Is train "driver" an accurate description?

H

Hobo_Al

Trainz addict
I have a friend who was a train engineer for Southern Pacific and Amtrak. He chides us if we ever say "drive a train". He says trains don't have steering wheels. You don't "drive" them; you "run" a train.

I see "drive" a train all over N3V. It always makes me think of my engineer friend.

Are there any thoughts out there on this?

-Al
 
The terminology is more of an international than anything I think. So how does someone "engineer" a train? Do they sit there and design, measure, and build one? :)

There may not be a steering wheel, but you, the driver, is controlling the throttle, direction, and brakes so driving a train seems appropriate.
 
JCitron said:
The terminology is more of an international than anything I think. So how does someone "engineer" a train? Do they sit there and design, measure, and build one? :)

There may not be a steering wheel, but you, the driver, is controlling the throttle, direction, and brakes so driving a train seems appropriate.
Click to expand...

Hi John,
Ahhh...semantics. You are certainly correct in saying that a train engineer does not really "engineer" anything, but "driving" a train will always give me pause, thanks to my friend. :eek:
-Al
 
Does an airline pilot actually "pilot" (or even "fly") an aircraft any more - with all the automation in the cockpit, on the ground and in the air?
 
I drive my car but my wife sits next to me and tells me what to do, points out all stop signs and informs me when the light is red or green.
 
Yes exactly, when ever I read 'train driver' it makes my skin crawl. My grandad was an engine driver and if us kids had called him a train driver he would have given us a right telling off.
 
The term driver may have come from the steam era. The man who controlled the driving wheels was in charge of the loco. and was therefore the driver or engineer as in US.
Cheers,
Mike
 
And with the increasing use of "driverless" trains, where the train is controlled by a person no longer in the cab or even on the train, is that person a "driver" or a "remote operator"?
 
I guess the terminology comes from pre-railway days, in particular a lot of railway language comes from stage-coaches. A driver is someone who drives animals, such as the horse on a stagecoach. Other railway language I believe comes from a similar source includes the guard (someone who sat on the back of a horsedrawn coach to protect it from highwaymen and other criminals) and coach/carriage/wagon as names for items of rolling stock.
 
Good thread :)

When I was a lad (Granddad talk) my next door neighbour was a steam engine driver.
You wouldn't dare call him a train driver. :eek:

Something that really annoys me is when a person refers to a train, but they are actually referring to a solo engine.:o
 
In America we do not drive trains we operate or "run" them. Same with heavy equipment, all we drive are motorcycles, cars and trucks.

RJ Artim
 
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davesnow said:
I drive my car but my wife sits next to me and tells me what to do, points out all stop signs and informs me when the light is red or green.
Click to expand...

Dave you hit the nail admitting or allowing things to happen like most of us do to but not talk about it unless in the pub after a few drinks jokes and laughters.

good thread!

Happy New year and happy TRS19 trainzing all

Ning n Roy

btw Ning is the boss and i am the chief allowing her to be the boss within certain margin of errors.

:wave:
 
I really don't see the problem with job descriptions

There used to be @ 6 crew members on each train in the wayback days, until caboose's were scrapped, EOT's were installed in their place, conductor in the caboose and brakeman jobs were abolished and eliminated ... fireman in the cab was also abolished ... now there are conductors who man things on the ground, such as switch throws, giving radio and hand signals to the lone engineer in the cab, and the conductor also has his own designated duties inside the cab, and he assists the engineer in the cab ... When a conductor graduates he can go for an engineers job title ... Who does "Drive" a train, and mans the engine controls and braking ... being called an engineer he knows how to stop & startup, and synchronize a series of locos in DPU ... So he is in fact a professional Mechanical Engineer of locomotives power systems, and air brake systems

In Trainz I like the "Driver" name ... and I have always wanted to learn how to "Drive" a train ... Rather than just "Run" it, like a machine operator just "Runs" an engine lathe
 
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The label "Driver" does tend to minimise the skills involved, it almost makes it sound like anyone could drive a train just like anyone could drive a car (I don't drive a car but that is another story). In reality the "driver/engineer/operator" must take into account a host of factors; physical, mechanical, technical, geographical, weather, etc. Local knowledge plays a major part, as it would with driving a car but to a much greater extent.
 
Everyone can drive a car? It's Summer here in the rural countryside and from what I've seen of the inhabitants of the city on their yearly escape from drudgery none of them can drive at all.
 
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