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Post by stevo on Feb 20, 2013 14:06:17 GMT
I wondered how long it takes on average for the thrill felt by a just-qualified LUL driver to finally disappear. The initial buzz of arriving at the depot, booking on, checking his/her train and driving it out of the depot must remain for a while, but like any job, the initial excitement gradually disappears and life once more becomes a tedious routine and the elusive rest day eagerly anticipated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2013 17:16:44 GMT
About 6 months in my experience after this time you tend to find yourself working in auto mode more and more
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Post by rheostar on Feb 21, 2013 18:39:14 GMT
The excitement of driving a train wore off after the first day, I was then bored for the following eight years.
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Post by superteacher on Feb 24, 2013 10:26:00 GMT
I daresay it varies from person to person.
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Post by seaeagle on Feb 24, 2013 14:12:46 GMT
It lasted a good year or so for me, but I had 38 stock to drive.  It gets rekindled when I end up on a new line, currently spending a few weeks on the Met playing with S8's, so the interest is back for a short while until I go back to my home line. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 22:29:18 GMT
When you start a job you enjoy, there is always a buzz at first. Any job becomes a chore after a while, sometimes it can even take away some of your enthusiasm (ie. a railway enthusiast becoming a train driver). It lasted a good year or so for me, but I had 38 stock to drive. It gets rekindled when I end up on a new line, currently spending a few weeks on the Met playing with S8's, so the interest is back for a short while until I go back to my home line. Is 'loaning' something which happens a lot on LU? When I was single, I would jump at the chance to work at other First Group depots - it just makes it a bit more interesting. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 22:36:51 GMT
Do you mean other bus depots ? I think variety is the key here. But I'm just wondering if tube drivers are more likely to get bored as most tube lines are underground (as opposed to sub surface lines such as the Met line) and you generally have to stop at every station and speeds are relatively low?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2013 7:56:19 GMT
Bet the job doesn't get boring for test train ops, lots of variety there!
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Post by stevo on Feb 25, 2013 8:31:06 GMT
I would enjoy the sense of responsibility.
Watching for and obeying signals, remaining alert for anything amiss on or around the line, taking over a train at the correct time.
The hardest thing for me would be resisting the temptation to smoke while driving.
If a colleague took over my train and discovered a strong aroma of cigarette smoke in the cab, would he grass me up or have a quiet word in my ear?
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Post by rheostar on Feb 25, 2013 9:47:04 GMT
Do you mean other bus depots ? I think variety is the key here. But I'm just wondering if tube drivers are more likely to get bored as most tube lines are underground (as opposed to sub surface lines such as the Met line) and you generally have to stop at every station and speeds are relatively low? After a while, one bit of tunnel looks very much like another. Being a driver on the Piccadilly line, I used to like going out into the open sections especially up to Uxbridge. The section between Arnos Grove and Barons Court was just one long drag. Many drivers 'switch off' after a while and don't know where they are. Once I remember the controller calling me on the radio and asking where I was. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foggiest and didn't answer until I'd stopped at the next station. I couldn't remember if I was going east or west, or where I was on the railway. But in all my time I never had any SPADs (or ones that I'd admit to). After a while, it's a bit like driving a car - it's something you do without really thinking about. |
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Post by stevo on Feb 25, 2013 11:09:37 GMT
I always had this idea than an LU control centre was a little bit like in "The Taking Of Pelham 123" with a giant board on the wall and little lights representing each train in service. It was how they knew the train had stopped where it shouldn't normally stop. Do you really mean that when we're deep underground, the Line Controller has no idea of our train's location?
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Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
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Post by Phil on Feb 25, 2013 11:10:15 GMT
Many drivers 'switch off' after a while and don't know where they are. Once I remember the controller calling me on the radio and asking where I was. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foggiest and didn't answer until I'd stopped at the next station. I couldn't remember if I was going east or west, or where I was on the railway. We have other members who will testify to this - especially when your second half was FOUR circles......... It can happen on the buses too. One Saturday evening I was in Gloucester bus station (I was a Stroud driver and two routes go to Gloucester) and, end of a long day, doors open waiting for passengers, I completely blanked out. Didn't know what route I was on, what departure time (thank goodness for running cards), and being dark, not only what time it was, but not even what day or even the date/time of year. Quite scary!!! Good look at running card told me the day, watch told me the actual time, card told me departure time and an old paper told me the date. Lasted till I pulled out of the bus station then suddenly reality got restored and I was back! Fortunately never happened again. Many of the industry experts cite this as the main cause of Moorgate - the driver simply forgot where he was and in those days if you 'came round' too late to stop you just missed out that station, got a 'word in your ear' from your guard on the loudaphone and carried on. Boredom is indeed a serious issue which is why the technical tests for t/ops now usually include SCAAT or group-bourdon tests to specifically test concentration. |
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class411
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Post by class411 on Feb 25, 2013 11:43:22 GMT
Many of the industry experts cite this as the main cause of Moorgate - the driver simply forgot where he was and in those days if you 'came round' too late to stop you just missed out that station, got a 'word in your ear' from your guard on the loudaphone and carried on. Boredom is indeed a serious issue which is why the technical tests for t/ops now usually include SCAAT or group-bourdon tests to specifically test concentration. That driver was very recently qualified, though, wasn't he? Surely that level of boredom does not set in so soon. |
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Post by seaeagle on Feb 25, 2013 16:08:42 GMT
When you start a job you enjoy, there is always a buzz at first. Any job becomes a chore after a while, sometimes it can even take away some of your enthusiasm (ie. a railway enthusiast becoming a train driver). It lasted a good year or so for me, but I had 38 stock to drive. It gets rekindled when I end up on a new line, currently spending a few weeks on the Met playing with S8's, so the interest is back for a short while until I go back to my home line. Is 'loaning' something which happens a lot on LU? When I was single, I would jump at the chance to work at other First Group depots - it just makes it a bit more interesting. Loaning doesn't happen on LU simply because of road training/stock training issues. I'm going up and down the Met for other reasons, just happen to be taking the chance to drive something different to what I'm more used to while I'm there. |
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slugabed
Zu lang am schnuller.
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Post by slugabed on Feb 25, 2013 18:11:56 GMT
I'm going up and down the Met for other reasons Now you have us intrigued.... |
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Post by seaeagle on Feb 25, 2013 19:15:08 GMT
I'm going up and down the Met for other reasons Now you have us intrigued.... Believe me it's nothing exciting, unfortunatly. |
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It gets rekindled when I end up on a new line, currently spending a few weeks on the Met playing with S8's, so the interest is back for a short while until I go back to my home line.
