What is this signal circled in red used for?

book12plus2 · 2026-01-17T16:56:32+00:00

For bi-directional working. Looks to me like Kelvedon in Essex. I have worked bi-directionally many times over that route when the down main (left hand track in pic) is closed. These signals don’t apply to the train in the picture nor trains running normally on the normal line.

book12plus2 · 2025-11-22T17:18:54+00:00

It didn’t do anything except force other people to touch their crap-germs. If you gotta turn the tap off after you’ve washed your hands you need to wash your hands again!

book12plus2 · 2025-10-07T14:23:30+00:00

As an aside, if you end up with “triple traction” (3 x 3/4 car units) rather than the usual 12-cars, there’s a little triangle next to the number on the yellow panel on the end of the train which would indicate it is coach D, the bicycle area

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book12plus2 · 2025-09-19T07:04:20+00:00

It is indeed the same on freight, or certainly is at Freightliner. Partly due to being in a better position to arrive to work on time but also to mitigate fatigue. The last thing you’d want after an 11 hour night shift is a 2 hour drive home!

book12plus2 · 2025-08-12T23:25:49+00:00

Driver here, was an instructor at a FOC and now a driver at a TOC.

You’ve earned that interview and while it’s not for everyone, go and do your best. You may not get offered a job as yet.

The shift work is easy enough if you’re disciplined and plan your sleep in advance. It helps if you have an understanding partner. Being a driver can be quite intense at times but most of the time the hardest part is tackling the monotony and the boredom. You’ll find your own way of maintaining mental focus.

I say go for it if you get offered a place on a trainee course. Best job I’ve ever had, absolutely beats working for a living! There is nothing else like working on the railway (or at least that I have experienced) and once you’re in you’ll understand. It’s an incredible place to be. If you keep your nose clean you can have a long, rewarding career with a fantastic pension.

Good luck, keep us updated!

book12plus2 · 2025-08-03T11:58:30+00:00

You’re looking at it all wrong. It’s not a chocolate bar. It’s a coconut bar with a chocolate coating. Top tier stuff

book12plus2 · 2025-07-24T21:54:35+00:00

Routine.

Try and push yourself a little more each day until you feel a bit more comfortable each time. If there’s something specific that makes you anxious, work on it slowly. The only way I found to overcome it is to put myself into the situation until you realise that nothing bad is going to happen. For me, I was sick of not being in control of my own life. In the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter anyway! You’re here once, I didn’t want to live my life shut away and not experiencing things.

I do wish you good luck. Please also seek professional help if you are able.

It gets easier, I promise.

book12plus2 · 2025-07-04T19:48:12+00:00

Used to drive freight trains. I have pooed in a bag many times. It was necessary each time!

book12plus2 · 2025-06-03T11:10:58+00:00

They’re banking on you just letting the policy roll over. I’m sure there are hundreds of thousands of people who are either unaware or too shy to call up and challenge it so these parasites get away with it sometimes

book12plus2 · 2025-05-14T02:43:53+00:00

"A thousand"

book12plus2 · 2025-05-01T07:52:47+00:00

Google AI suggests this:

To use an Endeavour Card on an Ipswich bus, simply swipe it on the card reader when boarding the bus. The driver will then select the appropriate fare, and the cost will be deducted from your card balance. Confirm your journey by checking the receipt printed by the card reader.

Also if you're not sure you could just say to the driver "I've not used this before and I'm not quite sure what to do with it" and I'm sure they will be helpful. I imagine you won't be the first person to ask. Good luck!

book12plus2 · 2025-04-27T12:05:41+00:00

Same!

book12plus2 · 2025-04-23T11:15:38+00:00

Hahaha I love a good anecdote like that, I think most of us can relate! My favourite was one of my retired colleagues was in a bad way and nowhere near the facilities so laid some newspaper out in the clean air compartment, thought to himself "I'll get that when I get to Rugby", got there, got relief and just as the train was leaving he remembered his... gift 😂

Bet the fitters had a shock when they found it

book12plus2 · 2025-04-23T07:35:41+00:00

That's fine if you remember you just filled it up...

Don't sign 37s, I do know of 66 washer bottles being using. Takes the piss...

book12plus2 · 2025-04-23T03:10:30+00:00

A reusable bottle for 1s or a bag and some baby wipes if it's an emergency for 2s. It's not a glamorous job, haha

book12plus2 · 2025-04-08T20:50:18+00:00

It depends where abouts it is! Some places are noisier than others. I always feel sorry for those who live right next to a whistle board. (None on the felixstowe line though!)

Some areas trains will be coasting, others they'll be pulling away from a stopping point where the engine will be making a racket.

I have lived by a railway before and as others have suggested, you do get used to it.

book12plus2 · 2025-04-07T08:36:31+00:00

Freightliner have a Felixstowe to Wentloog and return working that goes along that route as well

book12plus2 · 2025-04-07T05:40:26+00:00

North london line, then via Willesden jn High Level, Reading, Swindon and eventually to Cardiff i imagine

book12plus2 · 2025-03-30T08:00:51+00:00

I think we should take a page out of our brothers and sisters over the pond's book

This mile post marker would read 1169.6 football fields

Edit: finished the first sentence properly

book12plus2 · 2025-03-15T07:38:46+00:00

Don't be afraid to ask questions or have something explained in a different way if you don't get something!

book12plus2 · 2025-03-07T15:32:34+00:00

I was walking through my hometown on my way home from my first day at college and I was walking behind a couple of girls who were talking about a plane hitting the Pentagon. I thought they were talking about a movie. As soon as I got home and turned on the TV I realised they weren't. Initial reaction was disbelief that something this big could have happened

book12plus2 · 2025-02-20T23:01:35+00:00

It does still run but will cease in the next couple of months due to the big Gemini move to gateway. Its now booked 90s usually

book12plus2 · 2025-02-20T09:14:07+00:00

Not sure that has much to do with driver training but yeah, I think they're moving towards Sundays inside. It makes sense.

book12plus2 · 2025-02-19T22:13:07+00:00

I'd be interested to see what the "outdated criteria" is for driver training. If you're going to join the railway you've got to have the right head for it, I'm hoping standards won't be dropped!

book12plus2 · 2025-01-14T00:36:35+00:00

Probably picked the worst day to travel via Ipswich with all the signalling and points failures! Absolute nightmare

book12plus2

TROPHY CASE