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Post by chris on Apr 23, 2005 15:49:15 GMT
Yes - another thread by me on a trivial and petty quiery!
Do any of you drivers , sorry, operators ever get bored?
I imagaine that it must get a bit monotonous after a while. (Although i'd enjoy it). Having said that, those here obviously have a deeper intrest in the underground, so maybe you're not subject to boredom as much as a regular operator. Or do you have a way of oppressing the boredom. i.e. thinking up humourous announcements like, um, "the front car is NOT slowly filling with poiseness gases." (then groan and pretend to collapse) or "The underside of the 3rd car is NOT of fire." (For added effect a heater on under the seats). And so forth........
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Post by q8 on Apr 23, 2005 16:37:54 GMT
Do any of you drivers , sorry, operators ever get bored? -----------------------------------------------------------------------  Bored? bored? I used to get bored sh*tless mate. You may do a different duty each week (and sometimes every day) but it's along the same track through the same stations and the same scenery. Most guards could tell you exactly where you were by the sounds prevalent at any given minute with their nose buried deep in a book. Likewise most drivers could drive the line with their eyes closed (I think some of them did!) You don't know boredom till you've been a railwayman. |
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Colin
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My preserved fire engine!
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Post by Colin on Apr 24, 2005 0:13:52 GMT
Do any of you drivers , sorry, operators ever get bored? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bored? bored? I used to get bored sh*tless mate. You may do a different duty each week (and sometimes every day) but it's along the same track through the same stations and the same scenery. Most guards could tell you exactly where you were by the sounds prevalent at any given minute with their nose buried deep in a book. Likewise most drivers could drive the line with their eyes closed (I think some of them did!) You don't know boredom till you've been a railwayman. The worst time is in the tunnel sections when the controller calls you or you're stuck at a red automatic signal, cos if you've been day dreaming, you aint got a clue where you are!! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2005 1:40:17 GMT
As much as I'm a huge railway enthusiast, and being a train driver was my childhood dream, I admit, I still get bored!!
Not as often as I used to running through the deep level tube sections on the Jubilee Line, but (as a prime example) my duty today (Sunday) finishes with over 4 hours on the Olympia train.
this would be bad enough at the best of times, but during our engineering works weekends (like this weekend), it's only running between Earl's Court and Olympia - a 3 minute run!! You spend more time walking through the train than actually driving it! ;D
One of the things I do to stop myself getting bored is give myself a running commentary, as if I was showing a stranger or a trainee the line for the first time. For example I point out 'dodgy' signals, speed restrictions etc etc.
I don't talk to myself! It's all in my head, but it keeps me alert and I rarely lose my concentration doing this! It also helps me to know the line inside out... Very handy if I ever apply to become an I/O... Or just to bore my wife silly when I make her sit through Solidbond's superb cabride DVD!! ;D
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Post by igelkotten on Apr 24, 2005 7:04:23 GMT
As Q8 and Colin already have stated, you can become bored out of your little mind. And, of course, get all sorts of funny thoughts and start fidgeting. "Hey, didn't that piece of ballast lie the other way around the last time I passed this place? Oooohh! Look! A cute puppy on the platform! ...uuuhh? was I supposed to stop here?" Which is why I do find it a little bit bizarre with drivers who like to play with, for example, BVE or MSTS, on their spare time. The times I have done so, I have always ended up sking myself "What the -bleeep- am I doing? On my spare time, and not even getting paid for it?!"  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2005 7:12:06 GMT
I think it would be highly unusual not to get bored doing the same job day after day. Personally, I found that I'd be thinking about other things, my brain just operating in 'auto pilot' after five hours driving the same bus route  Like Alan, I found that I would give myself a 'running commentry' in my head.  |
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Post by trainopd78 on Apr 26, 2005 17:59:10 GMT
Do any of you guys sing to yourselves whilst driving?
No?
errrrr....
I'll get my straight jacket!
