Junior staff between the ages of 14 and 16 must
not be allowed to carry out any work unless supervised by an adult and
parental consent must also be given.
New entrant’s names will be passed to the roster
clerk for inclusion on the appropriate roster.
A railway medical will be arranged as soon as
possible after starting and at specified periods dependent on age thereafter.
A Trainee Fireman’s logbook will be issued. The
trainee will work through all the modules and elements contained in
the Logbook and will be signed off for each one by two Fireman’s Assessors.
A list of staff currently authorised to act as Fireman’s Assessors is
on the notice board at Rolvenden booking on point.
The Fireman’s Assessors will also provide guidance
and support to trainees.
Upon completion of their logbook, Trainee Firemen
may apply for rules and locomotive knowledge tests. The content of these
tests will largely follow the content of the logbook.
Progress through the promotional stages depends
entirely on ability and competence. Competency in any grade comprises
three main areas: -
1. Theory
2. Rules
3. Practical
Whilst the first two can largely be learned from
books and in MIC classes, the practical aspect is developed purely through
on the job training. When a member of staff has completed his/her logbook
and is competent to progress to the next stage, they should apply in
writing to the Locomotive Inspector for a Fireman’s exam.
All grades will be subject to ongoing periodic
competence assessments by Footplate Inspectors.
LOCOMOTIVE CLEANER
Locomotive Cleaners will normally be rostered
a mixture of Trainee steam raising, locomotive cleaning and Trainee
Fireman’s turns on a ratio to be determined by the Roster Clerk depending
on how many people have submitted availability.
Locomotive Cleaner’s turns will book on at the
time shown on the roster. Their principal duty will be to clean the
locomotive under the supervision of the rostered Steam raiser. They
are also required to carry out yard duties such as emptying the ash
pit and other duties as required. Subject to room being available on
the footplate and the Steam raiser and Driver’s agreement, they may
arrange a footplate ride once all other duties are completed.
Whilst they are cleaning they should acquaint
themselves with the general layout of locomotives and ask questions
of Drivers, Firemen and Fitters.
Trainee Steam Raiser’s turns will book on with
the rostered Steam Raiser and assist him/her with preparing and lighting
up the rostered locomotives and any other duties required. He/she will
also assist as required with loco cleaning and general yard duties as
required. A trainee may apply for a Steam Raiser’s exam once Logbook
Units TF01, TF04, TFO5 and TF06 have been completed in full and he/she
has gained sufficient competence. On passing this exam, the trainee
will be rostered for steam raising duties. This is a mandatory step
before a trainee can apply to take a firing exam.
Trainee Fireman turns will book on at the same
time as the rostered Driver and Fireman. Wherever possible the trainee
should carry out the preparation duties of the Fireman under the supervision
of the rostered crew to gain experience. He/she will work the full duty
with the rostered crew, performing some of the Fireman’s duties as deemed
fit by the Driver and Fireman. The actual time allowed “on the shovel”
will depend on several factors, including the amount of previous experience
and the requirements on the day. A turn on the shovel should be regarded
as a privilege, not a right.
The purpose of this is to gain experience of
the Fireman’s role under normal working conditions. At the end of each
turn the driver will be asked to complete a simple report form contained
at the rear of the Log Book, which will form a part of the trainees
training record.
They will also receive practical training with
a Footplate Assessor/Inspector from time to time, which may consist
of a full day performing the Fireman’s duties under supervision.
Once the required level of competency has been
achieved and the Log Book completed in full, a trainee may apply for
a firing exam. The application must be made in writing to the Locomotive
Inspector who will detail a Footplate Inspector to undertake the exam.
This will consist of an examination in 3 parts:
1. Rules.
2. Locomotive theory and firing methods.
3. A practical firing exam.
Having successfully passed this exam he/she will
move to the Passed Cleaner grade but his/her availability sheet will
be passed to the Fireman’s Roster Clerk to cover firing turns as appropriate.
He/she will also be eligible to act as Secondman on diesels. He/she
will also continue to be rostered cleaning and steam raising turns when
not required for firing duties.
The first 10 turns after qualifying will be
restricted, indicated by the letters “NP” in brackets after his name
in the fireman’s section of the roster.
This indicates that: -
1. No trainee fireman may be carried. 2. Drivers must exercise discretion
if asked to take footplate passengers.
On acceptance for an advertised vacancy he/she
will be graded as Fireman.
FIREMAN
Firemen will gain experience of driving as and
when Drivers allow them to take a turn on the regulator. Each time the
driver will be asked to complete a simple report form contained in the
Trainee Driver’s logbook that will form part of the his/her training
record. Although Drivers are encouraged to allow Firemen a turn on the
regulator, and many will do so when circumstances allow, this must be
be regarded as a privilege, not a right.
They will also receive practical training with
a Footplate Assessor/Inspector from time to time, which may consist
of a full day performing the Fireman’s duties under supervision
Shunt Link
Provided they are a minimum of 21 years of age,
are competent to Driver standard in Rules and have completed all the
prior sections in the Trainee Driver’s logbook, Firemen can apply to
drive a diesel shunting locomotive in order to gain experience of shunting
and loco handling without the added distraction of supervising a Fireman
and boiler management. To achieve this, Firemen will attend a basic
diesel traction training course and then will be trained and examined
to drive a specific diesel shunting locomotive.
As Shunt Link Drivers they will be permitted
to drive diesels for shunting purposes in Tenterden and Rolvenden and
Wittersham Road yards and light engine working between Tenterden and
Wittersham Road.
