we had a family friend once and he kept saying to me over the years that he did not like lorries or lorry drivers,we allways argued with me saying that he nor anyone else could survive without us,he worked for the underground as a train operator [lets face it they dont drive them ]he came round one day when i was at home and the usual wind up commenced about lorries,i got him lovely when he said quite matter of fact and i quote, WELL I DRIVE A 64 WHEELER, unquote,i then asked him if that was the case does the train have a gearstick and steering wheel,he replied quite annoyed no of course they dont,i said then you dont [zb] drive them do you, you prat, all you do is stop and start them, the rails steer the train,instant silence,the bloke is now an ex friend but if you want to see him, go on you tube and put in GUY NORMAS,tell me what you think as he proclaims to be a master hypnotist and calls himself hypno elvis,he reckons he can sing,i cant put any comments because he will know its me,i guarantee you will laugh,the real point of this story is TRAIN DRIVERS,they operate them they do not drive them,so they are train operators,it annoys me when they say they are train drivers
I’ll have a pint of what you’re on please.
Please don’t feed the troll.
dukeofdirt:
I’ll have a pint of what you’re on please.
Pour me one too please…
From the little I’ve gathered ‘train operating’ isn’t as easy as driving a truck…
Mankind has survived 200,000 years or so without trucks quite adequately.
chester:
Mankind has survived 200,000 years or so without trucks quite adequately.
Makes you wonder why we ever bothered to invent the wheel doesn’t it !
Wheels are so last millennium, hoverboards are where it’s at.
I#d happily swap salaries with a London Underground train driver… Theys on the big bucks mind.
Tipper Tom:
I#d happily swap salaries with a London Underground train driver… Theys on the big bucks mind.
+1, not living in London though, it’s mega expensive…
Pimpdaddy:
dukeofdirt:
I’ll have a pint of what you’re on please.Pour me one too please…
From the little I’ve gathered ‘train operating’ isn’t as easy as driving a truck…
I don’t think train operating is that hard, they spend maybe 9 months learning the job in a classroom before going out with a minder learning to drive the train and the route. When passed out they stay on that route which maybe only 100 miles unlike a truck driver who has to drive everywhere without learning it first.
mac12:
Pimpdaddy:
dukeofdirt:
I’ll have a pint of what you’re on please.Pour me one too please…
From the little I’ve gathered ‘train operating’ isn’t as easy as driving a truck…I don’t think train operating is that hard, they spend maybe 9 months learning the job in a classroom before going out with a minder learning to drive the train and the route. When passed out they stay on that route which maybe only 100 miles unlike a truck driver who has to drive everywhere without learning it first.
You may change your mind if you had a go.
I don’t drive trains, but I do drive plant on the tracks. The stopping is the worst part, the truck I use is 26t and stopping that from 20mph (max speed allowed) on damp/wet track is frightening at times. Now increase that to a fully loaded train at 70 mph, with no chance of avoiding what your heading for as your on the tracks.
On the route they sign, they have to know everything, where every signal, set of points, level crossing are, every speed limit ect. No radios or phones are allowed in the cabs, and the alcohol limits set are a third of what it is on the road. Also random drugs and alcohol tests, also mandatory ones if your involved in an incident.
All the above for twice what the average trucker gets paid. I know whos got the better deal
gonna post a reply here from the point of view of a train driver (im not one btw but know many ) they regularly here the oh the rails steer the train its dead easy your just stopping and starting line all the time and this was one of there replys to me.
you are driving a 600 tonne block coal train down shap bank its cold wet and dark you are following another train so every 1/4 mile your passing a signal that is advising you to slow down so you have to acknowledge your tpws warning roughly every 15 seconds you also have to keep one hand on the deadmans handle acknowledge the dsd vigilance device every thirty seconds or the breaks self apply meanwhile you are still controlling through break and throttle the speed of your train you are contiousley monitored by both on board black boxes and the signaling system . still its easy your only starting and stopping !
you in your 44tonne truck have just set your cruise control to 53 mph as you join the M6 at penrith slot in behind another truck and away you go
I think the OP was on about London Underground, or tube trains.
You don’t see very many 600 Tonne coal trains on the Circle Line.
