Why does train driving take 9 months, all you do is follow a track?

Question

Why does train driving take 9 months, all you do is follow a track?

Answer 1

All i do is follow a track? 31 years and i never knew it was that easy! And to think they pay me over 90k a year for that.

Answer 2

There is more to engineering a train other than just following a track. Most modern trains have complicated computer systems controlling the engines, braking, hydraulic pressures, etc. Also, if something goes wrong with the train, you are stuck by yourself so it is important to know how all of the different systems operate.

Answer 3

You have to know how to drive the train under different conditions. You have to know the sections of line that you are operating on, how the signals work, where all the points and signals are, any speed restrictions, etc. You have to know the different types of trains, and how to operate them. You have to know how they work, and what to do if they break down - how to cure minor defects, and how to report more serious faults.

You have to know what to do in an emergency, e.g. if your locomotive derails. You have to be able to calculate the braking distance for the train you are driving - the faster and/or heavier the train, the longer the distance needed to come to a standstill.

You have to know the working timetable - this is the timetable issued to staff with all the trains in it, not just the ones the public are allowed to travel on.

When booking on for each turn of duty you have to read and memorise all the instructions - where the speed and/or weight restrictions are, which sections of line are locked out for maintenance, where you are booked to stop, where you are to shunt, where any temporary signalling arrangements might be in place, and so on.

You need to know the procedure for working single lines, which involves the exchange of 'token' between signaller and driver to gain permission to proceed.

In short, it's a highly skilled and professional job.

Answer 4

You need to learn the track like the back of your hand.Where the dips,hills,curves and crossings are.Every train handles differently even the same cars will act differently on different days. You also haft to be able to quote the four inch rule book.

I'm not kidding the rule book is four + inches thick.

Answer 5

Look at this way, what's the hardest part of learing how to drive a car??

It isnt steering is it? That is almost automatic, so eliminating that from the equation mean almost nothing.

How about learning the rules of the road, and being aboe to start and stop smoothly?

Multiply those by 1000 times and you get an idea what we have to learn.

Signal rules, safety rules, hazmat rules, physical properties of the road, mechanical and airbrake rules.

The list is nearly endless, I have worked with some very intelligent people that never could get the hang of it.

I can tell you that I havent worked with one new engineer, including myself taht wasn't scared spitless on his first solo run as an engineer just out of the training program.

9 months isnt near enough, all it teaches you is how much you have left to learn.

Answer 6

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it!

Answer 7

I don't know whether to growl or laugh...

Of course we're on opposite sides of the pond, but over here, nine months training will teach you just enough to get yourself killed.  Personally, I wouldn't leave an engineer with less than two year's experience unattended in my garage.

Yes, the train follows the track, so no steering.  Everything else rides upon the train driver's shoulders.  Try to squeeze 10,000 tons of freight train that is 6,000 feet long into a 6,010 foot long siding.  Now, do it at night in heavy fog when you can't even see the signal until you're right on top of it.  Now, try to do all of that on a 2.4% descending grade.

That's when 9 months of training will demonstrate how inadequate 9 months of training is.

So, let's compromise.  I won't call it rocket science if you won't call it easy, OK?