Duties: best and worst, earliest and latest

Forgot about that mafia system, but of course I remebered hearing about it when I read your post... But, I am a blonde after all, so I suppose it's OK.

Here in Stockholm, we have a system where you apply for a set of 2-4 duties basically in order of seniority. This can lead to all sorts of interesting infighting and backstabbing when the time for the Big Pick comes around.

Interestingly enough, to get the permanent overnight duties (2300-0600) at Gullmarsplan, you needed some 25+ years on the job at last pick. At Alvik depot on the same line, however, no-one wanted them, so they had to be sent back for a second round of picking and one of them went to a young lad with all of 12 months on the job.

Numbers 3, 5 and 9 in order of seniority at the time of the pick. Since then, No.1 has retired, so everyone has bumped up a notch. Now, number 5 might be heading for a medical retirement, which means that there will be an opening. One other guy who did like those jobs earlier has now apparently gone over to earlies. Which means that a certain friend of mine looks like a strong candidate for that position next pick, which in turn means than I can probably snag his former duties, which are of the late-late turn variety (ca. 1900-0200).

Calculation, planning, and the mind of Machiavelli -necessary ingredients for today's discerning driver.

No panic Alex, that's fine as it's not current.

We do have a few duties at each depot that are of similar hours - though they are rare ;D ;D




**an update to my earlier post's in this thread - i'm now 20th on the list for Upminster ;D ;D I was [rather foolishly] awaiting the outcome of the Acton Dispute (see District board for more) - now I know the score, I will restart my efforts to move to a more easterly depot on another line, whilst keeping my name on the Upminster list.**

My current thinking is the Central or East London lines. I don't fancy either - but if my travelling time to & from work is less, i'll be happy.

As far as I know (and certainly for Acton duties) the maximum trains in a shift is three.
This is usually the first two for a few hours each, then an annoying ten minute step-back at Earl's Court to pick up the final train just to make us finish later get their money's worth from us! ;D Thankfully the three train duties are mainly weekends.

Blimey! Of course when the sheets all change in June, they'll probably make life as difficult as possible for us Acton drivers (at least those drivers who don't get moved to ECT!) ;D

So here´s a nice duty

(I emailed a friend of mine who is an ex-Berlin Urban Rail (S-Bahn) driver)

Book on BWKRV (Westkreuz) 17.02 Book off SCHW DEPOT 01.55

17.02 S3 Train 10-60 BWRKV - BERK (Erkner) 18.01
18.13 S3 Train 10-60 BERK - BHF (Ostbahnhof) 18.47
18.57 s3 Train 10-60 BHF - BERK 19.31
19.43 S3 Train 10-60 BERK - BHF 20.17
Change Train / Rota Plate To S6 Train 60
20.26 S6 Train 60 BHF - BSWP (Schöneweide) 20.43
Detrain, Stable

M/B 21.00 - 21.55

22.01 S86 Train 73 BSWP - BSPF (Spindlersfeld) 22.06
22.10 S86 Train 73 BSPF - BHER (Herrmansstr) 22.28
22.49 s86 Train 73 BHER - BSPF 23.06
23.10 S86 Train 73 BSPF - BHER 23.28
23.49 S86 Train 73 BHER - BSPF 00.06
00.10 S86 Train 73 BSPF - BHER 00.28
00.49 S86 Train 73 BHER - BSPF 01.06
01.10 s86 Train 73 BSPF - BSWP 01.16

Couple with 1/2 Train on 24 Road
3/4 Train Transfer to 58 Road

Stable Train on 59 Road

Book off BSCHW DEPOT 01.55

You call that a nice duty? I'm glad you aint my boss!!
9 hour duty, 4 hours both halves and all that mucking about at the end. Urrgghhh, no thanks!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Interesting the second half of that S-bahn duty looks totally rubbish and is train 73... One of the worst Acton duties we have is 351 (which I was doing tonight) which also involves a train 73 (and lots of it - Bloody C stock! ;D)

There seems to be an awful lot of shunting and un/coupling involved with those duties!
Thank goodness we don't have to be un/coupling trains all the time! ;D

Whoever works in their timetabling department needs sacking!!

What's that all about? I got lost after the second meal break (not too difficult me ;D ;D). Talking of meal breaks, nice to see it's two - but the first one is 2005 till 2025. I don't care where in the world you are, or what job you do, that aint a meal break - which means your proper meal break is at 2250, 5hrs 50 mins after booking on.

11 o'clock at night.

Quality.

Then there's all that shunting. Why?
Like I say, Whoever works in their timetabling department needs sacking cos they clearly have no idea how to schedule trains and drivers.

Yes I read the whole duty - and that first bit (1700 - 1820) is not a guaranteed do nothing portion. And it doesn't change the fact that the proper meal break is not until 2250.

Obviously I don't know the area, so i'll accept the shunting needs to go on - but it don't half seem to make life hard, doesn't it?

That reserve train thing is actually a nearly guaranteed do nothing portion - my friend did that duty 36 times he was at the SBahn (96-99) and it was always "do-nothing-time" (once he had to assist a train into the sidings (emphasis on ONCE))

Commenting on Watford DC drivers - 4 round trips to Euston was always a killer in a 9 hour turn - 7 mins at Euston if on time and 15 mins at Watford. To give a break from the tedium - this was amended to 2 Wfd - En , 30 min break - one rounder on the St Albans branch and finish with a further rounder to London.

I used to try and persuade planners to arrange longer am turns with a shorter Sat late turn element to allow drivers to book off at a civilised hour - say 10pm to allow a modicum of sociability when booked off.