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Ned Ludd
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Feb 16, 2006
Last Visited: Jan 1, 2009
Location: Touched by the noodly appendage
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| Ned Ludd |
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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:03 am
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Just read back right through this thread and you will find a fair bit of information. Good luck!
From years of study I have derived two observations:
1. The sum of human intelligence is a constant.
2. The population is increasing.
Disclaimer: All typo's in this post are part of the ineffable plan of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
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trevorperera
Station Master
Joined: Mar 16, 2008
Last Visited: Jan 6, 2009
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:39 am
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| tomohawk wrote: | | ablearcher wrote: |
- youre gonna get the CHANCE to be a train driver, its not a given. get ready for a lllllllongggggg 18 months or so |
There's a little thing called optimism.... |
Congratulations to all who got what they are after !
Glad to see lot of members in this forum got good news.
I haven't got anything back from CF yet. However, I will keep some hope alive (that little thing called optimism you mentioned)
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tomohawk
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Nov 05, 2007
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
Location: Abbotsford, Melbourne
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| tomohawk |
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:59 pm
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I passed the medical and start on the 13th of October. Excellent!
Via the City Loop.
Any opinions expressed in the above post are my own, and my own only, given without endorsement nor support of my employer, unless otherwise advised.
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Blue_Line
Beginner
Joined: Oct 03, 2008
Last Visited: Dec 13, 2008
Location: Canberra
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| Blue_Line |
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:26 pm
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Hi All,
I'm a newbie on this site. Joined up seeking info on a career as a loco driver. Lots of info here so thanks.
Saw the recent Pacific National ad for trainee drivers at Moss Vale. I have been surfing the web for as much info as I can get.
I have a few questions, so if anyone currently working for PN could send me a pm on the following, I would greatly appreciate it.
1/ Confirmation of current base salaries?
2/ Shift penalties - what % of base pay?
3/ What other allowances are paid?
4/ At what point in training do you start being paid the penalties, etc?
5/ What are Pacific National like to work for?
6/ How secure is, or do you feel your employment is with PN?
7/ What sort of income can realisticly be made as a driver for PN?
Personal questions some of them but the answers may help calm the missus.
The wife is asking all sorts of questions. She would much prefer I stayed in my Govt Job, but she is not the one who has to go to work each day.
Thanks in advance,
Les
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s02bbh
Station Staff
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Last Visited: Jan 1, 2009
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:21 pm
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Hi les,
Im a beginner here too. And I think all of your questions are good and very valid. However I think to show how enthusiastic you are for the job and to probably stand out from the others you would be better off asking all these questions to someone in PN HR. Dont get me wrong. You have the right to know these answers perhaps you should give them a call.
Cheers
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SmokeyDawson
Station Master
Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Last Visited: Dec 21, 2008
Location: Stalled in Ulan No3 Tunnel
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| SmokeyDawson |
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:42 pm
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Hey All
Sorry to put a boot in but I have heard alot of the grain positions are now under review as they have not had the follow up rain.
I only go told this today but they whether the intakes go ahead for new trainees I would be very suprised seeing there are already alot of qualified drivers applying in for these spots.
SD
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Salad
Locomotive Driver
Joined: May 19, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
Location: Highett
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:02 pm
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Congratulations Tomohawk! Good luck with the training.
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marvey
Beginner
Joined: Aug 12, 2007
Last Visited: Oct 3, 2008
Location: Melbourne
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| marvey |
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:00 pm
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First post ever!
Well as of today, I am no longer driving trams. I'm taking a week off before starting with Connex on the 13th. Looking forward to it.
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shrekman
Station Master
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
Location: E.R.D.
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barny
Junior Train Controller
Joined: Apr 26, 2006
Last Visited: Nov 20, 2008
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:06 pm
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| tomohawk wrote: | | Ned Ludd wrote: | Congratulations boys, and welcome to the job. You'll find that with reasonable effort you WILL become train drivers. Take it seriously and work hard in the early stages and you will get through. It gets progressively easier as you go on, but only if you have laid the foundations in stages 2, 4 and 6.
Some advice:
Your class (group) is the biggest asset you have. Work together and form study groups so you can share information. It comes thick and fast in the early stages, so you need to work together. Groups that divide into factions tend to have more failures.
