Real Life Trains and things

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:26 pm

Is there a site where it tells you how to become a train driver or guard?

Whats the age for a guard? I know drivers are 21. Is there a Railway Handbook, like a highway code i can buy, that tells me all about railways and what signs mean?

TOMMO79 · Post by **TOMMO79** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 9:58 pm

Not sure of the address but search for a site called -careers in rail- which has a bit of info. Also has links to some TOC's recruitment pages.

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 11:19 pm

i think its 18 for a guard i was asked if i wanted to be one whilst on work ex at shrewsbury station when i was 16

Goingnorth · Post by **Goingnorth** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:25 am

http://www.ritc.org.uk

As for signs and stuff there's no easy answer to that.

Best bet is probably something like Stan hall's Signalling handbook. Do a search on Ian allan or Amazon for that.

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:38 am

To be a guard you have to be 18.

I recently took the assesment test for Conductor for South Central a few months ago. Easy test but didn't get the job as I 'didn't have the experience'

Where does one get experience to be a conductor? A Routemaster bus?

markw · Post by **markw** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 3:36 am

southcoasttrains wrote:To be a guard you have to be 18.

I recently took the assesment test for Conductor for South Central a few months ago. Easy test but didn't get the job as I 'didn't have the experience'

Where does one get experience to be a conductor? A Routemaster bus?

Shops/bars.

Dealing with arsy customers is usually the kind of experience they mean for trainees, particularly for any staff on buses or light rail who may need to deal with the public.

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 4:58 pm

HOw can i get to do like a work experience at my local station?

I have written to them but no reply. I will go and see them, i just want to know how things work.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:37 pm

Go and ask the staff in person. It worked for me to get Work Ex where I wanted!

Seriously, if you go and ask and appear polite etc, they may well agree

SuperOwl · Post by **SuperOwl** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 6:22 pm

you need to contact the rail company that operates the station. eg Sheffield is run by Midland Mainline.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk there is something on there which station is run by what.

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:11 am

southcoasttrains wrote:
Where does one get experience to be a conductor? A Routemaster bus?

Route masters are operated by a hand full of people. Arriva and Stagecoach have the largest fleet of route masters and Connex owns a few aswell. The london sightseeing bus company have 2 or 3 older RM1's.

The Arriva headquarter's is Cannock but forgot the whole address if i can i will find the address unless someone beats me to it. I think arriva have a depot at golders? green, where the National Express make a schedualed stop.

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 11:30 am

Ah ha, this is where the plot thickens, MML never reply to emails!

But yes, i will talk to someone at the ststion, its actually Leicester!