So You Want To Be ... an Engine Driver
Once it was every boy's wish to drive a steam engine. Even today some still have it as an ambition and quite a few older men and women would like to realise that childhood dream. We often get enquiries as to how they can join the Llangollen Railway's steam footplate roster, so here it is.
Right: Five engines in service for the 2000 Cambrian Weekend gala. (George Jones)
The Route to becoming a Driver
We operate the traditional route by working up through the grades. Starting as cleaner; then passed cleaner; fireman; trainee driver; and so to driver. Subject to opportunities and personal effort, it may take ten years to achieve this. A session on a Driving Experience Course does not qualify anyone for the real thing, although it may whet your appetite for a greater involvement.
We do not accept previous footplate experience elsewhere, including main line, to avoid the basics and offer a short cut, however, experience in the grades would allow someone to shine and, perhaps, speed up the process somewhat, however, competition for driving places is stiff.
Cleaner
So, starting at the bottom as a cleaner. This basic duty allows for learning about the parts of the steam loco whilst doing all the dirty jobs: cleaning out the smoke box, emptying the ash pan, digging out the pit, cleaning the engine, polishing the brass. The cleaner becomes familiar with the technical aspects of the steam loco and the experience introduces the new hand to our shed, the yard, the railway environment and the MPD personalities. It means attending on a minimum commitment of 1 day a month, although more frequent appearances will more readily aid the learning and assist the Railway.
First the applicant must be medically and physically fit and undergo a medical examination to prove it. Also a Personal Trackside Safety certificate is essential, which means passing an examination for that aspect of the Railway's Rules.
Above: The fireman prepares to exchange tokens with the signalman whilst the driver supervises proceedings. (Keith Langston)
A cleaner on shed duties works under the supervision of the duty fitter. Make no mistake, it is a hard and demanding environment. Not much fun early in the morning or late at night helping to prepare or dispose of an engine when it is raining or there is ice and snow about.
Provided the necessary commitment is made, the day will arrive when there is an opportunity to come along as third man to help the crew of the day and begin to gain some work experience on the footplate. This means helping, under supervision, with the coaling, taking the water, shovelling the coal forward, going under to couple up, maybe having a go on the shovel, and learning about the boiler.
And practical knowledge is needed, as well as studying the Railway's Rule Book and the BR enginemen's 'black book' on locomotive operation, a formal examination must be taken, both written and practical, with a pass mark of 75%, if you are to progress. We do run Mutual Improvement Courses to help with this process.
Above: The typical image of the fireman: shovelling coal. There's a lot more to it than that, though.
Fireman
From passed cleaner further experience on the footplate will lead to fireman, whose duties are specified (as for all footplate grades) in the BR 'black book'. These will lead to gaining the necessary knowledge of managing a locomotive's boiler; how to make up the fire to produce steam; when to build up the fire; when to run it down and how to make best use of the coal and water to produce the most economical energy.
All this is in anticipation of the driver's needs when taking the train along our challenging road, producing steam only when it is needed and in doing so becoming part of a team when one relies on the other. Learning about the different engines and their peculiarities, as well as the different trains, passenger, goods, pw and light engine. There are more Rules to learn, and knowledge of the signalling and of the operation of the trains to be gained.
Again progression is by examination on the practicalities of the role, theoretical
knowledge and the Railway's Rule book, with another examination both written and
practical. Such progression may take two years as a cleaner and one year as a passed
cleaner before attaining the fireman grade. To achieve this will require dedication
to meeting the demands of the roster as it is not all Saturday and Sunday working.
In addition to this, there is a requirement to volunteer one day a month, on other
than footplate work, in any department on the Railway -
Volunteers are also expected to lend a hand in the general running of the shed and
work on loco maintenance and restoration. Whilst many of these jobs are non-
Driver
In a similar vein, progression to trainee driver will provide for driving opportunities. Some five years as a fireman may be needed to obtain this advancement, making perhaps eight years since starting as a cleaner. Ultimately this leads to taking the Driver's examination, which means acquiring more knowledge of the Railway's Rule Book and locomotive theory and practical footplate experience.
Above: Time for a brief tea break between trains at Carrog. (Keith Langston)
So perhaps you see why it could take ten years active involvement to achieve the ambition. Whilst some of our drivers are ex BR men, others have learnt their trade wholly on the the Llangollen Railway and more are on the way up. The timescales quoted have been bettered in the past, but then we had a smaller Railway and nowadays the process is necessarily longer.
The Roster
Once on the roster for footplate duties, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to make his/her availability known to the Rostering Officer. Availability forms can be picked up from the booking on point in the Loco shed. Working from the availability forms, in conjunction with the Railway's operational needs, the rostering officer will seek to equalise the footplate opportunities on a quarterly basis and advise crews accordingly.
Getting Started
There are always vacancies for cleaners eager to take on the challenge. Read the cleaners page to see what's involved in that. If you think you have what it takes, do get in touch.
Original article by Dave Owen, published in Steam at Llangollen Winter 1997.
Page transferred 26th June 2007 by John Rutter -
