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British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:00 pm
by Kimril
Is there an equivalent of the British Highway Code for train drivers? I think it would make for a fascinating read and may improve my skills in Railworks 3 ;)

Does anyone know if this exists and if it is available publicly?

Thanks

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:30 pm
by craigy
I think the only ones that are close to that are the drivers manuals that were issued for the different types of diesels and electrics. These may become available now and again on Ebay, other than that i've no idea

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:45 pm
by AndyUK
The rule book (http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book/Fo ... ments.aspx) doesn't cover how to drive a train but does apply to drivers as well as others working on the railway.

Andy L

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:35 pm
by Kimril
AndyUK wrote:The rule book (http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book/Fo ... ments.aspx) doesn't cover how to drive a train but does apply to drivers as well as others working on the railway.

Andy L
Thanks! Ill take a look

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:24 am
by GerardFiennes
You will not get hold of anything like what you want.There is a publication with technical details for examle for the Class 66 but they are private and not for public dissemination.I suggest you buy yourself a train driving experience with one of the preserved railways.There is in circulation the BR manual for steam enginemen but as MSTS steam engines do not really behave anything like the real world,it is of interest only to those working on the real thing.

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:27 am
by Kimril
GerardFiennes wrote:You will not get hold of anything like what you want.There is a publication with technical details for examle for the Class 66 but they are private and not for public dissemination.I suggest you buy yourself a train driving experience with one of the preserved railways.There is in circulation the BR manual for steam enginemen but as MSTS steam engines do not really behave anything like the real world,it is of interest only to those working on the real thing.
The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is a few minutes from me and they do driving experiences with steam engines but im not really interested in steam.

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:58 am
by AndyUK
GerardFiennes wrote:You will not get hold of anything like what you want....
Some of the BR Driver's manuals on this site might be of interest: http://www.locodocs.co.uk.

Andy L

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:11 am
by bdy26
There's plenty of railways that do diesel experiences. You can buy the 1950s rulebook easily, and the majority of them remain valid today, though are numbered differently.

I'm not sure it would help you that much in game - its more to do with processes and rules rather than driving techniques. You can't really write those down - braking is the hard bit, and when and how you brake varies with every situation. Having driven a Deltic this year, its nothing like driving one in the game.

B

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:47 am
by Kimril
bdy26 wrote:There's plenty of railways that do diesel experiences. You can buy the 1950s rulebook easily, and the majority of them remain valid today, though are numbered differently.

I'm not sure it would help you that much in game - its more to do with processes and rules rather than driving techniques. You can't really write those down - braking is the hard bit, and when and how you brake varies with every situation. Having driven a Deltic this year, its nothing like driving one in the game.

B
Lucky . having a go in a Deltic would be amazing, where did you do that?

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:09 pm
by jbilton
Hi

The 1972 Rule Book that superseded the 1950 book

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITISH-RAILW ... 500wt_1204

Cheers
Jon

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:21 pm
by ianmacmillan
Driving trains is easy.
You just pull the levers.

Knowing when to pull the levers is the hard bit.

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:52 pm
by rufuskins
Thankfully in MSTS we can learn from experience, and hope that practice makes nearly perfect!

Alec

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:57 pm
by bdy26
Well put! :D

It was at the East Lancs in No.22 with Martin Walker (top bloke!). They do a "freight" diesel experience, though it was a parcels working when I did it. 250 ish, details on the site.

B

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:04 pm
by Kimril
jbilton wrote:Hi

The 1972 Rule Book that superseded the 1950 book

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITISH-RAILW ... 500wt_1204

Cheers
Jon
May have to nab that as its so cheap ;)

Re: British Train Drivers Handbook?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:32 pm
by elonex
Most train operators now have Professional Driving Policies and handbooks that govern a lot of things you'd be after such as coupling, how to approach a red signal etc, although a lot is still burned in the various traction manuals.

Either way all the current stuff is very much private and not for publication so you won't find it for sale - even on eBay.

Because policy differs from one company to another these days whatever you do in Railworks may not always be "right" if you try and apply real world standards. In fact some scenarios become uncompleteable if you drive defensively as you would main line.