London Banter - View Single Post

[email protected] · July 26th 11, 08:41 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:47:59 -0500
wrote:
This includes:
Signal operation (and it is slightly more complicated than red = stop,
green = go!), and signalling principles

What, you mean there's amber and white too? How do they cope!

Rolling stock operation, train equipment, dealing with defects. This
includes learning all about the equipment, recognising faults, knowing
what to do if the train comes to a sudden stop, won't go, doors won't open
/ close, or the important things like the kettle in the cab doesn't work,
or the toaster only browns one side of the bread, and just about anything
else you can think off - just in case the chief chimp isn't answering the
radio or the radio's defective.

Most people who operate machinery need to have that sort of knowledge. They
don't all earn 45K.

Line Knowledge - knowing all there is about the line, where the signals
are, the types of signals, what moves can be done, where the substations
are, how to take current off, what happens if current comes off.

So in other words like learning my journey to work , where the petrol
stations are, where the best rat runs are. Where I can stop for a coffee/pee
if I need to, which roads tend to get clogged around 9am school start, the
best diversions to use if there's a major cock up on the 406.

And thats just to GET to work , its not what I do when I'm there.

And all sorts of other information such as what to do if / when you a get
a one-under, a bomb goes off on your train or the train catches fire.

Whatever it is they didn't do it very well on 7/7.

months training drivers. That way, if there's any hint of a strike, you
can just say - "you're fired" and bring on the next lot of instant drivers!

It might give Comrade Crowe pause for thought.

B2003