London Underground in the 1980's

In the mid 90's the only route was via the guards roll, I would be surprised if it was not the same a decade earlier.

When I was a depot clerk in the eighties the route to driver was promotion from railman/woman to guard or direct recruit guard. Guards were qualified as emergency drivers. In an emergency they could drive a train to the next station, detrain the passengers take on another staff member to stay with them in the cab to take the train to a siding or depot. The second person in the cab was to watch the signals and the guard driving.

Newly qualified guards with no depot would be Station Guards working at a station as a stationman/railman when no duties for them at the depot required as a guard.

Guards during the course of a year would be given driving trips to keep their skill level up and would be paid as a driver for that day/duty.

If they completed so many duties as a driver they would become Guard rated motorman ie paid as driver whether working as a guard or driver.

As a driver vacancy arose these guards would have first choice though not necessarily at there own depot.

This system was very efficient with yardmasters allocating duties starting with drivers and working down the lists and in theory should there be nobody should be idle.

As an aside depot shunters were generally guards whether ground shunters or control tower shunters such as Upminster

Drivers generally went on to be station inspectors then on to yardmaster or stationmaster or even controllers. The higher wages paid to one person drivers killed off this as drivers would lose money taking "promotion". The company plan came into address this problem.

Thanks Hobbayne,

Could I message you a few questions? You seem just the person I need to talk to.