BRITISH RAILWAYS B.R.33056 DRIVER'S MANUALS
In the beginning there were no Manuals for Train Driver's to consult and any man who had risen slowly through the ranks had without doubt had to educate himself about all things mechanical, often with the assistance of the unions and mutual improvement classes which he would attend in his own time.The L.M.S. did produce an excellent guide to the workings of the steam locomotive as did The British Transport Commission in 1957, but the Driver and Fireman were expected to take whatever locomotive that happened to appear around the bend, sometimes relieving crews from other regions and taking over the controls of locomotives that were entirely foreign to them.
The requirement that a Driver should possess a working knowledge of the specific type traction he was expected to drive appears with the advent of modern motive power on a large scale, the newly nationalised railway did inherited a small number of diesel and electric locomotives from the 'Big Four' and it didn't take long for it to get into it's stride, by 1955 the modernisation programme was under way.
The rather shambolic way that new traction was ordered meant that before long Train Drivers were being confronted by a bewildering array of new traction, each with it's own layout and driving technique and faults, and many suffering the kind of teething problems that would test the patience of a saint.
This new requirement of specific traction knowledge meant that the employer now had the responsibility to educate Drivers at work, and so it became necessary to produce Working Manuals for B.R.'s precious and very expensive new machines.
In 1953 the first organised series of booklets were produced for Drivers entitled:-
"BRITISH RAILWAYS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES DRIVER'S INSTRUCTIONS"
and given the serial numbers 33003/1 - 33003/5. By 1956 these manuals were reissued in plastic ring-binders starting with B.R.33003/6 and given the lengthy title of:- "BRITISH RAILWAYS DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES AND DIESEL TRAINS."
These manuals were issued right through the 1950's and 1960's until (and in some cases after,) the advent of the new Driver's Manuals in 1971
Numbered BR.33056/1 onwards, the new Driver's manuals lasted right to the end of nationalisation, initially entitled:-
"BRITISH RAILWAYS DRIVER'S MANUAL"
the design and layout was updated in 1979 and the title changed (to reflect changes in the grades structure and working practices,) to:-
"BRITISH RAIL TRAIN CREW MANUAL".
Issued in the same design and format as the BR.33056 manuals were various other booklets which have been included here, most notable being:-
BR.33069: "BRITISH RAILWAYS WORKING INSTRUCTIONS"
BR.33070 "BRITISH RAIL WORKING INSTRUCTIONS"
and BR.33076 manuals. These would also have been kept in the Driver's Manual cover.
Contained within this website is:-
- A description of the BR.33056 followed by a fairly comprehensive list of manuals, their re-issues and amendment pages issued.
- A list of all associated manuals, i.e. those in the same format but with different serial numbers (such as BR.33070) and their re-issues and amended pages.
- A description of the older BR.33003 manuals followed by a list of those issued
Anyone who has manuals which I need, I'm always willing to swap or buy manuals.
And finally, if anyone needs information from manuals in my collection I'm very willing to look things up, just send me an E-Mail.
New Manuals Added To The Site
06/02/08 Res 33056/943 Class 943 PCV Traincrew Manual.
13/02/08 B.R.33003/232 July 1961 Deltic Preparation and Disposal Duties
22/02/08 BR.33056/282 August 1984 Am. No. 1 Class 141 Gen. Info. & Driving Instructions
18/06/08 BR.33070/- Draft Class 155 Working Instructions 1987
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