A career as a train driver

Cheers bud got alot more than two years left in me. (I hope). Stand by for some GB practice, Mmm now wheres that bobbit I got the kids for xmas.

Wow! I've spent much of last evening plus a wretched wet Monday Morning trawling through this thread. I've found it fascinating. Good Luck to all of those who make the grade as a driver. You are indeed privileged to have such a special job with the rather nice bonus of it not exactly being minimum wage.

In my previous employment, I had two workmates who applied for driving jobs, one with Southern, the other with FCC or Thameslink as it was back then. Both were successful & told me of the tough tests that you had to pass in order to just get onto a training course. All rather different from 'my day'......

My experience as a 17 year old applicant to become a 'Traction Trainee' back in 1975 was quite different. "Psychometric tests"? Was the word even invented back then?

My application process consisted of a phone call from my parents to the Shedmaster, with a response along the lines of "pop along around 10am on Wednesday for a chat". The interview process was basically that - A chat with the Chief Clerk, plus a few interjections from the Shedmaster who was in his office chatting to somebody else. The only criteria it would seem: A couple of legs, arms & eyes. No taxing psychological questions back then. I was given a Priv Ticket to go for a Medical the next day, then started the day after that. Until I was sent on the six week Secondmans training course at Waterloo, my functions basically consisted of taking call out notes to staff around the town or running other errands for the Foreman - Few of them work related!

As somebody else said much earlier in the Thread, it certainly helped if you had bloodlines at The depot or on the railway in the area. Not entirely of course as I didn't have any, but some relations of staff who obtained jobs were rather questionable?

The process to Driver was very different back then. Several years as a Secondman, then when you reached the age of 21, you could take the rules & regulations verbal examination with an Inspector. Next it was the 6 week mechanical course at Waterloo. After that, it was a couple of driving trials, then if all went well, you were a passed Secondman.

Alas I never made it that far as I took the decision to emigrate to Australia. When I look back, the three years or so I spent as a Secondman were some of the happiest work years of my life. At the time, as a youngster who was mainly interested in Football, Socialising & Girls, I probably didn't appreciate the job as much as I should have.

The money was pretty lousy for both Drivers & Secondmen back in those days. Its great that the drivers of today have been recognised for the responsibility they carry. A career on the Railways today is considered quite prestigious whereas back then, railway jobs were looked down upon in some quarters.

Happy Days indeed in a very different World.

Bootneck said:

Cheers bud got alot more than two years left in me. (I hope). Stand by for some GB practice, Mmm now wheres that bobbit I got the kids for xmas.

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A guy on my course was is in his 40's and there's recently qualified drivers in there 50's

toot toot said:

A guy on my course was is in his 40's and there's recently qualified drivers in there 50's

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Did you nickname him 'Grandad'....PS I'm in my 40s !

Lanc

Hi guys.

I've got a first interview this coming week for a FOC. This interview is prior to the assessment and psychometric phase, and I imagine it's to further narrow down the amount of applicants to send for assessments.

I'm doing my research about the company and committing it to memory, and also revising my answers to other possible questions, so far I have:

What do you know about the company?
Why do you feel you;re suitable for the job?
Why have you applied for the job?
What are your expectations of the job?
What experience do you think you have gained which will benefit you in the job?
What have you done in your current job that requires coordination?
If I asked your employer what they think of you, what would they say?
If I asked your mother what she thought of you, what would she say?
Do you think you would be able to cope if someone decided to jump in front of the train you were driving?

I appreciate that some of these questions, particularly the latter are more likely to be asked at a post assessment 'manager interview', prior preperation and planning and all that

Any thing else I'd likely be asked about? aside the obvious questions like height, weight etc.

Which FOC is it? DRS by any chance? I never realised any FOC was advertising. The list of possible questions in a management interview is endless. From "Where can you see yourself in 5 years time" to the rediculous "If you were a fruit what type of fruit would you be".
For the Structured Interview (part of the psychometric tests) they always ask the same 5 core questions and those can be found posted all over the Internet.

No, not DRS, I don't really want to say publicly which it is, because they were not advertising externally for trainee positions, I managed to get an interview through contacts, which may sound a little underhand and maybe unfair (I'd probably view it that way myself from the outside), but I doubt there is anyone on here seriously interested in a job as a train driver who wouldn't take an opportunity in a similar position.

I've already got the questions (Is it always the same 5?) and my experiences noted down for that if I get that far, I've found one of your posts actually detailing what sort of answers they would be looking for, relevance over difficulty seems to be the right way?