Your personal and class reputations are vitally important, so keep your heads down! When it comes to assessments you will get an easier time if you are known as a good trainee by the training office. The trainers talk, the OJT's talk, the assessors talk, the managers talk. They know your measure - use that to your advantage. |
Thanks mate, it sounds fairly similar to what it was like studying at uni, so using the skills I learned there I should be set for studying to become a driver. |
Just what the railways need,more "uni" students maybe youll skip driving and qualify as an osm
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madmac01
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
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| madmac01 |
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:14 am
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| tomohawk wrote: | | Ned Ludd wrote: | Congratulations boys, and welcome to the job. You'll find that with reasonable effort you WILL become train drivers. Take it seriously and work hard in the early stages and you will get through. It gets progressively easier as you go on, but only if you have laid the foundations in stages 2, 4 and 6.
Some advice:
Your class (group) is the biggest asset you have. Work together and form study groups so you can share information. It comes thick and fast in the early stages, so you need to work together. Groups that divide into factions tend to have more failures.
Your personal and class reputations are vitally important, so keep your heads down! When it comes to assessments you will get an easier time if you are known as a good trainee by the training office. The trainers talk, the OJT's talk, the assessors talk, the managers talk. They know your measure - use that to your advantage. |
Thanks mate, it sounds fairly similar to what it was like studying at uni, so using the skills I learned there I should be set for studying to become a driver. |
It's nothing like Uni....
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DalyWaters
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Oct 31, 2006
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
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| DalyWaters |
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:46 am
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| Quote: | | I too will be joining the ranks of Connex drivers that frequent this forum (Well in 70+ weeks I'll be a driver). |
Congratulations on getting this far. Just a little tip - don't say "I'll be a driver" yet. There is still a lot to go through and there is an attrition rate. Its not big but its there.
Getting through puts you in to a great job but its a long 70 weeks, probably the longest 70 weeks ever. Persevere and keep studying all the time.
One thing with attitude that might help you get through:
Bear in mind that everyone in the training section wants you to get through. They don't like having to put anyone back, tell them off, etc. Respect them accordingly and you will get a fair go.
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tomohawk
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Nov 05, 2007
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
Location: Abbotsford, Melbourne
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| tomohawk |
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:47 pm
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| madmac01 wrote: |
Thanks mate, it sounds fairly similar to what it was like studying at uni, so using the skills I learned there I should be set for studying to become a driver. |
It's nothing like Uni....[/quote]
What, having to focus on study, and preparing for assessments? I treated uni as if it were a full time job. When I wasn't at uni, I was studying.
Via the City Loop.
Any opinions expressed in the above post are my own, and my own only, given without endorsement nor support of my employer, unless otherwise advised.
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T411
Moderator
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Last Visited: Jan 2, 2009
Location: Somewhere
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:51 pm
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| tomohawk wrote: | | madmac01 wrote: |
Thanks mate, it sounds fairly similar to what it was like studying at uni, so using the skills I learned there I should be set for studying to become a driver. |
It's nothing like Uni.... |
What, having to focus on study, and preparing for assessments? I treated uni as if it were a full time job. When I wasn't at uni, I was studying.[/quote]
The theory side yes, treat like uni. Study as much as possible from the start, as there is a lot of exams all through the course, including the final drivers exams at the end.
All the best, it is a great feeling once through.
"Its not an offence to drive like a prat, half of London does"
WPC Martella, The Bill, circa 1989
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madmac01
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009
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| madmac01 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:35 am
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| tomohawk wrote: |
Thanks mate, it sounds fairly similar to what it was like studying at uni, so using the skills I learned there I should be set for studying to become a driver. |
| madmac01 wrote: |
It's nothing like Uni.... |
| tomohawk wrote: |
What, having to focus on study, and preparing for assessments? I treated uni as if it were a full time job. When I wasn't at uni, I was studying. |
Any one can study....It takes more than just study to drive a train. I am talking about the practical assessments. Your train handling/management is closely being watched, while answering questions about signals, route knowledge, circuit breakers, fault finding, safe working etc etc.
Of course you have the option to not answer the question if you are pulling into a platform, or approaching a stick at stop. It can be a pressure cooker situation because if you go down during that assessment that is one strike, you don't get a second chance to re-do it, unlike Uni where you just pay your money and re-sit that exam. So now you have 2 strikes left, and if you get one early in Stage 7, then you are under the pump to get through Stage 9.
You also do a Full Train Prep, where you will be asked all sorts of questions about that Train whether it is a Siemens, Comeng or Crapper.
I have have been out for 2 years, and I love it! I stressed before the assessments, but I studied my a$$ off, applied myself, listened to my OJT's and strived to be better at driving the train and got through without any strikes.
Sincerley I wish you and others who got in all the best, but it will not be easy...but very, very rewarding at the end 
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