Progress moves tirelessly forward, transforming everything around, and the railway is no exception. Over the past decade, quite a few new train models have been released that can operate in semi-automatic mode. However, this did not change the fact that two people must drive a train: the driver and his assistant.
So, what is the profession of an assistant driver? Is it difficult to master? And what advantages and disadvantages does it have?
general information
An assistant driver of a diesel or electric locomotive is a position that is available in any railway crew. Without this specialist, the train simply will not be released from the depot. Therefore, the assistant driver is an integral part of the work team.
However, not everyone can apply for this vacancy. Which, strictly speaking, is not surprising, because the duties of an assistant driver require the candidate to have certain personal qualities and professional skills.
What should a driver's assistant be like?
First, let's figure out what qualities this employee should have. After all, the specifics of this profession greatly limit the range of potential candidates.
So, the main criteria for such a profession as an assistant driver are as follows:
- Good memory in order to learn all the necessary information on caring for the train.
- The severity of the reaction, because a lot depends on how quickly he notices changes in instrument readings or the approach of danger.
- Responsibility, because the better he does his job, the higher the safety of passengers and cargo.
- Analytic mind. All operations will be associated with mechanized processes, which requires a certain way of looking at things.
- Long journeys and irregular shifts, taking place in constant motion, affect health. Therefore, you need to have good endurance and stress resistance.
Where to get an education?
An assistant driver of an electric locomotive (diesel locomotive) is a profession that requires special education. They receive it at a specialized technical school or college. Find similar educational institution possible in many regional and regional centers countries, while the selection conditions will be the same almost everywhere.
However, it should be noted that hundreds of applicants apply for this profession every year. Because of this, fierce competition arises, complicating the admission process.
Duties of an assistant driver
As mentioned earlier, the assistant driver must always give his best and perform the duties assigned to him efficiently. After all, not only the technical serviceability of train mechanisms, but also the safety of passengers depends on this.
So, the main responsibilities of an assistant driver:
- Checking all mechanisms and assemblies of the diesel locomotive before its dispatch. If there are malfunctions or defects, he must fix them himself or report possible problems to the mechanic of the railway crew.
- While the train is moving, the assistant must monitor instrument readings, respond to radio requests from the dispatcher, and also observe the actions of the driver.
- If necessary (malfunctions occur, the driver’s inability to perform his duties, an emergency), he must take control of the train or stop it.
- At the end of the trip, the assistant checks the condition of the locomotive and, together with his immediate superior, drives it to sidings.
Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
The main advantage of this work is wage, the level of which can be assessed as “above average”. There is also career, which stimulates further work.
Among the disadvantages, the first thing to note is that these specialists have to spend a lot of time traveling, and this has a bad effect on their personal lives.
Driver is a profession associated with driving a train on the railway. Drivers are people who operate all types of railway equipment: steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, electric locomotives in the metro, trams, regardless of whether they transport goods or passengers.
Responsibilities and Requirements
The work of a driver often involves an irregular schedule and difficult working conditions, great physical and mental stress, but at the same time the salary of a driver is quite high compared to other working specialties. Almost all drivers are men.
Every day before going to work, all drivers must undergo a medical examination, which checks parameters such as blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and, of course, a test for the absence of alcohol in the blood.
In addition to daily health checks, drivers undergo a full examination every few years and upon entry into training.
Working in difficult conditions allows drivers to retire five years earlier (but this is only after achieving a certain length of service as a driver or his assistant).
A distinctive feature of the driver’s work is the strict requirement to comply with train schedules. For example, in the Moscow metro during rush hours, 10–15 seconds is already a very serious delay!
The train is usually controlled by a team consisting of a driver and his assistant. But in modern trains, even one person can easily operate them, so experienced drivers often work alone.
Employment
The work of a driver is required wherever rolling stock is used. This could be a subway system or passenger rail lines. Do not forget that trains are used to transport not only people, but also goods. Often, drivers work for industrial enterprises, resource deposits and large construction sites.
How to become a machinist
To work as a train driver, you must obtain a secondary education professional education in the direction of “Technical operation of rolling stock”. It is available in many technical schools and colleges. You can also obtain the necessary qualifications through courses directly at your future place of work, for example, in the Moscow Metro.
It’s already clear who the driver is. Definition: a person who operates any complex machine - a locomotive, crane, train or excavator, for example - is a machinist. The profession is considered a purely male one, since it is extremely rare to meet a woman among machinists.
What exactly does a driver do?
Based on the fact that drivers may have different specializations, their functional responsibilities vary:
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- conveyor operator. He is in charge of elevators, reloading carts, and drive stations. This position involves monitoring the tension drums, feeders, tensioners and conveyor belt running;
- . Difficult work in which you have to deal with irregular schedules, difficult working conditions, physical and psychological stress. The train driver sets passenger and freight trains in motion and ensures normal passage along the route;
- electric train driver. Controls a huge “iron caterpillar” and evaluates it technical condition and troubleshoots problems if necessary.