Beveridges said:

Which FOC is it? DRS by any chance? I never realised any FOC was advertising. The list of possible questions in a management interview is endless. From "Where can you see yourself in 5 years time" to the rediculous "If you were a fruit what type of fruit would you be".
For the Structured Interview (part of the psychometric tests) they always ask the same 5 core questions and those can be found posted all over the Internet.

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Really always the same 5? I've managed to collect so many different structured interview questions trawling these forums since the start of the year. Much more than 5!

Thanks

David

Yes it's the same 5 any more then it's people confusing the structured interview with the manager interview

Hi there. I have just joined the forum there in search if some useful info on the test and interview stages that I may have to go through if my application is successful. The closing date was yesterday so I am awaiting being shortlisted.

I already have the group bourdon test to practise on but I was just looking for any info or help on the other tests that u get on assessment day.

Any help would be extremely helpful as I am dying to get out my current job and I to anew challenge in my career.

Thanks,
Barry

Does anyone still have the group bourdon test program that they can send me? The creator has taken it down from his site, I have an interview with Northern Rail on 16th November at Manchester Victoria, would like to thank everyone for their posts hopefully they'll be a big help.

Lee

elboobio said:

Does anyone still have the group bourdon test program that they can send me? The creator has taken it down from his site, I have an interview with Northern Rail on 16th November at Manchester Victoria, would like to thank everyone for their posts hopefully they'll be a big help.

Lee

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I would also be interested In this if anyone can help. Thanks.

elboobio said:

Does anyone still have the group bourdon test program that they can send me? The creator has taken it down from his site, I have an interview with Northern Rail on 16th November at Manchester Victoria, would like to thank everyone for their posts hopefully they'll be a big help.

Lee

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I might still have it on the computer at home, PM me your email address and if i've still got it I will send it, I had the reactions test one too somewhere.

Or if anyone knows how to attach the files to a post on here I will add them for all. Think one was an .exe file so I don't know if that will cause probs.


EDIT: Hang on just remembered I tried to send the file via Googlemail to my work email and I couldn't as it was an .exe file so if anyone knows how to do this and I still have the programs I will gladly share. Buy no point in PM'ing me unless I can attach it, will check tonight.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got them both but they are both .exe files, any ideas anyone?

Thanks TheVicLine, I have PM'd you my email address and put some info on how to email them across, let me know how you get on and if you get them to me I might be able to post them on this forum for everyone.

Lee

elboobio said:

Thanks TheVicLine, I have PM'd you my email address and put some info on how to email them across, let me know how you get on and if you get them to me I might be able to post them on this forum for everyone.

Lee

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Thanks Elboobio,

I have attached the files for all to use and also emailed you them, (hopefully they will work).

All can someone let me know if they work ok, if not I will give it another go.

And good luck to all those taking assessments.

EDIT: Right I think that's it, can someone try trhe bourdon zip and let me know if it works, couldn't upload the help tool so you may get an error but click ok and it should open. It's pretty easy to use so no need for the help.

TheVicLine said:

Thanks Elboobio,

I have attached the files for all to use and also emailed you them, (hopefully they will work).

All can someone let me know if they work ok, if not I will give it another go.

And good luck to all those taking assessments.

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Hi,
Thanks for trying to post the Group Bourdon tool, but it seems you've only posted the shortcut from your local computer. If you wouldn't mind giving it another go, it would be appreciated.

Thanks, NNR Engineer

NNR Engineer said:

Hi,
Thanks for trying to post the Group Bourdon tool, but it seems you've only posted the shortcut from your local computer. If you wouldn't mind giving it another go, it would be appreciated.

Thanks, NNR Engineer

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OK have done, try the Bourdon link in my previous post, it should work now.

Hi TheVicLine,

Thanks ever so much for this I really appreciate it. I would also like to thank the author for producing this program.

Cheers,
NNR Engineer

TheVicLine said:

OK have done, try the Bourdon link in my previous post, it should work now.

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Many thanks for that, much appreciated. This is probably a silly question, but how do you actually mark the sheet? First I clicked through with the mouse and then used the arrow keys and space bar, but nothing has registered.

Problem solved with the marking of the sheet, thanks again for the app.

TheVicLine said:

Thanks Elboobio,I have attached the files for all to use and also emailed you them, (hopefully they will work).

All can someone let me know if they work ok, if not I will give it another go.

