Driving Long Distance Trains

[BR7MT]

The class 222's have cupholders in the driver cab, just to the right of the drivers set if I remember rightly!

Just taking this a bit further, I doubt that LU has different rules regarding distractions in the cabs even when the train is operating under full ATO.

Regards,

Dan

[USRailFan]

I remember seeing a picture of a foreign version of the class 66 during a traning course once, had FM radio, a microwave, a hot plate and even a sink!

That was probably a Norwegian or Swedish loco. Apparently those kind of amenities are a demand from the unions, over here... Norwegian Class 66s also had to be severely isolated in an attempt at reducing cabin noise (which laregly was a failure, though, and part of the reason the Class 66s are to be replaced by Vossloh's Euro4000).

[danielw2599]

I remember seeing a picture of a foreign version of the class 66 during a traning course once, had FM radio, a microwave, a hot plate and even a sink!

That was probably a Norwegian or Swedish loco. Apparently those kind of amenities are a demand from the unions, over here... Norwegian Class 66s also had to be severely isolated in an attempt at reducing cabin noise (which laregly was a failure, though, and part of the reason the Class 66s are to be replaced by Vossloh's Euro4000).

There was a fair bit of snow in the pictures IIRC, so you may well be correct on the location.

[JunGRail]

Interesting responses, i have no idea what a hotplate is i'll have to look that one up. I understand you have to hear the bell and siren for AWS and be mindful of speed limits, but not loud mind you, as i was saying before, some radio 4 quietly talking in the background. Im sure that won't cause an offence i mean hey at night now when its late and lines are reasonably clear and its just a steady speed all the way to the next station concentration is a must so why not have a little company since guards are a rare sight nowadays, i can't make it happen but its still a thought if anyone on here is a train driver. You wouldn't drive from London to Birmingham for 5hours without something on in the background....

Smoking is a bad habit that is not good for people around you, read the box haha

[danielw2599]

A hot plate is just a small metalic device that can either boil water or cook your dinner. Its effectivly a one ring hob.

[ThomasTelford]

Hi Folks.

First time on this forum ......i remember that there was an article in either Railway Magazine or Rail Express that was about some of the Class 66's in Europe or in Scandinavia and it did mention that they were fitted with FM radio and a CD system. and
Another thing i remember reading about a traindriver that was driving for SouthWest trains here in Britain who called into a London radio stations competition and was asked what the noise was in the background and she said she was driving a train,anyway the story said that she got the sack for gross misconduct!

Regards Thomas Telford.

[salopiangrowler]

Interesting responses, i have no idea what a hotplate is i'll have to look that one up. I understand you have to hear the bell and siren for AWS and be mindful of speed limits, but not loud mind you, as i was saying before, some radio 4 quietly talking in the background. Im sure that won't cause an offence i mean hey at night now when its late and lines are reasonably clear and its just a steady speed all the way to the next station concentration is a must so why not have a little company since guards are a rare sight nowadays, i can't make it happen but its still a thought if anyone on here is a train driver. You wouldn't drive from London to Birmingham for 5hours without something on in the background....

Smoking is a bad habit that is not good for people around you, read the box haha

Actually you'd be suprised how many Guards there are round here on passenger duties. Alot of Guards do actually travel up front with the driver Between every other station on the Older sprinter (DMU's) on local service's to save walking the train twice, unless the driver didnt want the company, then id say being a guards alot lonelier and more boring over a long distance as the guard only does something at and immediatly after stations, yet they are still not allowed to listern to things like Music or have anything playing in the cab. I think the Mobile phone thing is completely banned in alot of trains now due to so much Saftey equipment such as, AWS, TPWS, OTMR, (and ATS between Reading and London) not to mention the Deadmans (foot pedal).

iirc theres a gaurds compartment in eact end of the pendolino. The only freight service that has a Guard nowadays is a Nuclear Fuels train especially the Dungeness Train as it has to reverse over a long distance requiring a second person.

Yes smoking is bad for you??? i know from experience and i still smoke after trying to give up.

[JunGRail]

A hot plate is just a small metalic device that can either boil water or cook your dinner. Its effectivly a one ring hob.

