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Mistakes you made as a trainee

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L401CJF

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Similarly a card with STOPPER and one with EXPRESS written on may help avoid fail to calls along the same route.
A number of Merseyrail drivers place the big wheelie bin sized "6" number stickers on the windscreen to remind them theyre driving a 6 car too.
 
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alanyoung165

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A card to remind you of your last signal. It’s often good to have little reminders of these things so you don’t forget. Different things work for different people. I tend to find just using effective Risk Triggered Commentary works for me. I don’t overdo it, but just talk to myself.
Thanks Stigy. How does it work? Do you have a card just for the single yellow and turn it over as you approach or is it just for starting against a yellow?
 

Stigy

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Thanks Stigy. How does it work? Do you have a card just for the single yellow and turn it over as you approach or is it just for starting against a yellow?
I don’t personally use this system, but it just works as a reminder, so you put it on the desk in front of you etc. Some people use cards for how many carriages they have too to remind them. I just tend to write on my diagrams in a highlighter how many carriages.
 

alanyoung165

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I don’t personally use this system, but it just works as a reminder, so you put it on the desk in front of you etc. Some people use cards for how many carriages they have too to remind them. I just tend to write on my diagrams in a highlighter how many carriages.
Cheers Stiggy. I passed traction back in December but still waiting on a DI which has been delayed due to the Covid situation.
Just looking for driving tips before I get into the seat...
 

387star

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Magnets for permanent speed reductions can be placed before stations so even if you get the AWS before the station just like a single yellow you have to use risk triggered commentary or the like to remind yourself to only take reduced power upon leaving. Hendon is an example om the down slow and Haydons Road used to be towards Wimbledon. More of a risk with DOO especially at unmanned stations as checking the platform is clear can result in passengers asking you various questions!
 

HeelBurton

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I was told to tap your key belt before leaving the cab to make sure you have it.


Depends on the location, we've got a few where you hold off until 2 Yellows
Good shout regarding the key tap. There was too much of an emphasis of “Red, Red, Dead” (DRA, Tail lights, shut the cab down) but nothing on actually taking the key with you..
 

Timpg

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My TOC massively promotes risk triggered commentary, train in commentary-train out commentary, defensive driving, pause for doors and target fixing, DISH ( do I stop here ), even checking your Sheila before each station stop etc!
It definitely works, just by verbalising what your doing or what’s happening in front of you or what you’ve previously passed.
I personally point at the station platform prior to performing a door release as part of my pause for doors. That way I’m promoting a physical action as part of my door release process.
You just got to find a way that works for you really.
 

Stigy

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My TOC massively promotes risk triggered commentary, train in commentary-train out commentary, defensive driving, pause for doors and target fixing, DISH ( do I stop here ), even checking your Sheila before each station stop etc!
It definitely works, just by verbalising what your doing or what’s happening in front of you or what you’ve previously passed.
I personally point at the station platform prior to performing a door release as part of my pause for doors. That way I’m promoting a physical action as part of my door release process.
You just got to find a way that works for you really.
Check your “Shiela”? :E

I agree though, in fact, RTC is mandatory for PQA drivers at my TOC. Just little things help I find, for example (depending on the stock) I have my seat on swivel and make a point of turning towards the side of the train to release doors on and verbalising “doors on the left” or something like that.

Not heard of some of the other things you’ve mentioned though such as DISH and Train-in, train-out?
 

Timpg

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Check your “Shiela”? :E

I agree though, in fact, RTC is mandatory for PQA drivers at my TOC. Just little things help I find, for example (depending on the stock) I have my seat on swivel and make a point of turning towards the side of the train to release doors on and verbalising “doors on the left” or something like that.

Not heard of some of the other things you’ve mentioned though such as DISH and Train-in, train-out?
Hahaaaa I must admit when I first started I kept hearing everyone talking about Sheila...! Was like ‘who is this Sheila????’ hahaaa!!

TIC-TOC is basically commentary driving for arriving and departing stations.
e.g - arriving at ______ on a single yellow, in a 4car, platform on the left, stopping at the 4 board.

Then - platform clear, leaving in a 4car, last signal was single yellow, red at _____ next stop _____.

‘Dish’ is when you approach a braking area for a station stop, quick check of your diagram ( or Sheila) and verbalise wether you stop at said station or not.

It all helps massively to mitigate against stop short door releases and fail to calls etc. Also incorporating risk triggered commentary for reds remote of platforms or TSR’s etc etc.
 

TeaTrain

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Well as someone who has just started their training I am equally excited and petrified at what you can fail on in training. I hope I get a nice, patient DI at Man Pic!

As a guard self commentary was very useful and I also used it to pass my drivers license. Much to the annoyance of my instructor lol. They actually told me to stop talking lol. But it helps me to pass my test first time.
Thanks for the idea of cue cards. They sound useful and so will make some.
 

Stigy

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Hahaaaa I must admit when I first started I kept hearing everyone talking about Sheila...! Was like ‘who is this Sheila????’ hahaaa!!

TIC-TOC is basically commentary driving for arriving and departing stations.
e.g - arriving at ______ on a single yellow, in a 4car, platform on the left, stopping at the 4 board.

Then - platform clear, leaving in a 4car, last signal was single yellow, red at _____ next stop _____.

‘Dish’ is when you approach a braking area for a station stop, quick check of your diagram ( or Sheila) and verbalise wether you stop at said station or not.

