Among the many working specialties, 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 “train driver”. He is the most important in railway transport, and his activity is connected with the management of a 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 arose about its management. For a trip to be successful, you need not only relevant knowledge, but also specific character traits.
In Russia, the profession "train driver" arose back in 1834. Initially, small trains of only four wagons traveled on rails. Their speed did not exceed 33 km / h. But after increasing power and speed to 42 km / h, people were needed to cope with the increasing load. Therefore, training courses were organized to acquire knowledge and skills in railway management.
Machinists were especially in demand during the Soviet Union. Rail laying proceeded at a tremendous pace; various trains were made in the country for the transport of goods and passengers. Qualified people were required, fully trained to manage the roster.
Characteristic features of the specialty
The profession of a machinist is more often regarded as purely masculine. However, no one will limit female representatives if they deign to learn this skill. But for the choice to be conscious, it is necessary to know exactly the description of the profession “train driver”.
The specialty has a number of specific features that should be paid attention to. Activity requires not only endurance, but also excellent health. Therefore, upon admission to the appropriate educational institution, a medical certificate of fitness will be required.
The profession "train driver" implies knowledge of the technical features of the machine and the automatic devices located in the locomotive's cab.
The driver is required maximum concentration of attention. In order to prevent an accident, it is necessary to pay attention to road signs, weather conditions and instrument readings. Assistants are always put on long-distance trains, who insure the chief driver and provide an opportunity to relax.
Key responsibilities of a locomotive driver
When the train moves, the driver and assistant perform the following main functions:
- keep track of signs and signals on the railway;
- observe the indications of the dashboard, which indicates the uninterrupted operation of the entire rolling stock;
- monitor the condition of the locomotive, its integrity;
- give the set signals at the entrance to the station;
- responsible for the safety of maneuvers;
- upon detection of malfunctions, they must immediately inform the station attendants.
The profession "train driver" involves frequent absences from home. But it gives you the opportunity to see many new places. Therefore, people who crave new experiences and are ready to study the technical characteristics of railway transport often choose this specialty.
Toy railway
Those children who write an essay on the topic “My future profession is a train driver” during vocational guidance lessons should visit the children's railway.
Such organizations already exist in many cities of Russia. For those who want to drive on rails not only a toy, but a real full-fledged composition, special training is organized. After obtaining the necessary knowledge, the guys can work as real guides on duty at the station, and even help the driver to drive a real train with passengers.
The Children's Railway not only provides entertainment services for riding young children, but also is an institution of additional education. Children aged 8 to 15 years can study various railway specialties and consolidate the acquired skills in practice.
The profession "train driver" for children is mastered not only in classrooms. On real trains of a slightly reduced format and on a narrower rail track, under the strict guidance of an adult, a teenager masters the basics of complex skill.
On the children's railway, everything is for real. As far as technical capabilities are concerned, all equipment corresponds to the same on general purpose tracks. And, although the rails do not have a common track, the train is fully consistent with a full-fledged passenger locomotive and the people are real.
Driving skills training
Dreaming 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 specialize in railway technical schools, admission is possible after 9 classes of a comprehensive school.
The main disciplines that future students will study are related to technical sciences, safety rules for transporting people and goods, and the basics of railway traffic.
In order to competently manage the whole composition, it is necessary to study its characteristics and have knowledge in software and the principles of its operation.
To realize 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 railway technical schools.
To obtain higher education, it is necessary to enter state universities of communication, 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 areas.
Demand for the profession
Before choosing a future profession, it is important to know its prospects. The specialization “locomotive driver” occupies a leading position in the list published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta a couple of years ago.
Demands of employers at labor exchanges speak of demand, among which 33% of the total number corresponded to the work of the “engineer”.
Advantages of the specialty and its disadvantages
Like any other, the profession of a machinist has its undeniable advantages. One of them is connected 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 isolated from the family for a long time, which may not suit some.
But the colossal responsibility for the lives of passengers and the safety of cargo guarantees a decent wage. Russian railways, in addition to wages, provide their employees with additional support in the form of bonuses, trips to the sanatorium and long vacations.
The downside is high stress on the body and the effect of harmful factors on health. The driver’s shift lasts 12 hours, which he spends in a confined space and concentrating extremely attention.
Thorny path
After training, all specialists begin their journey with an assistant engineer. Depending on the basic education and practical skills, a novice specialist can hold the position of assistant from several months to two years.
Only after testing with a professional and passing an appropriate interview, a person is trusted to independently lead the rolling stock.