the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..
Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
Pimpdaddy:
the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
Thanks 
Seriously thinking of applying to a local bus company on more an hour than I’m on and I’m on £11.03 an hour 
DAF95XF:
Thanks
Seriously thinking of applying to a local bus company on more an hour than I’m on and I’m on £11.03 an hour
Lol, I’ll never do service buses again, I don’t care how much it pays.
Pimpdaddy:
the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
the nodding donkey:
Pimpdaddy:
the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
You reliase your username is named after what they call the 14x class Pacer trains
DAF95XF:
the nodding donkey:
Pimpdaddy:
the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
You reliase your username is named after what they call the 14x class Pacer trains
Rumbled. … 
I wonder what Pimpdaddy has used for his user name?
Pimpdaddy:
DAF95XF:
Thanks
Seriously thinking of applying to a local bus company on more an hour than I’m on and I’m on £11.03 an hourLol, I’ll never do service buses again, I don’t care how much it pays.
Been thinking about it a while, and less travelling to work too 
DAF95XF:
the nodding donkey:
Pimpdaddy:
the nodding donkey:
You can’t get a job driving a truck… what chance you thought you had on the trains??..Better chance than you because I’m not some stupid truck driver like you[emoji16][emoji85]
You reliase your username is named after what they call the 14x class Pacer trains
“They” being enthusiasts and people who read Rail magazine, and use such names as Dyson’s, Gronk and Hoover etc. My dad (Railwayman for forty years) tells me those names were never used in the trade. 
Since the early days it was always hard to get in, a bloke would start as a cleaner, then fireman and then hopefully one day driver. Back in the day, a Top Link driver was seen as the elite, and well paid too. On the other hand back then it was who you knew, not what you knew.
I guess things are different nowadays, a hell of a lot to know, re rules and procedures, as well as route learning.
One of my favourites
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ghkqGfUy4xs
Midland Pullman
m.youtube.com/watch?v=A1sTmFDRBgo
They don’t make films like these anymore 
Latique:
mac12:
Instead of train driving what about signalling, I started 2 years ago best thing I’ve done. Just had this months payslip and just short of £37000 for 11 months with one month left of the tax year, that’s for a 4 day week 3 week roster 28 hours 1st week, 38 2nd and 33 hours 3rd week. Sure beats driving.as an ex signaller can only agree 28years on the boxes shame they are all closing and its all regional control centers now
where are you based mate and what grade ?
I’m grade 2, based anywhere between York, Leeds and Doncaster area when they started closing boxes they always seemed to be short staffed and I ended up being sent to cover even did 6 weeks in the roster office. Don’t mind though wonderful job.
Where were you based?
DAF95XF:
Pimpdaddy:
DAF95XF:
I applied to Freightliner when they advertised for trainee drivers - never got back to me…
Been trying to get back to the railway for years now, keep getting knocked back by FGW for some reason and I used to work for them!!!Its hard mate.[emoji57]
DB Schneker at Didcot yard didn’t get back to me, South West Trains I’m still waiting to hear back about the guards application I did last summer and GBRFs website is 2 years out of date…
DBS are not in a great position at the moment, they’ve lost some work to the likes of GBRF and morale in DBS is low for the last few years - they have got rid of many drivers through voluntary redundancy and a lot seem to jump across to other TOC’s!
GBRF are quite the opposite and would be the freight operator of choice (good working conditions and T&C’s, great money etc) but being a smaller company, very, very hard to get a start in and they normally only take already qualified drivers from other TOC’s. (like DBS LOL)
Freightliner, like DBS have and will lose a lot of work through the running down of coal fired powerstations! PS coal was a big part of their workload, so come 2 years, it aint looking good for FL heavy haul. I suspect that the displaced drivers will be transferred to FL Intermodal (containers) and voluntary’s when the time comes.
If you still want to get a driving job, your current idea is the best, get your foot in the door with a passenger TOC, even if its on the platform as a train despatcher! You then take a job as a guard / conductor for a couple of years and then with any luck a trainee driver job will come up! That is the easiest way, maybe the longest but certainly the easiest.
