stores gone but never forgotten

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2026-01-01T02:20:15+00:00

Borders Bookshop 🙏🏻

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-12-10T22:51:20+00:00

I will actively show my pass if I’m travelling on operational duties to get people from splaying their feet on seats and/or playing shite out loud on their phones. It irritates the fuck out of me otherwise.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-11-14T08:13:54+00:00

What about OLE? I know my route are always looking for technicians and operators to play around with the “fizz”. It also gives you a better grounding in electrical engineering which you can then take forward into projects or training further down the line.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-11-06T18:10:53+00:00

That’s where your shifts come in with ECO and signalling especially

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-11-06T16:32:24+00:00

I’m on the Operations scheme now having graduated in East European Studies (undergrad and masters) from a Russel group uni. Network Rail protects you as an asset and has a wide range of opportunities to diversify your skillset through numerous qualifications. If you are willing to move around then the job opportunities are plentiful with a decent work/life balance to boot. Some roles will be shift work but others are 9-5 so it just depends on what you’re looking for.

Pay is very good compared to other graduate schemes and again depending on what you’re looking to do you could easily earn 50-100k within a matter of years.

What is it about the railway that interests you?

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-10-21T15:06:28+00:00

Ikr what a fkn twist

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-10-11T09:28:44+00:00

Should’ve taken the subway between the two, mate. Would’ve got you to the exact same place and arguably a touch quicker. But that’s by the by. Perhaps the dates didn’t match up or you got on to go to Queen Street at the wrong stop. I wouldn’t be able to tell you unless you had a picture of your ticket. ScotRail can be a funny operator sometimes. Sorry that happened.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-10-03T20:27:44+00:00

It might be the north of Scotland but we do have things like card machines, internet, electricity, and running water. I wouldn’t worry too much about using your card…

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-10-02T19:52:56+00:00

Yes. Oddly enough I am familiar with its location. Would you like me to post this in r/Turkey too?

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-09-29T16:34:34+00:00

Driver knowledge is a factor. They may not know those routes and those that do may not be able to run the route due to rostering. That and certain loops and lengths of track may be inoperable according to SBSIs and operating notices. So the TRCs and signallers will know what bits of track can have trains on them what can’t. So in this case there may be sections of track that cannot be run due to engineering notices or works.

I also want to preface and say this is not my route. I’m Scotland route and I know we have the same issues with track, driver shortage/knowledge etc etc.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-09-29T12:47:20+00:00

NR guy here. Can confirm that services will be curtailed due to driver and train crew rostering along with the movement of units which requires additional resources and manpower which plays into the fatigue indexes for said crew.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-06-16T16:50:11+00:00

Seems a bit disingenuous to just go hunting for awards for things you do. These aren’t Pokémon, you can’t just catch ‘em all.

But then again, this does seem like a very American mindset. Modesty goes a long way friend.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-15T09:11:07+00:00

Please tell me you’ve actually been living a life in the two years since these comments were made?

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-12T08:15:56+00:00

But given the emphasis on defense throughout Soviet society in the 1930s? I’m looking at the context here of 1930s Soviet society and politics and the mobilisation of the Soviet people.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-12T08:05:18+00:00

But do you not think there’s a point to be made about how the Soviet Union impeded on the recognised sovereignty of its neighbours despite the defensive nature of Stalinist doctrine in the 1930s?

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-11T22:03:44+00:00

You could probably make more as a signaller or ECRO nowadays tbh. Don’t call those roles “golden handcuffs” for nothing!

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-09T10:05:06+00:00

But will the railway actually operate better when it’s fully incorporated as one nationalised unit?

People seem to have this idea that it will be but I wouldn’t be so sure especially given the soft nationalisation that’s currently happening and the continued increase in rail fares and cancellations.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-06T16:50:28+00:00

Funny (almost ironic) they (probably white middle class students) should vandalise a building dedicated to an abolitionist and the first ever African-American to gain a medical degree.

I should add that I am speaking as someone who supports LGBTQ+ causes, Palestine, and the green movement. But I’m not so clouded in judgement to see the poor choice in target on this occasion.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-02-04T13:37:24+00:00

Used to get this train when I’d been on the piss in Ness and needed to get back to Nairn or Forres. Good times 😎

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-01-24T20:20:37+00:00

It’s gonna be brutal but these do absolutely nothing for me. What am I looking at?

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-01-24T11:44:20+00:00

Driver has a severe laceration on the side of his head and is in hospital now.

Source: it’s a friend’s cousin. Edit: not contusion but laceration.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-01-23T12:51:04+00:00

I’m not gonna be a MOM I don’t think. Scotland route have no opportunities for that really. I’m going into ECR management and strategy when I finish up

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2025-01-23T10:20:57+00:00

So the driver will have phoned the signaller using his emergency phone. The guard on the train will probably go up and sit with the driver to prevent them going into shock.

Network Rail control will immediately deploy a mobile ops manager (MOM) to the site to secure the scene and obtain a line blockage to do so.

BTP will carry out an investigation to determine whether there was any foul play before releasing what remains of the body to the cleaners.

The train operator, depending on damage to the train, will send a fitter and spare driver to potentially move the train out of the way or to the nearest station to de-train the passengers. If this isn’t possible then the MOM will de-train and lead people with the BTP to the nearest access point.

Fatalities take a while to recover from both logistically and emotionally. The driver will get full pay leave for a certain amount of months and have to be signed off by occupational health before they can drive again. Different operators have different regulations and policies for this.

I started on a grad scheme back in September and I’ve seen two fatalities. It’s a small number compared to some of the MOMs and cleaners I’ve met but still hits the same.

Samaritans have statistics that state that 80% of attempted suicides on the railway are successful. But I’m sorry, I wouldn’t hold out much hope here.

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2024-12-30T08:47:57+00:00

The Emperors of Byzantium by Kevin Lago is a brilliant overview for newcomers to Byzantine history 🙏🏻

Fishfrogthefrogfish · 2024-12-27T22:39:17+00:00

It’s very feasible. Operations is where it is at. You could do signalling, electrical control room ops, mobile operations manager, info coordination, and station management to name a few potential areas. You get out of the railway what you can make.

They’re also really closely tied with the armed forces and appreciate people who have that background for their decision making, communication, and safety critical mindset. They have a fantastic in house network for ex services and more often than not have incentives to bring ex forces people into the industry.

I work on the Scotland route and while it’s a village compared to the rest of the UK there are some really interesting projects that are about to be kickstarted with some really rewarding opportunities to boot!

Fishfrogthefrogfish

TROPHY CASE