To Keep Driving Trains, Lawrie Needs Reassessment!

Hello everyone,
Today, like many other volunteers, Lawrie is up for reassessment on his driving - but just what happens as part of this? Have a look at behind the scenes on a heritage railway.
If you want more information on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, or would like to being learning how to drive the 165 yourself, check out the Website: www.mslr.org.uk/
A video shot, edited, and featuring Lawrie.
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[@Legomastr365]

I volunteer at the railroad museum of long island where we have the 16" Gauge 1964 NY World's Fair train and yesterday the train crew walked me through the prep of the loco for daily use. It was really fun actually getting to help prep it for the day and then assembling its train. While I'm not qualified to drive it yet its still so great to be involved in the process of keeping it operating all these years later!

[@lmm]

Oh that's very cool

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Well done on the pass Lawrie! 🙂 I've been up in the cab of the 165 while the engine was running, and it was awesome! What a beast!🙂 I want to learn to drive the Wickham! And obviously be able to use all the bits that go with it! 🙂

[@macparzival9271]

In Hungary, it's a little different. When you finish your first assessment, you get the licence for basically your whole life. But, we have an exam every 3 years, although only on paper/computer. And, if you don't drive a specific locomotive, or line for a year, you have to travel with a certified teacher for a day

[@nordenp]

Congrats on the pass, not that there was ever any doubt of course

[@stuartburgess2409]

It must be that time of year as I've just done my tri-ennial ( rules & regs ) with GA , all the routes, signaling , traction & PTS every three years everything you know with full exams all passed happily, but a lot to remember!

[@TheHatMusic]

The 165 was the video that got me into LMM! It’s nice to see it back on the channel again

[@lmm]

It's amazing how different the channel is now.

[@ricado3589]

That was interesting. Thank you for taking us with you.

[@lmm]

You're most welcome

[@m3hnl]

well done lawrie. that gardner sounds nice i think its a 6lw.happy days

[@lmm]

I think that's it yes

[@VintageRenewed]

With the railroad that I help at after you pass the written test and the test for running the locomotive there isn’t a total reassessment What we do is we just require everyone to do each of their qualified positions at least once a year so we know they are still familiar Only time that you will have an actual reassessment is if you weren’t active on the railroad for a couple of years

[@lmm]

We have minimum turns too, but the reassessment is just to make sure the crew are doing everything correctly.

[@ryano.5149]

I'm just slightly jealous you get to "play" with a side-rod diesel regularly! There aren't too many of them knocking around over here in the states, sadly.

[@lmm]

They're common over here, I like the aesthetics too!

[@gs425]

It's Doc from back to the future!!!

[@lmm]

Certainly related 😂

[@DaiElsan]

Well done Laurie.

[@lmm]

Thank you

[@everestyeti]

Congratulations on the pass, any re assessment even if you know your stuff it can still be a bit nervy. Over many years of being re assessed for different things, I always found that on the day it was down to that individual assessor. Thankfully now retired so don't have to go through that anymore.

[@Dhira108]

Excellent Laurie here's to more fun on the railways 😊

[@lmm]

Lots more to come!

[@caramelldansen2204]

We should all be so lucky! There aren't even any heritage railways in my part of the country, never mind spots to be a driver!!!

[@bentullett6068]

I am guessing a diesel loco driving re-assessment is easier than doing a steam loco driving assessment? Great to see that you have passed.

[@lmm]

It depends, steam is a bit more involved!

[@russellsawyer2742]

Well done Lawrie :-)

[@richardsweeney197]

( "Pomp and Circumstances" playing in the background) Congratulations on passing!!!

[@DeliciousBoi]

If I didn't know any better, I'd almost say the reassessment is geared more towards making sure you're a true geek for locomotives, with practical tests and legallese mixed in for flavor.

[@lmm]

It's just about having a paper trail to prove training and competency

[@lordsjaak]

i never know about it, i like to see that more and the training, it give better picture for the new volunteers

[@lmm]

It's a series I'm looking at doing, showing people what to expect

[@paulshirley6383]

To Keep Driving Trains, Lawrie Needs Reassessment! LOVE LOUIS SHIRLEY

[@lmm]

Success!

[@eze8970]

TY Lawrie 🙏🙏

[@lmm]

👍

[@TheBlueCircle-nw9nl]

You should visit the 2ft,6in railway in Sibiu , Romania , where manning wardle 1877 “ Chevallier ” is currently working

[@lmm]

I would love to!

[@solarusthelonghaulerrailfa3226]

I assume depending upon the inspector and the equipment is how smoothly the recertification goes

[@DieselElevators]

We do this at my railroad in the states however it's yearly

[@lmm]

Oh really?

[@DieselElevators]

@@lmm Yes, it's yearly for us however the process is slightly different. There is a small bit of instruction as to preparation and operation of the equipment, and then the instructor will shadow you while you operate 2-3 round trips across the railroad (we run electric trolley cars with an overhead wire). Then there is a written exam, multiple choice, usually around 10 questions. If you pass the exam and the instructor is satisfied with your operation, you are good for another year. Most of our large "revenue commercial" railroads have a similar yearly requalification process too.

[@crazyfvck]

Did anyone else think that was Doc Brown from Back to the Future in the thumbnail? :D Anyway, good job Lawrie :)

[@lmm]

😂 Thank you

[@grantmuddiman5981]

Ruston are great locomotive love them to bit's great video

[@lmm]

Yes they are!

[@TGM_2018_III]

Anyone else think from the thumb nail that Doc Brown was giving the assessment?