The Underground is a heavily automated train system, the train will stop at red signals (operator does nothing), it’ll slow down if there’s a slower train ahead (operator does nothing). It’ll stop in the station (in the right place, operator does nothing)
All that for 60 grand a year and free rail travel. Live in Somerset, commute to work for free = Quids in.
They have a lot of responsibility if something were to go wrong, but doesn’t every lorry driver have all that with next to no automation, deadlines at RDC, driver hours constantly on your mind, bad weather, bad drivers, cyclists, children, VOSA, planners/TM on the phone all the time, road closures, delays, traffic, accidents, nights out, crap food, dear truckstops, theft, vandalism and loads more for an average of £30 grand a year.
Someone has it wrong somewhere.
Tipper Tom:
I think the OP was on about London Underground, or tube trains.You don’t see very many 600 Tonne coal trains on the Circle Line.
Someone has it wrong somewhere.
You would it it was an ex lorry driver relying on his sat nav 
Not wishing to de-rail from the op`s thread but running in line with subject,
brings me to ask the question :
What sat-nav do train drivers/operatives use ? and what brand would they recommend for railing the network ?
Do they use night time colour screens also ? 
Has anyone steering a train had to change their own wheel at the trackside enroute to say Euston station or Birmingham central ■■ 
or do they call out repair man /recovery ?
If I can add my two pence, to my knowledge not all of the Underground is automated.
In relation to traditional railways, as the son of a railwayman, I know it is a complicated business and is definately not an “attendant” job.
The eyesight and medical standards are high for entry, and many companies insist on psychometric testing now as well. Operations are governed by the rule book, which must be learned in depth, including electrical supply, signalling, incident management etc
rgsonline.co.uk/rule_book/fo … E1E95DE5C8
Route learning might cover thousands of miles of track, with several different routes. The driver would have to know the location and number of every different bridge, signal and set of points from say, London to Edinburgh. Also weight limits of bridges (yes really!) must be known and the classes of engines and trains which can use them.
The operation of the engine itself and all the likely coupled wagons must be known too, as well as coupling and uncoupling procedures too (which is different for each wagon type too). Safe methods of working and splitting and shunting the train in busy work sites and shunting yards are known too. Track diagrams and very strict timetables are followed too.
It’s a lot more than pressing a few buttons. It’s very difficult to get into and with perhaps the safety of 400 people on board, or a full length train of flammable liquids, they can’t have just anyone doing it.
bazza123:
If I can add my two pence, to my knowledge not all of the Underground is automated.In relation to traditional railways, as the son of a railwayman, I know it is a complicated business and is definately not an “attendant” job.
The eyesight and medical standards are high for entry, and many companies insist on psychometric testing now as well. Operations are governed by the rule book, which must be learned in depth, including electrical supply, signalling, incident management etc
rgsonline.co.uk/rule_book/fo … E1E95DE5C8
Route learning might cover thousands of miles of track, with several different routes. The driver would have to know the location and number of every different bridge, signal and set of points from say, London to Edinburgh. Also weight limits of bridges (yes really!) must be known and the classes of engines and trains which can use them.
The operation of the engine itself and all the likely coupled wagons must be known too, as well as coupling and uncoupling procedures too (which is different for each wagon type too). Safe methods of working and splitting and shunting the train in busy work sites and shunting yards are known too. Track diagrams and very strict timetables are followed too.
It’s a lot more than pressing a few buttons. It’s very difficult to get into and with perhaps the safety of 400 people on board, or a full length train of flammable liquids, they can’t have just anyone doing it.
Well that’s blatantly not true, have you been on a train lately.
Tipper Tom:
I#d happily swap salaries with a London Underground train driver… Theys on the big bucks mind.
i know my brother has been one for 30 years on the central line £40,000 plus for doing about 7 hours a day and 10 weeks holiday a year
To those that think driving a train full of people is easy…
There is far more to it than meets the eye. Unlike truck driving which is relatively unskilled.
Do you think flying is easy too? After all there’s very little to hit in the air…look at all that space! I’m sure there are signposts on clouds as well…
i did go round it the long way but as i stated previously it just annoys me that they call themselves drivers when they are not,i agree they have a massive responsibility,one i would not like