, better for young children :-)
So looking forward to next week's video, very informative and thanks to the Happy Passenger Company for welcoming me onboard 😉
These are so helpful, I’m 18 now so hoping I can get into a railway company soon :)
Up here in the North West, some of our lines are being electrified with overhead. As my wife and I regularly travel over a railway bridge, where I saw a track maintenance car, with a static blue light on it. Never seen that on the railway before. So I googled, it now states "Railroad blue lights signal to railroad operators that workers are on, under or between railroad rolling equipment." before it mentioned something about, being qualified for the electrics. Richard, perhaps you could or someone else in here might be able to clarify. Cheers, great info as always.
Hello Richard, it's Andy from Redhill. Fantastic video. See you soon mate 😊
Part 1... of many.
Expert forward planning by Dad Rail!
Open statements are always the safest :-)
I already work on the railway but haven't taken the jump to driving yet. This should be an interesting series. Thanks!
JUMP ! Great job driving (in my 40 year experience),just be ready for horrendous early starts,random rostering and late finishes.Aside from that ,go for it ,sooner rather than later!
Wow just realized how much the railways have changed my late dad was a driver/guard on the Cardiff valleys back in the 70s so much change over the years
You are finally back!
Your video is perfect timing I am going to apply for a passenger drivers role your videos are always informative
The last thing you want on a high speed train is a high on speed driver
Hello Richard, Nice Video - very interesting, looking forward to the next one, 😸🚂
Really looking forward to this, great idea!👍
I don't think i'll ever become an actual driver, but as a keen simmer, it'll be interesting to learn the rules properly. In the gaming world, you can pretty much do what you like and don't really get taught the rules, but it'll be good to know how it's "supposed" to be done.
Been looking forward to this series!!!
Thanks for that Richard. Okay, I've watched the rules now, let me know when it's time for the practical :)
Can’t wait for the next episode
Just passed my rules exam 🎉 keep up the content
Excellent Well done!
I started on the footplate with BR in 1980 and was a driver early '80s into the '90s before moving into supervisory then management. Drove freight and passenger, preferred freight, nobody standing waiting to ask why you arrived two minutes late!
Started off as a shunter i am now a shunter driver, soon i will be a mainline driver. Just like you i wanted to drive trains since i was very little.
I've been in the railway for 5 years now and I just got a position of Depot driver/shunter. I would be interested in a video about your experience doing that role!
The ammount of books my dad carried around in his drivers bag, for BR traction, plus The Bible (rule book) and appendices, plus Wtt , i think you will need a longer video . Lol.
I remember dad would sit for hrs reading, more so, when he went from steam to diesel.
😀👍😎
Just had my mentor interview! I'm sure this series will help me keep on top of rules 😅
Good luck Joe
@@DadRail thanks mate, hope you're well!
Thanks for the video.
Good luck with your career path. Once you're in the educational role, do you have to maintain a certain amount of hours driving to keep yours skills refreshed?
Thanks
Yep, random D&A can happen when you least expect it.... Most annoyingly when you have just got back from a PNB and are unable to provide until you have managed to drink a litre of water and wait a few minutes (thankfully they were understanding in this case!) I did say that if they had come to me 2 minutes earlier it would have been no problem!
(I'm in S&T and a PTS and COSS holder although I am normally office based)
For me certain over the counter medicines have come back with a 48h after last dose restriction, (which isn't a big deal being office based) where you can't do certain safety critical work for 48h after the last dose you have taken. Mainly stuff that can make you drowsy... falling asleep at your desk in the office is not a safety hazard, falling asleep while working lineside could be a hazard
Hi Richard, yep just like i wanted to be train driver from a very young age, but i very short sighted in my right eye (nerve did not form properly before birth, rare to happen in one eye, very rare in both) so it's only ever going to be a dream. However i enjoy my job in the motor industry, Im an MOT tester/tech, our drink drive level is the same as the legal limit, but DVSA have the power to give random tests, and yes if you test positive and it's above the limit we are struck off from testing straight away, and we can also be liable to prosecution and can loose our driving licence. i also played safe and told my VE (vehicle examiner) that i'm on antidepressants i can of ramdom drug test, so it's logged. I'm fine to carry on in my role and drive as the one im taking don't cause any effects like falling asleep or dizzyness
Thank you for doing this series I'm sure it will help me alot as I have just applied for a train driver job and my application status is saying under consideration so fingers crossed 🤞 you definitely have a sub from me 😊
Perhaps make a playlist with all the videos in this series?
