Stephen Lewis - Qualified Train Driver - 25th July 2014

K.Curtis and Myself - 25th July 2014

Today I became a qualified Train Driver. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me and listened my train geek talk for the last 10 months. I can't imagine how annoying it must have been to listen to my ramblings about things that you probably never knew that happen on the railway. This is the biggest chapter of my life and could quite possibly go towards inspiring my first tattoo.

There's so many people I'd like to thank personally but mainly my Mum, Scott, Debbie, Emma, Barry, Phill, Shaun and Mick for all their amazing support in shaping me into the person I am today. Without you guys, I would not be standing in the picture with my new licence. I promise you all that I will do the best I possibly can. I've not been the easiest person to train or put up with, I really admire all those who saw and still see the best in me. A lot of people have said I've changed for the better since becoming a driver, I still think I am the same, I think I just underestimated my intelictual limits before today.

Timeline between my first application and my qualified date:

01 December 2012 - Application for Driver was sent off.

January - July 2013 - Various assessments, psychological tests and two interviews were conducted.

2nd September 2013 - Started as a Trainee Train Driver.

16th September 2013 - Completed Personal Track Safety Training.

13th December 2013 - Completed my Driver Railway Rules Exam.

07th January 2014 - I drove my first train (under supervision).

28th February 2014 - Completed my training on Traction (train stock).

16th July 2014 - Completed my required hours for Train Driver Final.

21st July 2014 - My week of being assessed on everything I learnt since 2nd of September 2013 begins.

Daily diary leading up to the final and the week during:

16th july 2014:

I have completed my final day with Driver Instructor, I am nothing but a bag of nerves right now. I have the biggest week of my entire life coming up and I haven't told any of my family or friends. I know its bad to keep it to myself, I am getting stressed and snappy for no reason at family members and I wish I could just tell them why. I just don't want to let anyone down. I think if everyone knew then it would just add to the pressure, so right now I just want to apologise to those who didn't know and thank those who knew but didn't tell anyone else.

The days are getting closer and it's weird to say this but I am scared, you only get two tries at your final assessment week. I suppose the added pressure is knowing how many people have failed recently.

Today I helped Scott with a photo album for his cousins recent wedding. I just wanted him to go home lol, I had so much to prepare for the week ahead. So sorry for getting stressed at you buddy. Now you know why I have been off with everyone for the last few weeks, I have had a tough time controlling my nerves.

I have planned backup on Friday 25th should I fail, my two friends Debbie and Emma are going to be on standby at London Waterloo at 5pm to shield the tears and give the required hugs.

To Steve, I promise I will do my best to pass you as a Qualified Train Driver....from Steve (yes I talk to myself).

Tomorrow is Thursday and I plan to see my Manager to make sure all my paperwork is correct and up to date. Friday I believe I am seeing a Senior Driving Instructor to revise, Saturday I will sleep all day and Sunday is a quick tour of Clapham Yard to aid with the last minute revision.

17th July 2014:

I'm at Farnham depot today getting all my paperwork signed off ready for Monday.

Getting excited and a little exhausted at the same time.

18th July 2014:
I went to Farnham again to make double sure that I had all the stuff I needed for Monday, forms, etc. I did some last minute revision with some colleagues. Once I was done at work I got my car wheels aligned again because I don't think the garage did it right last time grrr.

19th July 2014
Monday is getting closer and I spent most of today in bed. Getting my bag organised and making it look as tidy as possible. My stomach hurts so much. I don't feel nervous in my head but I have never been able to trick my stomach into thinking that I am confident. I remember when I went down to Southampton for my two driver interviews. The first one, I lost my voice and wrote most of my answers down, I was certain that would blow my chances but the lady who took my interview seemed to really compassionate towards me. The second interview was the 'final frontier' I took two imodium before I went in the morning and my stomach just didn't play ball, they had no effect. I got to Southampton early so I was able to calm myself down in the end. The second interview went so much better. I really wish I had blogged from the very beginning of my driver application, but hey.

I must say that there will be people reading this who had no idea that I was going for my final on Monday, I am sorry for not telling you. I am scared of letting people down. So please don't be angry.

Hopefully I should know wether I have passed or failed by Thursday 24th, usually if they make you wait until the 25th, then you have failed. That could all be just speculation but we shall see.

20th July 2014

Getting the last bit of revision in today, I am feeling confident (isn). Shout out to Shaun for your last minute help.

21st July 2014

It's 03:40am and I can't sleep, my nerves are really starting to get to me. My stomach is still cramping. I feel like I'm about to walk onto a stage in front of millions of people. Maybe I should try this from a different perspective, I should be excited and thrilled that SWT have hired me and put faith in me to become a train driver and as of Monday, I will have the opportunity to show them what I am made of.

Today was about being assessed prepping trains for service, so you follow a check list to make sure the train is working, both inside and out and has all its emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, flags, first aid etc).

I also had to show my ability to uncouple and couple trains successfully.

I know this all sounds like it's very easy, I guess in hindsight it probably was, but when you're being watched and timed, it's a whole different ball game.

22nd July 2014

Class 450 & Class 458 driving: This day started at Basingstoke. I drove a fast up to Waterloo, down to Staines (on a 458), a Hounslow stopper and a fast back to Woking. I love Class 450's, they're by far my favourite train to drive. My nerves only came back on the route around Hounslow, I did my best not to falter. I only hope it didn't show too much. I guess the assessor expects some nerves, no one likes overconfident people.

23rd July 2014

This day was far by the worse for nerves. Today consisted of simulator assessments. You are sat in a simulator train cab and are tested on your ability to deal with all sorts of degraded working (mass signal failure, faults etc) and emergencies. I made a couple of silly errors but I think I redeemed myself with how I dealt with them. I can only hope I did enough to pass.

24th July 2014

Today consisted of Class 455 driving, I find 455's slightly harder to drive because they're more susceptible to changes in conditions such as passenger loading, weather etc, but it really tests your ability as a train driver to judge speed over distance when you are attempting to stop in the right place. I was loving the drive towards to end of the day, the weather was hot, the atmosphere between me and the assessor seemed really positive and the week had gone so quick. I tried to ask him if I had done enough to pass, he wouldn't tell me. He had this coy smile on his face. We shall wait until tomorrow.

25th July 2014

Today consisted of lots of paperwork, exams, being briefed by a few managers and oh by the way.....I PASSED!!!!!