I’m a bit shocked at my colleague Class2ldns comments about the job. I love mine. I drive one of the most advanced and fastest trains in the country, I live just 7 minutes drive from work i do a 35 hour week and i’m frequently under that, from March our pay goes up to 52k and including all annual leave and rest days I will get 180 days off every year. Whats not to like?!
I occasionally drive coaches on my days off and would like to get my lorry licences at some point.
In short apply if you can, you can always still drive trucks on your days off - we get plenty of them.
daveb0789:
I’m a bit shocked at my colleague Class2ldns comments about the job. I love mine. I drive one of the most advanced and fastest trains in the country, I live just 7 minutes drive from work i do a 35 hour week and i’m frequently under that, from March our pay goes up to 52k and including all annual leave and rest days I will get 180 days off every year. Whats not to like?!I occasionally drive coaches on my days off and would like to get my lorry licences at some point.
In short apply if you can, you can always still drive trucks on your days off - we get plenty of them.
You drive Pendo’s though mate, (I’m guessing??) abit different to an all stops suburban grind for 10 hours flat!!!
Not only that but DOO as well!!
Sod that!!
Pimpdaddy:
I got Zb’ed off by a freight operator a few years ago[emoji30], I keep on eye on railforums but there nothing new that comes up within reasonable distance.
Why can’t you relocate, people go all over the place to get the job they want.
Pimpdaddy:
DAF95XF:
They only advertise externally as a courtesy, THEY already have somebody internally who has the job…+1
windrush:
My brother has been a train driver all his working life, he is 54 now and currently on the Virgin Pendalinos.Lucky him, I’d give my right nut to have that job.
mac12:
Instead of train driving what about signallingJust as hard to get into IMO, tried it a few years ago with network rail.
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?
muckles:
Why can’t you relocate, people go all over the place to get the job they want.
Because I think it’s too risky, If there was a job to move to then I would
muckles:
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?
Ok so you truck drivers are earning £40k+ a year, how do you give that up a secure well paying gig to go and become station staff or whatever earning a third of what you currently earn in a different location etc?
Pimpdaddy:
muckles:
Why can’t you relocate, people go all over the place to get the job they want.Because I think it’s too risky, If there was a job to move to then I would
muckles:
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?Ok so you truck drivers are earning £40k+ a year, how do you give that up a secure well paying gig to go and become station staff or whatever earning a third of what you currently earn in a different location etc?
As you spend an entire working week trolling on here unpaid taking your frustration out on a job you don’t like, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to move for paid work on the railway. It’s too risky. It’s far more secure to stay in Kent spending hours doing unpaid trolling and winging about everything. Carry on
Pimpdaddy:
muckles:
Why can’t you relocate, people go all over the place to get the job they want.Because I think it’s too risky, If there was a job to move to then I would
muckles:
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?Ok so you truck drivers are earning £40k+ a year, how do you give that up a secure well paying gig to go and become station staff or whatever earning a third of what you currently earn in a different location etc?
You would have to do that and survive on the 23k trainee driver rate for a year if you got that job anyway. But you can always drive part time to top your money up if thats what you want.
Pimpdaddy:
muckles:
Why can’t you relocate, people go all over the place to get the job they want.Because I think it’s too risky, If there was a job to move to then I would
muckles:
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?Ok so you truck drivers are earning £40k+ a year, how do you give that up a secure well paying gig to go and become station staff or whatever earning a third of what you currently earn in a different location etc?
It really depends how much you really want to move on with your life, those that take the risk are the ones doing their dream jobs, those that don’t are just dreamers.
daveb0789:
You would have to do that and survive on the 23k trainee driver rate for a year if you got that job anyway. But you can always drive part time to top your money up if thats what you want.
Only if the opportunities are available, remember…! Do station staff earn £23k/yr on a part time contract?
muckles:
It really depends how much you really want to move on with your life, those that take the risk are the ones doing their dream jobs, those that don’t are just dreamers.
I totally agree with with you’re saying but remember not everyone’s circumstances & perception is the same.
muckles:
Others on here have said the best way is to start working at the stations, so have you tried applying for any job for a rail company?
Been there done that with First Great Western and South West Trains before being promoted to the dizzy heights of station announcer…
DAF95XF:
Been there done that with First Great Western and South West Trains before being promoted to the dizzy heights of station announcer…
Can you tell us what those sort of jobs pay please.