I wish to become a real train driver

[JRP]

Been in hospital over a week now, need to re asses my life a gas man is a bit to hard for my back now. Only other things I can think I'd enjoy is driving trains, I've trialled through the web via my mobile but nothing. I just need an apprenticeship or somthing... I'll have to work two jobs as I have to support my family. But somebody here must know a way in in deadly serious. This is the direction I wish to travel

Thanks team N

[JRP]

I mean two jobs whilst training as pay will be low.

[scotsoft]

Where are you based JRP?

Knowing the area you live in might help get you better relelvant information 

cheers John.

[EtchedPixels]

Been in hospital over a week now, need to re asses my life a gas man is a bit to hard for my back now. Only other things I can think I'd enjoy is driving trains, I've trialled through the web via my mobile but nothing. I just need an apprenticeship or somthing... I'll have to work two jobs as I have to support my family. But somebody here must know a way in in deadly serious. This is the direction I wish to travel

Thanks team N

Your google-fu is weak young man

http://www.traindriver.org/

While it exists primarily to sell a book it should give you the basic answers including the very strict medical requirements.

If you have back problems however you should talk to someone about sitting down for hours at a time concentrating. It could easily be worse not better for it and you will have to deal with it at the medical anyway.

Rather you than me.. several hours at a time sat staring at two bits of metal praying nobody decides to throw themselves in front of you or screw up on a crossing!

Alan

[JRP]

Thanks for replys, I'm in Surrey. I'd imagine nearest depot is selhurst.

I'll be better sitting that lifting boilers.

[47033]

I'm not sure what it's like now but I imagine having 2 jobs when you are a Driver would be a no,no.  I was a driver in England and Wales for almost 20 years and it was frowned upon back in the day, I can only imagine now. There are Hours of Service Laws, you can only work so many hours and have to take minimum rest periods etc. Besides, the shifts can be long and your hours extended at the drop of a hat so trying to hold another job would be really difficult.

The hours can be very demanding and as was pointed out earlier the many hours sitting may not be good for your back. Certain locomotives/trains are quite rough riding and can also take a toll on your back. In fact I had a problem with my back from the job in the mid 80's. I don't remember the technical term for it but it was nicknamed Jeep drivers something ?  Anyway, American soldiers got it from bouncing up and down in Jeep's.

I currently work as a Train Driver (Locomotive Engineer here in the States) working loco hauled commuter trains in/out of Washington DC and it has been an absolutely wonderful carreer and I wouldn't change it for anything.  It's not for everyone though.    Just throwing out my opinion,  good luck and I wish you well should you persue this as a carreer.   

Jamie

[Tank]

Go on the Southern website.  That's how I applied and got the job on the platforms.

[dr deltic]

Best place to visit is the various passenger and freight company websites.

Selection process is arduous involving various tests of a psychometric and mechanical nature including a medical.
Pass rate is quite low and a lot of people seem to fail at the interview part of the test despite passing other elements.
A good sickness record is also required, so if you are suffering with your back avoid freight work which will do you no good at all, most companies now have drivers doing all sorts of other duties such as coupling/uncoupling and train preparation as the norm. It can be quite a maul believe me.
Passenger work is the easier option, most of it is step on/step off in nature with little physical effort required these days.

Good luck with the search, training salaries vary between 15/19k with salaries when productive going from 38k upwards depending who you work for. ASLEF has a website with the salary bands on it. You should not need another job once qualified!

[EtchedPixels]

Good luck with the search, training salaries vary between 15/19k with salaries when productive going from 38k upwards depending who you work for. ASLEF has a website with the salary bands on it. You should not need another job once qualified!

But if you are a qualified driver and find yourself desperately bored between shifts I think you'll find "Hello I'm a qualified driver and here is my paperwork how can I help" will get you more than busy on a heritage railway albeit not for money!

[Kipper]

Conversely, you could always join a local railway society and get them to train you as a driver. It might mean you will be a qualified steam driver, so not much use for the mainline, but many do use diesels.

[EtchedPixels]

Conversely, you could always join a local railway society and get them to train you as a driver. It might mean you will be a qualified steam driver, so not much use for the mainline, but many do use diesels.

The requirements for pootling up and down a heritage railway are way way lower than actual mainline work, although not entirely trivial - given you are potentially taking 500 tons full of Thomas Tank fans for a ride at 20mph.

They also generally do it the traditional way - so would be drivers start by cleaning the toilets and migrate up the chain to such glorified rôles as empting the ash.

So I'm not sure how much use going the other way is ?

Alan

[JRP]

Thanks for the replies and some good info from experience is always nice

I'll re asses/ have a look on southern etc and see what's on offer.