Oh right thanks

[JunGRail]

Interesting responses, i have no idea what a hotplate is i'll have to look that one up. I understand you have to hear the bell and siren for AWS and be mindful of speed limits, but not loud mind you, as i was saying before, some radio 4 quietly talking in the background. Im sure that won't cause an offence i mean hey at night now when its late and lines are reasonably clear and its just a steady speed all the way to the next station concentration is a must so why not have a little company since guards are a rare sight nowadays, i can't make it happen but its still a thought if anyone on here is a train driver. You wouldn't drive from London to Birmingham for 5hours without something on in the background....

Smoking is a bad habit that is not good for people around you, read the box haha

Actually you'd be suprised how many Guards there are round here on passenger duties. Alot of Guards do actually travel up front with the driver Between every other station on the Older sprinter (DMU's) on local service's to save walking the train twice, unless the driver didnt want the company, then id say being a guards alot lonelier and more boring over a long distance as the guard only does something at and immediatly after stations, yet they are still not allowed to listern to things like Music or have anything playing in the cab. I think the Mobile phone thing is completely banned in alot of trains now due to so much Saftey equipment such as, AWS, TPWS, OTMR, (and ATS between Reading and London) not to mention the Deadmans (foot pedal).

iirc theres a gaurds compartment in eact end of the pendolino. The only freight service that has a Guard nowadays is a Nuclear Fuels train especially the Dungeness Train as it has to reverse over a long distance requiring a second person.

Yes smoking is bad for you??? i know from experience and i still smoke after trying to give up.

I thought i would highlight my dislike for it - It was a long shot to ask but was just enquiring, sounds like you're a guard or train driver yourself

[salopiangrowler]

No im not, but i know a few

[allypally]

Actually you'd be suprised how many Guards there are round here on passenger duties. Alot of Guards do actually travel up front with the driver Between every other station on the Older sprinter (DMU's) on local service's to save walking the train twice, unless the driver didnt want the company

Not unless they want the sack they don't. The only time the guard is permitted to travel in the leading cab is when equipment such as the DSD is faulty or unless they're examining the line at the request of the signaller and only then in certain circumstances.

then id say being a guards alot lonelier and more boring over a long distance as the guard only does something at and immediatly after stations, yet they are still not allowed to listern to things like Music or have anything playing in the cab. I think the Mobile phone thing is completely banned in alot of trains now due to so much Saftey equipment such as, AWS, TPWS, OTMR, (and ATS between Reading and London) not to mention the Deadmans (foot pedal).

There's nothing stopping the guard reading the paper, reading a book or using a mobile telephone. Mobile phones are not banned on any trains at all as far as I know. Different companies have different policies on when drivers may use mobile phones.

iirc theres a gaurds compartment in eact end of the pendolino. The only freight service that has a Guard nowadays is a Nuclear Fuels train especially the Dungeness Train as it has to reverse over a long distance requiring a second person.

There is no guards compartment at either end of a 390. There is a train managers office situated in the buffet coach, whichever one that is.

Nuclear trains are no longer required to convey guards or barrier wagons.



Not much factual information there I'm afraid!

[salopiangrowler]

Ally i appreciate the correctness, but i have travelled on numerous trains where the guard has "gone up front" , ive seen it with my own eye's. I can tell you that nmerous Freightliner and EWS drivers have also travelled up front with the driver of a passenger service, even though all railway personel not operating the train should be sat with the passengers as Passengers. Thats what the railway workers staff pass is for.

As for brakevans and barrier wagons not being needed ok i stand corrected.

the Buffet on a pendolino is the 3rd or 4th coach in the First class section.

[allypally]

The buffet on a 390 is in the standard class area.

Somebody holding a validated cab pass may travel in the leading cab of a train. The train guard absolutely may not except under specific circumstances. You might have seen them do it (so have I) but it's a serious disciplinary charge if they are caught.

[USRailFan]

So where are the guards supposed to sit in British trains? Here in Norway it is quite common for the guard to sit in the cab on EMU/DMUs which do not have a separate guard's compartment.

[gswindale]

From Alex's comments, they may sit in the cabs, but not the leading cab (with the driver).

Most UK passenger trains these days are D(E)MUs so have at least 2 cabs.

On my journeys to/from work, the guard can normally be found "in the middle of this 8 coach train". By that I assume that he's in the cab area between the 2 parts of the train.