Having completed the Trainee Driver’s logbook
in full and gained experience in the Shunt Link, a
Fireman may apply for a Driving exam for steam or diesel traction. The
application should be in writing to the Locomotive Inspector.
The exam will consist of 3 parts:
1. Rules and regulations.
2. Locomotive theory.
3. A practical exam on care and manipulation
of the locomotive.
Having successfully passed this exam he/shel
be graded as Passed Fireman and his availability form will be passed
to the Drivers Roster Clerk who will roster him to cover driving turns
as appropriate. He will continue to be rostered for steam raising and
firing duties. He may also act as conductor on other traction units
that he is not passed to drive.
The Locomotive Inspector will set a number of
restricted turns for the newly qualified driver, which will be indicated
by the letters “NP” in brackets after his name in the driver’s section
of the roster.
This indicates that: -
1. Only he must drive the locomotive.
2. No footplate passengers/trainees to be carried
on the locomotive.
On completion of the restricted turns he/she
will have a competence assessment and if successful and subject to vacancies
will be promoted to Driver.
DRIVER
Once appointed to this grade, all classes of
steam locomotive may be driven without the need for further separate
examination. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure he/she
is acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of each class of loco he/she may
be required to drive. He/she may also act as conductor on other traction
units that he/she is not passed to drive. He/she may also drive any
locomotives previously passed as competent to drive within the Shunt
Link without restrictions.
From time to time Drivers may be asked to carry
out the duties of Fireman or Steam raiser but would not normally be
rostered as such and would only do so with their permission.
DIESEL TRACTION.
DRIVER
Staff who aspire to be Diesel Drivers will normally
progress through the steam footplate grades to the Shunt Drivers link.
Having qualified as a Shunt Link Driver he/she can apply for a full
diesel driving exam as and when vacancies arise, and for conversion
courses on other forms of diesel traction when advertised.
Appointment to this grade only permits driving
of the specific traction unit type that the driver has been passed for.
Any other class of diesel traction will require a practical exam to
be completed before driving is permitted. He may also act as conductor
on other traction units that he is not passed to drive.
SECONDMAN
All steam locomotive Firemen are deemed competent
to act as secondman.
Staff who wish to progress to diesel Driver but are unable to follow
the steam promotion route for any reason may do so at the discretion
of the Locomotive Inspector, provided that he is satisfied that a means
can be identified for the trainee to gain sufficient route knowledge
and experience of railway operating. This will normally involve being
rostered as Secondman for a period of time to be decided by the Locomotive
Inspector.
Aspiring Secondmen are required to complete
all the sections of the Trainee Fireman’s Log Book with the exception
of the units relating specifically to Steam traction. They must also
undertake a full Rules examination to Fireman Standard and a practical
Secondman’s assessment with a Footplate Inspector.
Once successful they will be rostered to act as a Secondman on diesel
traction.
Provided they are a minimum of 21 years of age, are competent to Driver
standard in Rules and have completed all the prior sections in the Trainee
Driver’s logbook, Second men can apply to drive a diesel shunting locomotive
in order to gain experience of shunting and loco handling. To achieve
this Secondman will attend a basic diesel traction training course and
then will be trained to drive a specific diesel shunting locomotive.
Having successfully passed this exam he will
remain in the secondman grade but his availability form will be passed
to the Drivers Roster Clerk who will roster him to act as Driver when
appropriate. He may also act as conductor on other traction units that
he is not passed to drive.
The Locomotive Inspector will set a number of
restricted turns for the newly qualified driver, which will be indicated
by the letters “NP” in brackets after his name in the driver’s section
of the roster.
This indicates that: -
1. Only he must drive the locomotive.
2. No footplate passengers or supernumerary staff
to be carried on the locomotive.
Route knowledge
It will be necessary for all grades to complete
a minimum number of 6 round trips along the entire length of the line
in each calendar year to retain route knowledge. Drivers in the Shunt
Link will be required to have driven over all the sections of route
that they have signed for at least twice in a calendar year.
Previous K&ESR Staff returning after
absence
When a previous member of staff returns to the
K&ESR in under two years he/she can normally return to their previous
grade. If he/she has not been rostered in the last 12 months he/she
must be accompanied by a Footplate Inspector to assess competence and
retained knowledge.
Staff returning after an absence of more than
two years will be given an assessment interview with the Locomotive
Inspector to determine whether they are suitable to return to their
previous grade or require some training. This could, but might not,
result in them being placed in a lower grade in the promotion structure.
Volunteers with other railway experience
applying to work on the K&ESR
On occasions staff and volunteers from other
heritage railways apply to work as footplate staff on the K&ESR.
It is unreasonable and short sighted not to recognise relevant experience,
yet at the same time account has to be taken of the fact that the operating
conditions between different heritage railways can vary considerably.
New recruits from other railways will be given
an assessment interview with the Locomotive Inspector to determine their
competence and fitness to be appointed to an equivalent grade and any
training they may require. This could, but might not, result in them
being placed in a lower grade in the promotion structure. They will
also be required to provide evidence of their competence / grade on
the other railway. The K&ESR may also wish to contact officers of
the other railway to verify that the person concerned has a good competence
and safety record.
All new recruits from other railways will be
rostered as Third Man for five days of return full line working. At
the end of each day a written assessment form will be completed the
rostered. The assessment will include the following –
