Around Chiswick Works
RM 1377 leaving Chiswick Works on 1 March 1979. I would guess that with the trainee driver being in full uniform, this is actually a conductor being put through the driving school. New entrants to the Training School would usually have three weeks tuition culminating in taking the final test on a Thursday.
The following day would involve reporting to Chiswick in the morning for the final paperwork session and a visit to the Uniform Store to be kitted out. Thereafter travelling to their allocated garage to commence route learning which, if a `one route` garage could be achieved by the end of the day ready for their first trip in service on Monday. Or, in times of staff shortage, a weekend rest day working.
As I had been a Conductor at Mortlake, my arrival there on the Friday having passed my test the day before gave me an instant opportunity to take on the second half of an otherwise cut middle turn on the 9`s. I would imagine that very few newly qualified drivers went out on a service trip that quick! I can still recall the excitement of getting into RM 1582 which arrived so late due to traffic conditions that the expectation of reaching Aldwych on that first trip was curtailed to Hyde Park Corner!
Around Chiswick Works
RM 1377 leaving Chiswick Works on 1 March 1979. I would guess that with the trainee driver being in full uniform, this is actually a conductor being put through the driving school. New entrants to the Training School would usually have three weeks tuition culminating in taking the final test on a Thursday.
The following day would involve reporting to Chiswick in the morning for the final paperwork session and a visit to the Uniform Store to be kitted out. Thereafter travelling to their allocated garage to commence route learning which, if a `one route` garage could be achieved by the end of the day ready for their first trip in service on Monday. Or, in times of staff shortage, a weekend rest day working.
As I had been a Conductor at Mortlake, my arrival there on the Friday having passed my test the day before gave me an instant opportunity to take on the second half of an otherwise cut middle turn on the 9`s. I would imagine that very few newly qualified drivers went out on a service trip that quick! I can still recall the excitement of getting into RM 1582 which arrived so late due to traffic conditions that the expectation of reaching Aldwych on that first trip was curtailed to Hyde Park Corner!