It all helps massively to mitigate against stop short door releases and fail to calls etc. Also incorporating risk triggered commentary for reds remote of platforms or TSR’s etc etc.
Thanks. It’s interesting to see what others use differently as well as what people do the same.
 

sw1ller

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Going back to the original post. Early on in my training I was sat in the mayfield loop waiting on platform 14 at Manchester picc. The down slow cleared for 14 and I put the train in forward and went to take power. Luckily I realised that I was reading across immediately and reset myself. All too eager to show I knew what I was doing when infact I didn’t. I should have been taking my time and and not rushing. Felt a right nob but it’s kind of helped me for the following 5-6 years.
Just a note to all the new starters here. Don’t let these stories scare you. Take your time, think about what you’re doing and take things one step at a time. Don’t think too far ahead. Driving is simple. People make it very difficult for themselves and they really don’t need to.
 

alanyoung165

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Going back to the original post. Early on in my training I was sat in the mayfield loop waiting on platform 14 at Manchester picc. The down slow cleared for 14 and I put the train in forward and went to take power. Luckily I realised that I was reading across immediately and reset myself. All too eager to show I knew what I was doing when infact I didn’t. I should have been taking my time and and not rushing. Felt a right nob but it’s kind of helped me for the following 5-6 years.
Just a note to all the new starters here. Don’t let these stories scare you. Take your time, think about what you’re doing and take things one step at a time. Don’t think too far ahead. Driving is simple. People make it very difficult for themselves and they really don’t need to.
Thanks, that's great advice.
 

Nym

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Specific examples would be things like,

Not spending enough time learning on some placements.

But in terms of serious things, over-reaching on mods for a couple of fleets, and receiving a couple of electric shocks along the way.

Oh, and crashing a £65k vehicle, that wasn't fun.

PS: Even after this many years on the job, I still see myself as learning, not my core knowledge any more, but I'm trying to stretch myself outside my trade where I can.
 

Overspeed110

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Personally, I think RTC is not the be all and end all, that and NTS, (formerly known as common sense)
I know of drivers (and instructors) who have been using RTC and still gone on to have serious incidents. It might work for some people, but it definitely doesn't work for everyone, including myself. I think it is wrong for anyone to have this pushed down their throat as a must do, it should be left entirely to that person's discretion whether they do it or not.
 

4F89

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As with everything, it has it uses, just like AWS, Approach Control, flashing yellows, SPAD awareness etc etc. Its complacency that is the killer.
 

Dieseldriver

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Personally, I think RTC is not the be all and end all, that and NTS, (formerly known as common sense)
I know of drivers (and instructors) who have been using RTC and still gone on to have serious incidents. It might work for some people, but it definitely doesn't work for everyone, including myself. I think it is wrong for anyone to have this pushed down their throat as a must do, it should be left entirely to that person's discretion whether they do it or not.
RTC mitigates against incidents, it doesn’t completely eradicate them. The fact that people have had incidents whilst using RTC doesn’t mean it isn’t beneficial.
 

Islineclear3_1

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No not against the rules at all, some areas it may be common procedure to leave on a single yellow. e.g -leaving March station towards whittlesea, you nearly always leave on a single yellow as the red is protecting a level crossing which needs time to operate, therefore the red will clear as you approach the crossing. leaving a station and being routed via a diverging route.

There’s loads of reasons or areas you may leave on a single yellow, but it is massively important to verbalise that you have left on a yellow and that the next signal is potentially gonna be at danger and to proceed at caution.

Happens all the time; an example I know well is at Canterbury West for the Victoria terminators. Once the passengers have disembarked, driver leaves on a yellow which a) gives the signaller enough time to operate the crossing ahead and b), a reminder that the driver has to park his train on the other side of the crossing in readiness to shunt back, rather than continue on to the next station
 

Nym

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Oh wow, what does that feel like? I currently work on track but I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting shocked. Not as life threatening as they make out in PTS then?
It has life affecting injuries.
If you're very lucky it only leaves you with burns and scaring.
In terms of PTS, the 3rd rail and that supply should be taken as seriously as the PTS tells you.
I do not promote any kind of wreckless attitude around electrical supplies.
 

Gloster

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I have heard of people being killed, in particular a long-serving PW man who stumbled over a carelessly left shovel, landed on the juice rail, rolled off, but did not survive. Even those who survive can be left with life-changing injuries. I only worked in third-rail land for a few months and the worst I ever got was a nasty tickle up my back, but it was enough for me to be even more careful thereafter.
 

JohnChuchu

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Not going to the toilet before a long trip, I ended up ****ting myself on the driver's seat after being stuck at a red signal for 45 minutes
 

JohnChuchu

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I take it whatever you were driving wasn't fitted with toilets!
there were no toilets and there was a massive disruption causing me to wait at a red signal for 45 minutes, resulting in me in sh!tting myself
 

Chingy

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there were no toilets and there was a massive disruption causing me to wait at a red signal for 45 minutes, resulting in me in sh!tting myself
I would love to have been a fly on the wall when you had to explain that to your relieving driver.
 

JohnChuchu

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I would love to have been a fly on the wall when you had to explain that to your relieving driver.
The train was taken out of service to be cleaned, I had to ride on that train to the train maintenance depot for the train to be deep cleaned in the cabs and for me to clean myself with hose pipes at the depot with a new uniform provided. It was a mess. Don't get caught up in that.
 
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