Already done Train Driver Rules
th-cam.com/play/PLwHrwUA2ZAtCctwOi-F76oUcmSlX0Az48.html
Hi Richard! I’m Michael my brother’s called Richard too! 😃
Hi Richard and to think how many are getting away with it on the roads I'm a railway enthusiast since about 4years old and remember the golden days of steam locomotives I'm 68 now and still miss the golden days
Look forward to the series. I’m currently looking for a trainee driver position and I have some experience in the interview stages (Passed at National level). Can you recommend sites to visit, it seems very quiet on the TOC’s web sites. Keep up the great work.
Not many TOCs are running training courses, there is currently a surplus of drivers post COVID, this is also why the government are putting the pressure on in wage negotiations. This will change sometime soon because many of us older drivers are nearing retirement age and will need to be replaced.
I remember my first medical, made the mistake of having a wee when I arrived at the station before walking to the actual medical.
When I got to the medical, I couldn’t go, so I must of drank at least 2-3 litres of water before finally being able to go.
Then the flood gates opened had to go twice on the way back to the station. 😂
With the alcohol testing, I know it’s happened in the passed where someone has had an issue in the yard, and they’ve alcohol tested everyone present, and caught others out.
Not worth the risk of even thinking about drinking (or drug) working.
nice video!
Great videos - thank you!
I do have a question though! When you go from class 66 to another loco do you need additional training or is the training basically related to driving itself and that's it?
You will have to complete a course for every loco that you drive. Sometimes this is as simple as a cab conversion Where types are similar, or sometimes it may be a week or so in the classroom. Most of that relates to learning about the way locomotive works and how to fix it when it goes wrong rather than the physical act of driving.
@@DadRail I didn't think about fixing it but that does makes sense. Thanks so much for the reply!
Great video and buzzing for more🎉. Not sure if it's off-topic, but can I ask. Whiles route learning do conductor sit in the cab with the driver or do they have to learn from the passenger cabin or back cab. I'm only asking as im starting as a trainee conductor in June 😀
Normally from the passenger compartment. Conductor route learning is more about learning the platform train interface procedures at each location, and general route familiarisation. You can only ask though, some drivers may Let you in the front if they are allowed.
@@DadRail You CANNOT learn a route from the side window of a passenger train, nor from a video. If you can, then clearly rail safety has gone downhill since I left.
@@Mariazellerbahn You most certainly can not learn from the passenger compartment if you are learning roads as a driver. You need to be in the cab where you can see the road ahead and learn the signals and speed limits. However for a guard it’s not necessary to know all the line speeds and signal locations. It’s more about knowing the PTI requirements and being familiar with your location on the route.
@DadRail thank you 😊 just another thing I've had some people tell me not to become a conductor if I want to progress to be a driver as they are completely different roles and may put me at a disadvantage as they have to backfill my role if I left to become a driver. Would you say that's true at all because at my current TOC we are encouraged to apply for internal vacancies to further our career.
I've got an interview tomorrow for Northern Rail as a Maintenance Depot Driver in Heaton.. do you have any advice you can give me?
Hi Richard, I'm not much of a drinker, but I wanted to clarify something. I'm assuming you mean substances can remain in your bloodstream for months, but how much time between your last drink and your next shift to have 0 alcohol in your bloodstream? I assume train drivers can still drink but must ensure a timeframe to become sober again. What do you think that timeframe would be?
It all depends on your Metabolic rate, im not much of a drinker myself but i play it really safe, if i have 1 pint of stout or bitter (i don't do lager) i won't drive for 12 hours, it is said that a fit and healthy person's liver can git rid of a a pint of alcahol in approx 1 hour. i still don't drive for 12 hours after 2 pints, i won't drink more then 2 though, unless it's a birthday bash or christmas, i don't like tyhe feeling of being drunk.
When r we getting more rules
Haha, poor timing. My rules exam is in 20mins!
Good Luck!
Good luck with it! Let us know how you got on :-)
Good luck!
I passed! Very happy with how it went
Well done.
I'm a Bus driver, starting train driver training in may, and In the last 4 monthsi have had 6 random drug test!
That’s a hell of a lot, have you got a dodgy reputation? I’m not joking I was reputed to like a drink when I started and had 3 randoms in my first year, I’ve only had 2 more in the subsequent 20+ years.
@@paulm2467 nope not at all it is just really weird how i have had that many and some people have been there years and not had one! I've passes 100% everytime so i dunno guess they just like me so much they wanna see me lots! :p
Dad ,your looking like a freight train driver now,so more salads in the cab and more walking to sites !
Can’t disagree with you!
29 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood
13 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath
39 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of urine
Isn’t the classroom learning the best part of training 🤪🤪😂😂
I'd fail at the beginning - I'm colour blind 😉
I'm hopeless in Train Simulator, is it yellow or is red? Forget about green, I'm no better 🤣🤣
Wouldn't matter for a freight man......never see greens anyway !!!
@@haroldhorseposture9435 Chasing yellows maybe 🤔😉