Driving Long Distance Trains

[JunGRail]

Hi i wasn't sure what to call this subject because it didn't have one to start with, but i was wondering the drivers who drive trains from London Waterloo, Victoria, Bridge to wherever etc, do they listen to any sort of music or maybe not music but like Radio 2 or 3 just to have some sort of background noise while they're up there in the Cab concentrating, i know they have to listen to the line controller to make sure all is well and the on board guard if anything happens but it must be quite long without anything else to listen to, I've known bus drivers to do that in the past but not so much now.

Just wondering.

[danielw2599]

The simple answer is NO, items such as radios, TVs and Mp3 players are not allowed in either the front cab or rear cab at any time.

[doubleheader]

radio,t.v.music in the cab my old dad would be spining in his grave,He wouldn,t hear much either on the foot plate specially if he was double headed with a Jub at the front and him driving a scot as the second engine.

[JunGRail]

Ok just enquiring but i figured.

make it out like someone shouldn't ask a question i was only wondering.

[timenec]

No and the only time you might hear from Network Rail on the NRN or CSR is if there is a problem somewhere.

[codrivermike]

could be handy for traffic news

[JunGRail]

So im guessing up the cab is extra comfortable for sitting down that many hours?

[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!

[gswindale]

Problem for bus drivers is that if they want to listen to music etc, they need a PRS licence.

Same wouldn't apply for train drivers though.

Must say that modern cabs do look reasonably comfortable for the drivers.

[GlennMitchell]

It can't be grat on trains such as 444s and 450s which do long distance journeys but have corridor connections so they must be pretty cramped, unlike trains like HSTs and 91s which must have a fair amounth of space.

Glenn

[salopiangrowler]

Im sure it happens if you see a driver with a blue tooth hands free thingy sticking out of his ear id suspect music if you got perfect hearing in both ears you'd still hear the buzzers and warning sirens.

Needless to say its against railway workers policy as is smoking nowadays. imagine if you smoked 40 - 60 a day and had to do 8 - 12 hours without a cigarette.
Bus drivers can jump out of the bus and have a smoke you cant on a train its awful for the poor sole's.

I dont even know why loco's are fitted with hotplates anymore cause you cant use them till the trains stopped moving. as your not allowed to leave the seat whilst the trains moving.

[spartacus]

It's for those times when you get stuck in a loop waiting a path for 45 minutes!

[danielw2599]

Im sure it happens if you see a driver with a blue tooth hands free thingy sticking out of his ear id suspect music if you got perfect hearing in both ears you'd still hear the buzzers and warning sirens.

Needless to say its against railway workers policy as is smoking nowadays. imagine if you smoked 40 - 60 a day and had to do 8 - 12 hours without a cigarette.
Bus drivers can jump out of the bus and have a smoke you cant on a train its awful for the poor sole's.

I dont even know why loco's are fitted with hotplates anymore cause you cant use them till the trains stopped moving. as your not allowed to leave the seat whilst the trains moving.

You can easily reach hot plates in 66's while still being in full control of the train. The thing with music though is not really about being able to hear all the various bells and buzzers (you would have to be deaf as a door post not to hear them, even with headphones on) but more about being a distraction. Technically your not even supposed to have mobile phones switched on either

[salopiangrowler]

true, but reading books and doing crosswords at 90 mph is a bigger distraction as your not even looking and just relying on the bells and buzzers. see it a few times

[danielw2599]

true, but reading books and doing crosswords at 90 mph is a bigger distraction as your not even looking and just relying on the bells and buzzers. see it a few times

Well thats just poor, unprofessional driving pure and simple.