The speed at which the weeks are passing is getting a little bit scary. I’m trying desperately not to think about the fact that the final rules exam and the end of the course is now just a smidgen over a week away. Because of this, I don’t really want to dwell too much on … Continue reading Eeep…!! →

One of the great features of the rules course that I am sitting is that there is a one week break between the end of week three and the start of week four. The idea is basically to allow the first part of the training to sink in before moving on to the weightier matters … Continue reading Intermission →

As if we haven’t got enough things to try and get our heads around, I managed to get myself into a proper tizzy over some railway terminology. Today we were covering the various types of speed restrictions that can be imposed, part of which is to learn about the different signs used to denote these … Continue reading “It’s illogical, captain” →

‘Swarm, isn’t it? As southern Britain swelters in proper mid-summer weather for once, the company’s slavish insistence on full uniform means that we’re suffering along with everyone else. Sadly our training room suffers from a total lack of air conditioning or anything else that could make conditions more bearable. However, at least we aren’t out … Continue reading Bees →

It would seem that I was perhaps a little hasty in my previous assessment of the rules course content. There are indeed quite a few differences between this and the content of the introductory course that we had previously sat at Hornsey, it’s just that you need to look closely to find them. It was … Continue reading Stating the bleedin’ obvious →

After the front end turns comes the Rules Course. With the change of activity comes a change of location. For the next couple of months, our place of work will not be a Portakabin in the Hornsey depot car park, but a cosy little room under the eaves at the Cambridge drivers’ depot. It’s not … Continue reading Back to school →

Today was the last day of front end turns. I feel a little sad about this, as I have very much enjoyed them. Looking back, I’m afraid that not all of my hopes and expectations were fulfilled. While I did see some of the procedures that we had talked about in the classroom enacted, it … Continue reading Edited highlights →

I’m a little cross today, as I’ve just had confirmation that our rules course is to be delayed by a week. Added to the week that we are already behind because of the corporate induction at Ipswich , we have lost two weeks in as many months. Next week should have been the second week … Continue reading Delays, delays, delays… →

This train driving lark is great fun!! OK so I’m not actually doing anything yet, but I’m still having a great time. Apart from a couple of signalling failures which caused a fair bit of delay, the days have been uneventful. Speaking to the drivers I’ve been placed with, this is just the way we … Continue reading I can’t believe this is work →

No, I’ve not been given the sack. Well, not yet anyway. This week I have been playing at being a train driver and doing everything that a train driver does (er, except actually driving any trains obviously). For the last couple of days I have been up at 4am to sign-on for an early turn, … Continue reading Signing on →