Safety FIRST PART # 11
Hello ! How does it goes on the ground as regards the training of a new AMTP's volunteer when he or ( she but rarely) is willing to take part in the running of the trains. He is given a rulebook copy, if still any left, and told " Read it, it may be useful" and he starts out at once his training mostly as a conductor. For a while he shawdows different fullfledged conductors then he starts doing the job by himself still under the supervision of his mentor. At one point, the crewcaller asks the mentors if the trainee is OK and if they " No probs" the trainee becomes ipso facto a trained conductor in turn. In the meantime if our newcommer is willing to get on the footplate of a steam locomotive, and they all are , off you go, he starts up at once his enginecrew career as a trainee fireman then ,not long after, as a trainnee engineer under the supervision of different qualified engineers and aboard of different steam or diesel locomotives. Ever and again the crewcaller will ask him to man the station, the souvenir booth or the buffet car in Bellébat station so that he become soon an all purpose employee. If the newcommer is earnest and has a good attendance record not only over the operating season but also at the off- season work sessions, he will have a bright future in the association. To reach the so much hoped-for steam locomotive engineer position the fireman will have to technically show that he is able to properly prepare ,stoke up and drive the different types of steam and diesel locomotives. He'll become first a trained diesel engineman. If everything works out smoothely, after preparing, stocking up and driving a steam locomotive under the supervision of the trainmaster he 'll qualify as a fullfledged engineer. The whole training takes normally 4 to 5 years depending of the assiduity and skill of the trainee. As regards the dispatcher position an engineer is automatically a qualified dispatcher when his train is the only one on the main line. Most station agents are eventually qualified for dispatcher by the train master. Engineers dispatchers and if they are willing conductors must attend the annual compulsory safety class that lasts 2 hours. As you just discovered it the period of acclimatization is very short, if any, there is neither theorical education nor course let alone assesments to make sure the trainee has only read the rulebook. Finally all the taining rests on a practical education shadowing and mentoring. It was ever thus at AMTP and as it turns out it would not have been a bad system if.... To be continued.