Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
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Post by Phil on Sept 16, 2005 9:30:13 GMT
The Test train Operator's based at Ruislip crew it when needed. These drivers are qualified on all stock on all lines. Dragging this post out of the Aldwych thread, Can our experts tell us something more about the duties of the test train ops? Is it the job to die for (like Concorde test pilot) or is it ****** boring most of the time? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2005 10:11:38 GMT
Is it the job to die for (like Concorde test pilot) or is it ****** boring most of the time? They basically drive anything rare! This includes stock moves from different lines, whenever rolling stock tesing takes place, when modified stock comes back and so on. They also drive things such as the museums 38ts |
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Post by igelkotten on Sept 16, 2005 10:20:19 GMT
From a Swedish perspective, I can only say that it can be a bit of both.
Testing out a completely new train can, of course, be a lot of fun. It is a stimulating challenge to come to grips with something completely new, to literally have to write the book as you go along. It is also a tremendous amount of work, and a sure way of doing absolutely ridiculous amounts of overtime. And while some things can be spectacular, such as seeing how fast you can go if you really push it, or blowing up a main traction converter, that is but a minor part of a testing programme.
A lot of the time, you are simply doing the exact same thing over and over again, in order to gather data or verify a certain function. Drive along a stretch of track at exactly a certain speed, do something exactly when hitting a mark along the track, repeat ten times. Now, change a small parameter and do it all again, ten more times.
There is also the eternal favourite of being ordered out to do some test runs to verify a signalling upgrade, arrive at the test site, stop in front of red signal and wait. And wait, and wait, and wait, until at 0445 the test manager calsl you up and says that "uuhhh... we're not sure what has happened exactly with component X, but I think we have to cancel tonight's test". This is usually followed by control coming over the radio telling you that they seem to have lost control of all points in the area, and if I see the test manager,would I be so kind as to strangle him with his own entrails?
A lot of the test train driving I have done has not been tied to any large project -after all, you only have a Big Bang project every once in a while. It has rather consisted of running a few trains to check out on some kind of software upgrade, or run through an area where signalling work has been done, rather low-key and unspectacular things in other words.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Sept 16, 2005 14:55:48 GMT
Is it the job to die for (like Concorde test pilot) or is it ****** boring most of the time? They basically drive anything rare! And also the pretty mundane work too. Last dealings I had with the Test Crew were to run a 1992 stock unit up and down the central line for two evenings, taking the train over from the service driver at White City. I've heard a couple of them are working semi-full time at Hainault Depot doing shunting duties. |
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Sept 16, 2005 19:36:09 GMT
In the old days of the Dev Div to get that job you had to be the senior driver and senior guard on the job.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2005 23:33:40 GMT
And also the pretty mundane work too. Which is why I put the following : They basically drive anything rare! This includes stock moves from different lines, whenever rolling stock tesing takes place, when modified stock comes back and so on. |
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Sept 20, 2005 9:10:58 GMT
Might just be the way I read it but to me moving stock from line to line isn't mundane. However shunting in depots and running a train of a line's normal stock up and down, like an empty stock move is.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2005 14:28:49 GMT
Some here may know, I applied for this job a few years back and was extremely dissapointed when I didn't get it.
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Post by piccadillypilot on Sept 20, 2005 14:39:25 GMT
I applied for this job a few years back and was extremely dissapointed when I didn't get it. I'm confused. This has always been a senior (i.e. old) man's job but you keep telling us you're only a lad. What made you think you had a chance? Or was it the fact that you've already got most of the route knowlege (plus some "special" bits  )? ;D |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2005 15:55:23 GMT
I'm confused. This has always been a senior (i.e. old) man's job but you keep telling us you're only a lad. What made you think you had a chance? Or was it the fact that you've already got most of the route knowlege (plus some "special" bits )? ;D Thats only a fragment of imagineation, how can he be young if he is an upminster driver ? ;D Iam surprised he didnt get it, seeing as he has worked on nearly all lines. |
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Post by piccadillypilot on Sept 20, 2005 19:01:45 GMT
how can he be young if he is an upminster driver ? Errrrmmm, with difficulty? Maybe they wanted to give someone else a chance? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2005 1:10:22 GMT
Thats only a fragment of imagineation, how can he be young if he is an upminster driver ? ;D I must be young. I've often been told I have the intelligence of a 7 year old ;D |
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Post by q8 on Sept 21, 2005 3:32:17 GMT
You lot make my old depot sound like it is a rest home for geriatrics!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2005 7:49:05 GMT
You lot make my old depot sound like it is a rest home for geriatrics!! You should be glad that you never spent time at Rickmansworth - certain persons have called it the Old Gits Depot.... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2005 22:44:27 GMT
You lot make my old depot sound like it is a rest home for geriatrics!! You should be glad that you never spent time at Rickmansworth - certain persons have called it the Old Gits Depot.... ;D |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2005 2:34:06 GMT
Sounds strangely like the ROSCO link at my old depot - all the best jobs, signing pretty much every unit and loco every thought of and sitting spare 90% of the time.
Still, it was something of a pointer from management if you were appointed to the ROSCO link... 'Thanks very much, here's a nice job, btw - be a good boy and retire within 5 years....'
If only I'd stayed at Ilford...... ;D
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)? ;D 
