Railway work

[WoodED]

most of it is all thorn aparently,, witch isnt funn in the daylight let alone the though of tangled up thorn at night

[skyhuck]

Was mostly Sycamores and HC when I did it.

[eddiegts]

I did it for about 5 years starting as a chipper monkey then moved up the ladder to coss team leader climber really good experience as already said loads of black thorn and ivy covered trees in real tight spots. But on the other side I did work on some nice trees but don't expect to be climbing 500 year old oaks. I learnt loads about rigging/takedowns and site clearance work (thats what I mainly do now) I loved the job and would do it again tomorrow!

Money was good I was on £28k with a brand new hilux as a team leader coss. The night work is ok once you get used to it I think it makes you a safer climber as you double check every movement you make.

Before you do your PTS you need to have a medical and a drugs test. Its very hard work but very rewarding when you look back down the line and you have cleared 2 miles of track, well if you are into that sort of destruction

Ed

[openspaceman]

expect to find the usual consignment of dog crap, nappies and needles (even found a false arm once) on the embankment, hardly a nice environment! Plus plenty of wire, cable and track clips that have been discarded by line workers.

 

Not to mention drivers' lemonade bottles

[Treemon]

Not to mention drivers' lemonade bottles

 

Or trains "spraying " as they pass you

[garth mc garth]

Not to mention drivers' lemonade bottles

 

Yeah, the fine mist through the visor when you nick one with the saw..... Nice!!

[DN22 Gardening]

i worked for a company called HW Martins. Theyre not into it much any more, but at their peak, probably the biggest in the country. i think there was about 100 qualified men at one point.

 

it was very rewarding financially, we were paid price work, i.e. you had so many days to clear a section, so if you were with a decent team you earn good money.

if you were with a bad team, and there were some, you'd earn nowt.

at its worst i've done 5 bloody hard shifts and earned £100.

at its best i've brought home £1,400 for the same five shifts

we used to work it out that if we earned £125 a shift on top, it was about right.

 

most co's want you to work saturday nights on possesion, which really screws your body clock.

 

basically its horrible hard work, but i did enjoy it.

learned loads and made some good friends

 

 

go for it.

[adbat234]

I'd say go for it. There will be plenty of horrible days and nights bashing thorn down etc but its also a great place to learn and build your speed up. Screw your pruning up a little and its not such a big deal ont he railway trees, Someones pride in thier garden and its a different matter. I'd recommend being paid hourly too if poss because your time on track is never guaranteed. We used to turn up some nights and be sent home for some silly paperwork error not of our own making, On hourly rate back home in bed was a lovely feeling .

On the downside to track time never guaranteed is working through the night no matter what the weather till your times up. Wet through to the underpants is enough to make a grown man cry, especially at 11am sunday morning having worked from 2am that night and looking at 2 hours drive home and up 6.30am the next day:thumbdown:.

If your'e a young keen lad fill your boots, It will also make you appreciate the better tree work out there when you move on to powerlines,private work etc...Good luck!

[Arran Turner]

I'd say go for it. There will be plenty of horrible days and nights bashing thorn down etc but its also a great place to learn and build your speed up. Screw your pruning up a little and its not such a big deal ont he railway trees, Someones pride in thier garden and its a different matter. I'd recommend being paid hourly too if poss because your time on track is never guaranteed. We used to turn up some nights and be sent home for some silly paperwork error not of our own making, On hourly rate back home in bed was a lovely feeling .

On the downside to track time never guaranteed is working through the night no matter what the weather till your times up. Wet through to the underpants is enough to make a grown man cry, especially at 11am sunday morning having worked from 2am that night and looking at 2 hours drive home and up 6.30am the next day:thumbdown:.

If your'e a young keen lad fill your boots, It will also make you appreciate the better tree work out there when you move on to powerlines,private work etc...Good luck!

 

Sounds like a good stepping stone for myself. I just need to find a way in as such, im not sure what firms to call or where to go, i emailed railscape for further information and im just waitiing for a reply. Can anyone point me in the right direction for firm in the southeast

 

Thanks

 

Arran

[WoodED]

Sounds like a good stepping stone for myself. I just need to find a way in as such, im not sure what firms to call or where to go, i emailed railscape for further information and im just waitiing for a reply. Can anyone point me in the right direction for firm in the southeast

 

Thanks

 

Arran

 

tried fountains forestry?

 

http://www.fountainsgroup.co.uk/our_services/utilites/rail

Edited April 23, 2012 by WoodED