Most often, machinists begin their careers as assistants in order to acquire practical skills. Upon employment higher education is not required, but you will still have to complete the relevant courses.
Features of the profession
If we talk specifically about train and electric train drivers, then it would be appropriate to mention heavy physical activity.
Every working day for drivers begins with a thorough medical examination- those who do not pass it are not allowed to work. Therefore, the driver must be resilient and physically healthy, have excellent vision and hearing.
The salary of representatives of this profession is quite decent and amounts to about a thousand dollars. However, you should not think that you can easily change your specialty if you wish. Typically, machinists dedicate their entire lives to their profession: gaining experience and reputation, and undergoing a full examination every few years.
Due to the fact that the work of a driver is considered hard work, early retirement is usually provided for. Indeed, strong stress, constant concentration of attention, conditions that adversely affect the nervous system and internal organs, contribute to weakening health, and the person begins to need frequent rest.
What qualities should a driver have?
First of all, responsibility. Being late to work by just a few minutes can be considered sabotage by your bosses. And if the sluggishness of an electric train driver during peak hours leads to a delay of ten to fifteen minutes, then this could jeopardize the normal movement of an entire metro line.
- In addition, the driver simply must be self-confident, attentive, careful, prudent and constantly vigilant, remembering that he is responsible for the lives of hundreds of people.
- This profession does not tolerate any kind of arbitrariness, arrogance and recklessness. The driver is required to strictly follow the instructions, follow the agreed departure and stop schedules, and have an excellent understanding of traffic light regulation and conventional signals. To better understand the work of these people, pay more attention to those who drive the trains, and then it will become clear to you who the driver is.
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Train driver- a railway worker who operates passenger and freight trains, electric trains for various communications and purposes. The driver drives the train by controlling the locomotive. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in physics, labor and economics (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).
Features of the profession
Trains differ in the type of locomotive (diesel/electric locomotive), as well as in the distance and purpose of the routes. For example, trains long distance can carry cargo and passengers thousands of kilometers, while a commuter train does not leave the region and makes several trips a day. Large industrial enterprises (factories, mines, mines) have their own railways and trains - the routes of such trains are even shorter.
And each type of train requires special training from the driver.
The driver must drive the train exactly on schedule, observing traffic rules, semaphore signals, etc. The train route remains virtually unchanged. However, the situation on the road is constantly changing. It may depend on the weather, how busy the train is, and other road users. For example, a truck stuck on the tracks requires immediate response.
Moving at high speed is often associated with unexpected events. Road conditions, road signs, instrument readings in the cockpit - all this requires constant intense attention. Therefore, a long-distance driver always works with an assistant (an assistant driver, who can also eventually become a driver). On steam locomotives, the crew includes a fireman - he ensures the operation of the locomotive by throwing fuel. However, steam locomotives are a rarity these days. In some cases (for example, in the subway), the driver works alone.
Long-distance train routes are divided into sections. And the driver is usually an expert on one of the sections of the route. At one of the stations, one locomotive crew is replaced by another and drives the train further. The old crew rests at the hotel and takes their place again when it comes time to lead the train back.
Drivers of local lines or the metro also need proper rest. For example, in the metro, drivers have special rest rooms where they can sleep after a shift and before starting a new day, if according to the duty schedule the driver has to put the train on the line in the morning.
Workplace
Railways, metro, large factories, mines and other enterprises that use railways for internal movement of goods.
Salary
Salary as of 02/24/2020
Russia 40000—100000 ₽
Moscow 110000—65000 ₽
Important qualities
Self-confidence, high sense of responsibility, quick reaction, ability to concentrate, good vision (including color vision), acute hearing. Diseases of the heart, blood vessels, central nervous system, bronchial asthma, disorders of the vestibular system, problems of the musculoskeletal system that limit movement are contraindicated for such work.
Knowledge and skills
You must be able to drive a locomotive, carry out minor plumbing work, and use radio communications. Know the structure of a locomotive and the rules of traffic on the railway.
Where to study to become a train driver (education)
Primary vocational education (PPE)
In one of the railway colleges you can get the following professions:
- "Assistant locomotive driver";
- "Assistant locomotive driver";
- "Assistant electric locomotive driver."
Secondary vocational education (SVE)
In colleges and technical schools you can obtain the specialty “Technical operation of rolling stock” railways" Qualification "Technician".
On-the-job training
To work in the metro, you can get a job at a depot (on a metro line) and there undergo training as a driver. First, plumbing practice is carried out, then the future driver studies the equipment of the electric train and learns to operate the train. In the Moscow metro, simulators are used to speed up the process.
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