Profession "train driver": description, specifics, benefits

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Among the many working speci alties, there are those that have been dreamed of since childhood. They are shrouded in a halo of romance and high professionalism. One of them is the profession of "train driver". He is the most important in the railway transport, and his activities are related to the management of the locomotive.

A brief excursion into the history of the profession

As soon as the first rails were laid and the first train was released, the question of its management became acute. For a successful trip, not only relevant knowledge is required, but also specific character traits.

In Russia, the profession of "train driver" originated back in 1834. Initially, small trains of only four cars ran along the rails. Their speed did not exceed 33 km / h. But after the increase in power and speed up to 42 km / h, people were needed to cope with the increasing load. Therefore, training courses were organized to gain knowledge and skills in managing railway transport.

Machinists were especially in demand during the Soviet Union. The laying of rails proceeded at a tremendous pace, various trains for the transport of goods and passengers were produced in the country. Qualified people were required, fully trained to manage the squad.

Characteristic features of the speci alty

The profession of a machinist is more often seen as purely masculine. However, no one will limit the female representatives if they deign to learn this skill. But in order for the choice to be conscious, it is necessary to know exactly the description of the profession "train driver".

The speci alty has a number of specific features that you should pay attention to. Activity requires not only endurance, but also excellent he alth. Therefore, a medical certificate of eligibility will be required upon admission to the appropriate educational institution.

The profession of "train driver" implies knowledge of the technical features of the machine and automatic devices located in the cab of the locomotive.

From the driver requires the utmost concentration. To prevent an accident, you need to pay attention to road signs, weather conditions and instrument readings. Assistants are always placed on long-distance trains, who secure the main driver and give them the opportunity to rest.

Main duties of a locomotive driver

When the train is moving, the driver and assistant perform the following main functions:

• follow the signs and signals on the railway track;
• monitor the dashboard readings, which indicate the smooth operation of the entire rolling stock;
• monitor the condition of the locomotive, its integrity;
• gives set signals at the entrance to the station;
• responsible for the safety of maneuvers;
• if malfunctions are detected, they must immediately inform the station attendants.

The profession of "train driver" involves frequent absences from home. But it gives you the opportunity to see many new places. Therefore, people who are hungry for new experiences and are ready to study the technical characteristics of railway transport often choose this speci alty.

Children's Railway

Those guys who write an essay on the topic “My future profession is a train driver” during career guidance lessons need to visit the children's railway.

Such organizations already exist in many Russian cities. For those who dream of driving on rails not only a toy, but a real full-fledged train, special training is organized. After obtaining the necessary knowledge, the guys can work as real conductors, on duty at the station, and even help the driver to drive a real train with passengers.

Children's Railway not only provides entertainment services for young children, but is also an institution of additional education. Children aged 8 to 15 years old can study variousrailway speci alties and consolidate the acquired skills in practice.

The profession of "train driver" for children is mastered not only in classrooms. On real trains of a slightly reduced format and on a narrower track, under the strict guidance of an adult, a teenager masters the basics of complex craftsmanship.

On the children's railway everything is real. To the extent technically possible, all equipment corresponds to that on general purpose tracks. And, although the rails do not have access to a common track, the composition is fully consistent with a full-fledged passenger locomotive and the people are real.

Driving Training

For those who dream of conquering a heavy car and becoming a manager of a long train, it is useful to know where to get the profession of a train driver. They teach speci alties in railway technical schools, admission is possible after 9 classes of a general education school.

The main disciplines that future students will study are related to technical sciences, the rules for the safety of transportation of people and goods, and the basics of railway traffic.

In order to competently manage an entire squad, you need to study its characteristics and have knowledge of the software and how it works.

To fulfill the dream, it remains only to choose the nearest educational institution, the list of which is quite extensive. Among the most famous are: Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Penza technical schools of railway transport.

To receivehigher education, it is necessary to enroll in state universities of communications, where you can get the profession of a train driver and the qualification of a railway engineer. Universities are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Rostov, the Far East and other regions.

Demand for the profession

Before choosing a future profession, it is important to know its prospects. The locomotive driver specialization occupies a leading position in the list published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta a couple of years ago.

The inquiries of employers at labor exchanges speak of the demand, among which 33% of the total number corresponded to the work of a “driver”.

Pros and cons of the speci alty

Like any other, the driver's profession has its undeniable merits. One of them is associated with the halo of romance, when a person is constantly on the road and sees many new places. But this advantage also creates a disadvantage. The specifics of the profession forces a person to be away from the family for a long time, which may not suit some.

But the colossal responsibility for the life of passengers and the safety of cargo guarantees decent wages. Russian railways, in addition to wages, provide their employees with additional support in the form of bonuses, vouchers to a sanatorium and long vacations.

The downside is the high stress on the body and the impact of harmful factors on he alth. The driver's shift lasts for 12 hours, which he spends in a confined space andconcentrating to the utmost.

Thorny path

After training, all specialists start their journey with an assistant driver. Depending on the basic education and practical skills, a novice specialist can hold the position of an assistant from several months to two years.

Only after testing by a professional and passing the appropriate interview, a person is trusted to independently lead the rolling stock.