Recent content by driver9000

Yes, it was a 2 stage temperature monitoring device fitted after a few instances of Final Drive failures. The Gearbox lights had a deliberate flash rate depending on which stage was activated and 5 seconds sounds familiar.

No. It was just the Wheel Slip detection and Throttle dip relay kicking in when the 7% difference in probe readings was detected. Sharp curves could sometimes cause problems on 142s with the relay cutting engine power (Accrington immediately springs to mind). Under braking a total slide was...

TAP (Track Access Productions) supply route learning material such as maps and videos. Micks maps were produced years ago by a Driver called Mick which were very good but I don't know if he kept them up to date as it's a long time since I've looked at them. 1713524510 That is excellent advice...

142s also had the lockable parcels area as built. Most of the partition doors were removed but a couple of the ex North Western units at Northern managed to hang onto the doors albeit long disused until refreshed by the company.

Congratulations on securing the job. Enjoy the calm before the storm and relax because the course is designed to take you from the front door of the school to your first solo turn without any prior experience or knowledge. You're looking at 12 months training period with a lot of work to do...

I've just looked on Streetview and the totem outside the station does have a Red Star parcels sign under the BR arrows.

Do you want to know anything specifically? I have no knowledge of York depot but across the company turn length varies 5-10hrs (9hr maximum Night turn booking on between 21:00 and 04:59) with a +/-3 hours movement when Spare. 33 days leave rostered 1 week Spring, 3 Weeks Summer and 1 week Winter...

I passed out with 4 classes in my card. Core traction was the 142 and converted to 15x units during training.

That was purely for TPEs own purposes and had no bearing on your existing employment or competency. Failing their tests just meant you didn't get the job and it wasn't the full suite of tests anyway.

Was your licence withdrawn and surrendered to the ORR or do you still have the plastic card? Personally I would take the job but once you've been away from the national network for (I think) 5 years you are treated as a trainee again if you were to apply to one again.

Class 5 is empty stock so no passengers. 1712314633 Steps still fitted in the photograph.

Certainly looks like it could be the mangled remains of a brake caliper.

It's a damper. The TCA is on the cab end bogie and this is the gangway end bogie as you can see the sand hopper. It also appears that brake calipers have either been ripped off or removed.

This is where managing your lifestyle comes into play and is something that can get overlooked by prospective trainees. Think about how would you fight sleeping in the cab of a moving train. You will get breaks through the day but it's up to you to ensure you're adequately rested. Simple...

That's not how the licence works and it's not really a licence, it just shows you meet the medical and psychometric standard. It is accompanied by a certificate of competence which details the work and infrastructure you're qualified to work on. I know someone who works cross border trains on...