Shel

I began with the week with a 13.00 standby shift today.
I was hollered after a while to drive a Bromsgrove, then later to drive a Redditch to finish my day.
I enjoy driving between Five Ways & Bournville adjacent to the canal, & watching the sun set is beautiful.

#DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

It does rain quite a lot… and unfortunately doesn’t drain away as fast as it rains sometimes. Thus pooling water causes problems with the track circuits, and flooding makes it unsafe for us to operate trains if the water reaches a certain level. The tragedy at Stonehaven is proof of that.

They do! They make it look effortless too. I’m impressed!

Just my terminology!

As they do on the heritage railways… and I enjoy watching the process!

A bright & early 4.45am spare for me on Saturday saw me look after the ‘Ferry’ turn until 9am (during which time I attached a pair of 350s together ready to be taken by another driver to Liverpool) and then drive a Four Oaks/Redditch which ended my day.
#DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

3/ I finished up with a Longbridge/Lichfield and had our GBR rebranded 730 - 730033 (paired with 730034 - always like consecutively numbered trains together!)

2/ My next trip should have been a Bromsgrove but due to issues with Axle Counters, Track Circuit Failure (TCF) and floodwater all Bromsgrove services were flipped at Longbridge to start their return journey to Lichfield.

1/ Friday’s shift was spent driving in the rain… absolutely non-stop. Naturally this does cause some issues with the infrastructure.
I began with a B’ham Intl / Rugeley & even though it was only mid-morning I could see the beginnings of flood water.
#DayInTheLife #TrainDriver #FemaleTrainDriver

Avanti’s trainbow is awesome as Pride liveries go!

Weds saw me back after 2 days off. I took the ‘Pride’ of the fleet - 730018 - to B’ham Intl & Rugeley. The Chase line was quite ‘mizzly’. I had a quick coffee break, then a trip to Bromsgrove, a short lunch break & finished up with a round trip Bromsgrove/Lichfield. #DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

Eye-watering snack!

Ah thank you. I love doing what I do, and hope to inspire others by sharing my day to day life as a driver.

Nothing has changed thus far! We are all the same people operating the service with the same trains and only one of which has a new sticker on I think!

Rolling stock is leased.

Sunday saw me drive my first trains under public ownership. Birmingham International/Rugeley TV x2 with a break in the middle & I was due to attach when returning from Rugeley, however I was routed into the bay platform (4c) at New St so no attaching occurred. #DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

Thurs started with a Four Oaks/Redditch/Four Oaks followed by a break and then a Wolves/Walsall. Finally I was due to take a #Class350 to Soho Depot, but when I got there I was promptly sent back to New St with it due to having been one fail & it was needed in service. #DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

Tuesday saw me also begin with a Birmingham International/Rugeley with an added B’ham Intl. A break, then a Four Oaks/Redditch and finishing up with taking a lesser spotted class 350 to Soho Depot. A #Class37 was perched there ready for a move in the morning. #DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

I’m tardy on my posts again! So here we go with a few days catching up!
This was last Mondays shift - beginning with a trip to Birmingham International & Rugeley, followed by Redditch and finishing up with a Bromsgrove/Lichfield.
An uneventful day.
#DayInTheLife #TrainDriver

I do still post on Twitter! And Instagram/tiktok.

I do my best to give an insight in my life at work… I can’t unfortunately take photos of everything but I like to share what I can hoping that it also inspires people too ☺️

Thank you. And it’s nice I’ve brought some memories back for you.

That’s the corridor connection. I still have perfectly good vision.

Captured departing Birmingham New Street at 12.36 bound for Lichfield Trent Valley. Driving 2P29 spinning the wheels of 730047 + 730009.
#TrainDriver #WomenInRail

A rather nice Saturday shift allocated to me from ‘Spare’. An 8.26 start for a trip to Rugeley, a decent break & then a round trip Lichfield/Bromsgrove to finish.
A pleasant days driving. I’m back on the rails Monday where I move over to afternoon shifts. #DayInTheLife #TrainDriver #WomenInRail

Look at his face! Gorgeous!

Oh very clever puss!

Me either, but all for the good of her health.

She didn’t want to get off the scales!