The Ffestiniog Railway and crossing the new bypass
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andrewtoplis
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Sorry mate, do you mean passed as a fireman?Frsimplex1993 wrote: Same here with the Ffestiniog realy i'll be able to clean properly by my 16th b'day which means i can after a few days pass as a cleaner, and work my way up to a fireman another 2 years after that i may be passed! I hate the way they've moved all the ages up!
Andy
(Once told it takes 20 years to become a driver!)
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Frsimplex1993
- Building the West Lancashire Route
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Yep, thats 5 years almost till i can pass!*hates been young*!
Cheers,
William a.k.a Silly Billy
http://www.freewebs.com/shrailway
http://www.freewebs.com/joflrailway
http://www.freewebs.com/railmachinesltd
William a.k.a Silly Billy
http://www.freewebs.com/shrailway
http://www.freewebs.com/joflrailway
http://www.freewebs.com/railmachinesltd
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Tonysmedley
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post subject
We have come a long way from where this thread started , but !
There is a world of difference between the practicalities of driving a steam loco and driving a diesel loco. For both it is essential that the crew know the rules regarding signalling, safety etc., but whilst with a diesel loco it might be harmful to drive wrongly - messing up gear changes for example with consequent damage, and to drive dangerously by failing to apply brakes correctly, it is not straight forwards with a steam loco. The necessity of maintainig boiler water levels for instance and of checking waterlevel gauge glass operation are essential to prevent life threatening situations arising. And of course firing a boiler and maintaining water levels are skills only obtained by long practicse under skilled instruction.
There is a world of difference between the practicalities of driving a steam loco and driving a diesel loco. For both it is essential that the crew know the rules regarding signalling, safety etc., but whilst with a diesel loco it might be harmful to drive wrongly - messing up gear changes for example with consequent damage, and to drive dangerously by failing to apply brakes correctly, it is not straight forwards with a steam loco. The necessity of maintainig boiler water levels for instance and of checking waterlevel gauge glass operation are essential to prevent life threatening situations arising. And of course firing a boiler and maintaining water levels are skills only obtained by long practicse under skilled instruction.
Tony (the old one)
Bypass and ages
On the topic of the Bypass, the plan is for it to pass under the railway, the bridge will be paid for by the government/local council/assembly etc...
The WHR (C) is a good thing, as summer staff i've had to work there and quite enjoy it, it will be a lovely railway when it's done. And to those who think the staff aren't friendly, well i can only say bad luck! I always try to be friendly and helpful, if someone asks me a question i take the time to answer to the best of my ability.l
On ages.......The rules have changed greatly in the last few years, when i began volunteering at age 13 (on FR Kids Week!) i was able to do most of the basic boring jobs ie.gardening, painting, same until i was 15, then at 16 i began training as a guard. I passed as a guard at 19 (due to a missed year) and now at 21 i'm a trainee controller, i should have passed by the summer.
So ages on the FR........
16 - Trainee Guard or Trainee Fireman
18 - Guard or Fireman
21 - Driver or Controller
Driving isn't something you choose to do, you are asked, and for firing u generally need to be a cleaner for fair while before they let you out on the loco's.
As to having railways near by, i'm very lucky as i'm in Uni at Aberystywth, the Rheidol is in town, the WLLR, the Tallyllyn and the FR all only a train(or bus) ride away. Still i'm FR through and through!
The WHR (C) is a good thing, as summer staff i've had to work there and quite enjoy it, it will be a lovely railway when it's done. And to those who think the staff aren't friendly, well i can only say bad luck! I always try to be friendly and helpful, if someone asks me a question i take the time to answer to the best of my ability.l
On ages.......The rules have changed greatly in the last few years, when i began volunteering at age 13 (on FR Kids Week!) i was able to do most of the basic boring jobs ie.gardening, painting, same until i was 15, then at 16 i began training as a guard. I passed as a guard at 19 (due to a missed year) and now at 21 i'm a trainee controller, i should have passed by the summer.
So ages on the FR........
16 - Trainee Guard or Trainee Fireman
18 - Guard or Fireman
21 - Driver or Controller
Driving isn't something you choose to do, you are asked, and for firing u generally need to be a cleaner for fair while before they let you out on the loco's.
As to having railways near by, i'm very lucky as i'm in Uni at Aberystywth, the Rheidol is in town, the WLLR, the Tallyllyn and the FR all only a train(or bus) ride away. Still i'm FR through and through!
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andrewtoplis
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Thanks for that Tony,
I was going to say something similar myself. The driving test at my first railway involves tricks such as putting oil on rails or putting the signals back on as you approach. This is to test your reactions in an unusual situation, and you only learn what to do by long experience and practice. There were loads of BR steam men who fired for 20 years before moving up. Firing takes practice too, especially with coal. Its one thing to know what the ideal shape of fire is, nursing a clinkered fire with a full ashpan and a bunker of . coal that has almost run out, made worse by an injector that just will not stay on, is another thing entirely. It all comes from practice. How do you know the true water level when on a gradient? Where can you run down the water a bit to keep the pressure up? Or the other way round? Which signals can the driver see and which are yours? How can you look at a fire and see where any holes are? Practice and experience!
20 years to become a driver (which is not the be-all and end-all, the fireman is in many ways the driver's equal) was at a large railway with plenty of people. But it was based on the time it takes to gain the necessary experience, based on 2 days per month at weekends and 5 days midweek each year. If you can do more days per month it would be quicker, but the totals needed would still be roughly similar. As for times of plenty, that depends on the railway, some need people, some are full and some desperate.
We have drifted far from the original thread, but thats how these things go. Have we said enough for now? If people want to carry this on we can but I think I have said enough (I bet you all do too...)
Andy
I was going to say something similar myself. The driving test at my first railway involves tricks such as putting oil on rails or putting the signals back on as you approach. This is to test your reactions in an unusual situation, and you only learn what to do by long experience and practice. There were loads of BR steam men who fired for 20 years before moving up. Firing takes practice too, especially with coal. Its one thing to know what the ideal shape of fire is, nursing a clinkered fire with a full ashpan and a bunker of . coal that has almost run out, made worse by an injector that just will not stay on, is another thing entirely. It all comes from practice. How do you know the true water level when on a gradient? Where can you run down the water a bit to keep the pressure up? Or the other way round? Which signals can the driver see and which are yours? How can you look at a fire and see where any holes are? Practice and experience!
20 years to become a driver (which is not the be-all and end-all, the fireman is in many ways the driver's equal) was at a large railway with plenty of people. But it was based on the time it takes to gain the necessary experience, based on 2 days per month at weekends and 5 days midweek each year. If you can do more days per month it would be quicker, but the totals needed would still be roughly similar. As for times of plenty, that depends on the railway, some need people, some are full and some desperate.
We have drifted far from the original thread, but thats how these things go. Have we said enough for now? If people want to carry this on we can but I think I have said enough (I bet you all do too...)
Andy