Atomic Systems

Does anyone know where I could find a switch box operators training course. I would love to try this out.


Chooch

I should have said signal tower operators.

If you mean you want to try being a "Signalman" on a railway ..................

http://www.lincolnshirewoldsrailway.co. ... ourse.html

Not sure whereabouts in the world you're located, but the majority of our (UK) heritage railways have some form of signalling; generally maintained and operated by volunteers. Where it's practical to do so (in terms of access, and also traffic levels, remembering that we're talking about a 'safety critical' environment), it's usually possible to visit the signalboxes (remembering to ask first!) for a short while, and gain some appreciation of the job. Signalmen are usually prepared to briefly talk about the equipment and the method of signalling.

However, your mention of 'training course' suggests that you might be interested in learning the job properly. There's a lot more to signalling than just lever-pulling and bell-ringing, and you'd be hard pressed to learn even a fraction of it in a short visit, or even half a day (which I believe the LWR course is). I'm currently putting a signalling course together for the GCR in Loughborough, and that's going to run to seven full Sundays - even so, it assumes a decent knowledge of railway operating practice and is greatly compressed compared to the Network Rail course, which runs to a number of full weeks. If you're seriously interested, then it'd be well worth your while making an approach to a local heritage railway - I'm sure that few will turn down a keen volunteer, and once the initial training is out of the way, your commitment can depend on your availability, as long as you work often enough to maintain your competence - some of our Signalmen only work a handful of weekends each year.

Tom