Train drivers booklet !!??

[Walkingthedog]

It shows the route and gradients.

[footplate1947]

Look up one or two Railway Memorabilia Auctions and send them some pictures I am sure they would give you an idea of any value.
If you google it there are a few Auctions which do this sort of thing...............John

[Mountain Goat]

It does look origional. Value wize, not a lot except for its historical value, but it depends. If you find a collector who has a interest in the route then they may pay a reasonable price, but don't expect to get rich!
I have quite a few things like that like an 1840's to early 1850's railway map of Britain (Excludes most of Scotland) which has a surprizing amount of lines, quite a few of which no longer exist, and some of which exist now but didn't then. The map is made using a cloth backing with which the paper is stuck onto, and the railway routes are drawn on in ink by hand, which was how it was done in those days. I did try to sell it once but had this rather crazy gentleman who was willing to drive half way across the country yet try to tell me it was worthless (When he knew it was valueable). He tried knocking me down and down in price over the phone even before he saw the map, and tried to get me down to silly money claiming someone had drawn in ink over the top of it and claiming he was an expert? I refused to sell it to him and he kept phoning back many times over the next few weeks to change my mind, yet he still claimed the map was worthless. Why go to all that trouble for a worthless map? He is mad!
I decided there and then that unless I get a reasonable price I will keep it.

[RAF96]

Most firemen would have a route gradient map so they could plan when to build their fires or when to let them drop back so as to be able to guarantee the driver had enough steam when needed and steam was not wasted when not needed.

Get it wrong and you run out of puff on a hill or end up blowing the safety valves in a station - neither of which was popular and in some cases inappropriate blowing off could see a crew being cautioned or even fined.

A driver would make use of these maps to learn his routes so he knew when to give it wellie and where he could make up or lose time.

These maps are mentioned in many ‘tales of the footplate’ type of books.

[Tinker]

They never had that sort of route learning booklet on the Southern well i was never given any, it was just a case of either ride on the train you were route learning for or in the front of passenger trains until either you had the agreed time Management and Aslef had sorted out (2-3 weeks on some routes) or you were happy with it and just book on and go home. So we have a new traffic flow from Halling Cement works to Foxton Power Station, i put myself forward for some of the work just require a route conductor i tell the Roster Clerk, so get to Ferne Park Yard pick up a Kings Cross Driver we depart and end up at Foxton Power Station, Empty wagons to Cambridge run round back to Halling take the Class 56 back to Hither Green 12 hours on the ticket 2 hours banked for another day and 4 hours mileage payment, half a week pay for 1 days work, Day 2 arrive at Willesden High Level stop on a red light, the Station Foreman they don't have a conductor, well i had a day over the route there's half a weeks pay at stake, that's ok i said i don't need one, so off we go Up round Harrigay Curve about 1-33 gradient 1500 tonnes a Class 56 round the top at about 3 mph green light so its round the left side of Ferne Park right curve then a left curve 30 mph on the junction to Gants Hill Hertford Loop), as the line drops down round Ferne Park and the plan is to be doing 30mph on full power to stretch the train out so there's no snatch and get up the gradient to Gants Hill, round the left curve the signal come into sight no right hand lunar's so the train won't stop in less than may be a half a mile, be well pass the signal, best to carry on all i know is the Hertford loop joins the track i'm on 20 mile or so further on, so proper route learning would have established the signal to go onto the Herford loop was a track approach getting a green light at the top of the Harrigay Curve shouldn't have happened, so not a bad day in the end found my way via Potter Bar another route under my belt.....Todays Drivers have a tablet with the route on, GPS to show where they are while on duty so no going home for them......

[RAF96]

I often wondered why train drivers needed to learn the route as the route was in my mind dictated by each signal box along the way according to line traffic.

I am bemused by ‘I found my way via xyz’. Does the train driver have a say in which way he goes.

With modern locos is route knowledge (gradients) as important as it was for steam loco crews.

[Walkingthedog]

Yes drivers still have to learn the route.

[Tinker]

The old system relied on Train Headcode being right and Signalman then setting the route, most train were regular running to time so approaching Factory Junction if the signal before if this was Green the Headcode would be change so the Signalman would phone Brixton box and tell him, once passed Factory Box alter the headcode back to the proper one, Brixton would bring the train to a stand and normally point to his head, on these he signal he would release the signal and get straight on the phone to give Factory Box a bollocking.... fun days, all modern train are electroniclly tag, have a look on "Realtimetrains.co.uk" enter a place and get all train shown for the day, with details...

[twalton1145]

whats is this ???? some sort of driver manual ........... it probably a fake but i liked it.

Found this on Ancestry.co.uk - if it is the right man, I wonder if his descendants might like it?
Ted
PS. Armley is shown in middle of picture 4.(Sorry 3 )

1881 England Census
Name Thomas Carter
Age 45
Estimated Birth Year 1836
Relationship to Head Head
Spouse Mary Ann Carter
Gender Male
Where born Wortley Yorkshire England
Civil parish Armley, Leeds
County/Island Yorkshire
Country England
Street Address 9 Brittania Place
Marital Status Married
Occupation Railway Engine Driver
Registration district Bramley
ED, institution, or vessel 30
Piece 4508
Folio 49
Page number 36
Others in Record
Mary Ann CarterJohn CarterJane CarterJames Carter

[mijj]

I could not find the pictures .
Jim.