And good luck to all those taking assessments.

EDIT: Right I think that's it, can someone try trhe bourdon zip and let me know if it works, couldn't upload the help tool so you may get an error but click ok and it should open. It's pretty easy to use so no need for the help.

Click to expand...

Many Thanks for uploading these, much appreciated.

To all who have been PM'ing me asking about the Reactions app, it is a sim, you print off the pdf. to simulate the keyboard that you will use during the assessment and run the program. You simply hit the coresponding colours on the print out (piece of paper) when they flash up on the screen THE KEYBOARD DOES NOTHING DURING THIS SIM.

When I took my assessments the shapes were circles only and there are foot pedals to press as well, apart from this the program is pretty accurate and worth having a bit of practice on to prepare for the real thing.

Many thanks for posting the links. Had been searching for hours looking for this. Assessment next week for Exeter Dept. Should have thought to look here first!!

Hi everyone,

I've been reading the forum over the past few weeks as I applied to be a Northern Rail Driver in Leeds.

I've been offered an interview next week, but I just wanted to check if anyone knows if it is essential to have a Full Uk Driving Licence? I don't drive, but I do cycle most places.

Also, could anyone point me in the direction of the sort of questions I'll be asked at the examples interview.

Thanks

Joe20365 said:

Hi everyone,

I've been reading the forum over the past few weeks as I applied to be a Northern Rail Driver in Leeds.

I've been offered an interview next week, but I just wanted to check if anyone knows if it is essential to have a Full Uk Driving Licence? I don't drive, but I do cycle most places.

Also, could anyone point me in the direction of the sort of questions I'll be asked at the examples interview.

Thanks

Click to expand...

You need to be able to get to your depot for your shifts that can start during the early hours of the morning or be at short notice.

If you are based near to the depot then this should't be a problem. I believe that most TOC's specify round about the hour limit as distance from the depot.

That's what I hoped, thanks. I'm sure it won't be a problem.

Northern do not require a full driving license. Only freight operators require this as in those jobs the Drivers are frequently required to drive company vans to get to/from places that are not easily accessible by train. If you can get to/from work by cycling or walking then there is no problem

TheVicLine said:

Thanks Elboobio,

I have attached the files for all to use and also emailed you them, (hopefully they will work).

All can someone let me know if they work ok, if not I will give it another go.

And good luck to all those taking assessments.

EDIT: Right I think that's it, can someone try trhe bourdon zip and let me know if it works, couldn't upload the help tool so you may get an error but click ok and it should open. It's pretty easy to use so no need for the help.

Click to expand...

Hi VicLine,

Thanks for putting those up, really appreciate it. Just wondering if you know if they do scaat or gb at leeds (northern rail drivers). I like know which one to practice. It would be helpful to know whether its paper or not too.

Many thanks

Paul

Paul6549 said:

Hi VicLine,

Thanks for putting those up, really appreciate it. Just wondering if you know if they do scaat or gb at leeds (northern rail drivers). I like know which one to practice. It would be helpful to know whether its paper or not too.

Many thanks

Paul

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Pretty certain (99%) that NR do the GB test, as do the majority of the TOC's. One of the southern TOC's use SCAAT, think it might be Greater Anglia although I am possibly wrong, and I know London Underground use the SCAAT tests too.

I'm sure someone will be able to post more info but as I said i'm pretty certain NR use the GB test, I also think that they use the paper version as opposed to the PC version (the paper version is easier in my opinion).

Good luck with it.

TheVicLine said:

Pretty certain (99%) that NR do the GB test, as do the majority of the TOC's. One of the southern TOC's use SCAAT, think it might be Greater Anglia although I am possibly wrong, and I know London Underground use the SCAAT tests too.

I'm sure someone will be able to post more info but as I said i'm pretty certain NR use the GB test, I also think that they use the paper version as opposed to the PC version (the paper version is easier in my opinion).

Good luck with it.

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Fantastic help! Thank you for your quick response, I can get started now.

Northern do the Group Boredom test. The Boredom test is an Industrial requirement for all TOCs when taking on Mainline & Depot Drivers. The SCAAT Test can be added as an optional extra. As far as I know Northern do not do the SCAAT Test for Drivers. Northern Guards have to do the SCAAT test it is their version of the concentration test while Drivers get the Boredom test instead. In the extremely unlikely event that you did get the SCAAT Test for a Drivers role and failed it, it should not count as one of your two possible failures, as it is not a core test.