[@wwebradbutt]

Wensleydale railway has some 142 pacers and about two 143 pacers

[@juliocampos8436]

the thumbnail looks like it came from an episode of Curb your enthusiasm

[@g.r.railway7302]

I did see I a few times yesterday at Statfold but you was filming every time so didn't wanna disturb you lol

[@lmm]

Oh I'm sorry - you should have said hello once I'd stopped! I'm quite friendly. But thanks for thinking of me

[@g.r.railway7302]

@@lmm it's Okey no doubt I'll probably catch you at there next bit show

[@lmm]

@@g.r.railway7302 we'll be there for the next model show

[@BennyBizzle1]

I've got my first drivers assessment in a Ruston 165DM in the next couple of weeks 😬 Our cab is very different to yours. Interesting to see!

[@lmm]

Oh really? Be interesting to see how it should be!

[@BennyBizzle1]

@@lmm well I'm not saying ours is correct 😂 but very different. Will get some photos next time I'm there

[@ianrx122]

Well done Lawrie. Did more assessments and reassessments than I can remember driving on the big railway. About to do it all again on my local heritage railway.

[@DMCRailways]

That was cool. With part of the assessment being about the local track work, leaver frames and signels... does this mean you have to do that at every railway you drive at? Or are there other assessments that cover how you've stood in for a driver or fireman in a few videos. I'm curious about it :)

[@highpath4776]

I would have thought assessments hauling a load - goods and/or passenger and working with a guard in brake van comms and double loco working need to be covered ?

[@zagreus101]

Get in, lawrie!

[@lmm]

Cheers!

[@user-vy8hq2xf7x]

Well done well will the second ruston be ready for first run and now you can drive small ruston and big ruston 🎉

[@lmm]

3 or more years 😂

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

Hi Lawrie, Clad you past yor periodically test, as like you when you were driving trucks you would have to completed a cpc five year test. How I wish private(car and other road users). Had a compulsory test to. Well done.

[@lmm]

Yep! I agree

[@chazzyb8660]

Given the length of time it takes to get a test as a new driver in some parts of the country people could be off the road for years. Now there's an idea.

[@jvmalta081]

well done :) what Gardner has it got ?

[@lmm]

6lx? Or something

[@LionGaming98]

well done Lawrie, Do you have to be reassessed on each locomotive that you drive or is it on just one and that covers you for all locos. Do you also have to do a different easement for steam locos.

[@lmm]

Depends if its Steam or Diesel. My Steam ticket covers me on all steam traction. Diesels are individual to each locomotive.

[@user-tn2xf7zq3k]

Please go to the nnr and see if they will let you drive 😊

[@lmm]

Maybe one day

[@mrtnsnp]

So you'll have a second assessment for running under steam, or is the assessment for each loco separately?

[@lmm]

Steam and Diesel are different grades, I did my steam last year

[@mrtnsnp]

@@lmm But that is not specific to a model of steam loco?

[@lmm]

@@mrtnsnp nope. Steam is steam, the principle remains the same throughout. Diesels have different ways of operating and prep.

[@bwilesuk]

Ah to be able to volunteer somewhere where there’s not just Sunday running

[@mega_retard]

I volunteer down at the GCR and it is wonderful getting them running all weekend and even on Fridays and Mondays for gala's, it is amazing getting to work on the beasts that run on the railway, its definitely worth going down for a day trip

[@bwilesuk]

@@mega_retard it’s on my to visit list

[@lmm]

There's lots of places that run mid weeks

[@bwilesuk]

@@lmm that requires me to have days off! Saturdays are basically my only option

[@hightower1984]

Do you need to do this for each loco/type?

[@lmm]

Steam covers all steam locos at the railway. Diesels have more variation, so that's each type.

[@FM60260]

Do you still need to be reassessed if you own the locomotive?

[@lmm]

Yes! Just because it's mine doesn't mean I automatically get to drive it.

[@FM60260]

@@lmm One thing I have often wondered is what do you do if it is something unique that there is nobody else that is familiar with? For example, if I put a Detroit Diesel 16V92T in an old class 73. Only those who worked on the engine swap would be familiar with that loco and any more senior staff that are familiar with class 73s would only be familiar with either the English Electric 4SRKT or the MTU/Cummins repowered examples. Where would the person responsible for training and assessing the owner of a one off be trained on that loco? Even if it is possible to find someone familiar with both 73s and Detroit Diesel power plants, what if hypothetically someone had secretly bought Kestrel back from the soviet union and had been restoring it in private. Who would be able to train and assess the owner when it has not worked in the UK for many years? I guess a similar thing would apply to locos like D8233 and D5705 but I think there are a lot more people in the owning group so there is likely already at least one assessor familiar with them.

[@stekra3159]

What does the Staff actually do?

[@lmm]

This one physically unlocks the points. If it changes away from the mainline you physically can't remove it until the mainline is set. So, if you have it, you know the route is set, and, you're the only train on the line.

[@thesudricmerman3318]

i know i would past these exam i couldent past school exam little more driving a locomotive 😅

[@lmm]

Once you know it, it's not hard to pass again

[@cbmsysmobile]

You didn't signal before you turned left. You should have failed. 😁😁

[@southern207hobbies]

Here in the usa its way different lol

[@lmm]

Oh really?

[@southern207hobbies]

@lmm yes it depends on the group and if there is any mainline movement as currently there is not much mainline excursions do to a loophole amtrak closed on heritage groups

[@davidjohnson8175]

Shouldn't you be wearing any PPE

[@lmm]

I had steelies on.

[@ThatVoxelBlock]

4th lol

[@lmm]

Good show

[@ThatVoxelBlock]

@@lmm bravo bravo 🤣🤣🤣

[@triantulas]

making any money outta this yet ?

[@John-yf8qh]

Specific*

[@lmm]

Yes

[@thrilermike]

Do you think you will ever be assessor ? ✏️📋

[@lmm]

I was previously, and now I'm re ticketed I expect to return soon