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Post by Christopher J on Apr 26, 2005 18:25:59 GMT
Do any of you guys sing to yourselves whilst driving? No? errrrr.... I'll get my straight jacket! I'm getting worried about you now Wayne! ;D I could imagine you coming over the PA and singing to your on board customers! ;D What are those C Stocks doing to your Brain!? ;D |
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Post by doubletrigger on Apr 26, 2005 18:41:39 GMT
Driving, not as half as tedious as depatching is after a while!
At least I've always got a team to liase with during duties though, can make the boredom seem much more worthwhile. I reckon in a drivers job the boredom can result in going long periods, of familiar route on one's tod. I know it can get very lonely for drivers on our trains who go 1 1/2 hours of driving non stop at high speeds with no interaction with colleagues, that can really add to it I'd imagine!
Otherwise the railway is a friendly and fun place to work most of the time, as I'm sure my colleagues, National Rail and Underground will agree! A unique culture, but one I wouldn't give up without a struggle! Can't switch to LU in a rush though, though I would love to! Only just got my international discount card... now that's what I'm talking about when I say benefits!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2005 0:57:26 GMT
Do any of you guys sing to yourselves whilst driving? No? errrrr.... I'll get my straight jacket! I also have a habit of chatting to colleagues who are in the cab with me... About all sorts of subjects... With the PA switched on (unknown to us!)... Until a very nice customer pointed it out! Ring any bells, Wayne? ;D ;D (I'm glad they changed the C stock handsets now!!) |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2005 1:44:36 GMT
I don't get bored, I always have that good looking bloke who stares at me when I have my cab light on to keep me company |
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Post by Dmitri on Apr 27, 2005 7:07:25 GMT
I don't get bored, I always have that good looking bloke who stares at me when I have my cab light on to keep me company But is he a good company? |
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Post by piccadillypilot on Apr 27, 2005 8:43:42 GMT
But is he a good company? He's obviously not a good influence when he encourages ...  |
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Post by trainopd78 on Apr 27, 2005 17:09:05 GMT
I also have a habit of chatting to colleagues who are in the cab with me... About all sorts of subjects... With the PA switched on (unknown to us!)... Until a very nice customer pointed it out! Ring any bells, Wayne? ;D ;D (I'm glad they changed the C stock handsets now!!) Roflmao!! One or two. ;D Personally, I blame Sean!! Best mod ever done that! ;D I must admit I still quote that one to trainees as a warning to ensure the hanset is properly hung on its bracket. Turnham Green got our vote didn't it? ;D |
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Post by piccadillypilot on Apr 27, 2005 17:30:26 GMT
I also have a habit of chatting to colleagues who are in the cab with me Going back a week or twelve 73 stock had one handset for both cab to cab phone and PA selected by button adjacent to the TEP. Unfortunately they had a habit of going on the blink in such a manner that the cab to cab could be heard over the PA. When I was on the back, my mate and I were being held somewhere and discussing the merits of one or two young ladies on the train, until one of the station staff came dashing up and told me what was happening.  With no Guard on the back that's not something that can happen now is it? ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2005 1:27:28 GMT
With no Guard on the back that's not something that can happen now is it? ;D Hehe, we had a similar thing on the mainline! There was only one handset, and seperate buttons for the PA, cab-to-cab etc. If there was either a new guard or new driver, the more senior one would call the other on the cab-to-cab for a chat and try and get them to say something stupid, then press the PA button as they're saying it! ;D Have to keep an eye on the LEDs! |
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Bored? bored? I used to get bored sh*tless mate. You may do a different duty each week (and sometimes every day) but it's along the same track through the same stations and the same scenery. Most guards could tell you exactly where you were by the sounds prevalent at any given minute with their nose buried deep in a book. Likewise most drivers could drive the line with their eyes closed (I think some of them did!) You don't know boredom till you've been a railwayman.
Like Alan, I found that I would give myself a 'running commentry' in my head. 
