Secondman
Encyclopedia
A Secondman or Second man is a railway employee who assists the driver
of a train with his duties. For this reason the term driver's assistant is also used. In this role the second man could learn the duties of the driver and on passing the relevant tests and examinations become a driver himself.
With the ending of steam traction
on many railways, the job of fireman or boilerman was made obsolete. However, there were still many duties to be performed with diesel
and electric
traction that the driver could not do by themselves, such as preparation of locomotives, operation of train heating systems
, shunting duties, and many others.
With increasing automation of rolling stock
, many trains today only require the operation of a single driver, and thus this post has started to disappear. However it remains in many places, especially on heavy freight, express routes and night trains. Trainee drivers (often known as traction trainees) may also act as secondmen in order to learn routes and operating methods.
Certain railway lines in the UK are not approved for driver-only operation. Passenger trains will usually have a driver and conductor, but empty stock movements would require a second man (usually a second qualified driver) to accompany the driver. (Example: the East Suffolk Line
)
On heritage railway
s, where the older types of locomotives are still in use, the position of second man is still an important role filled by volunteers, and usually part of the training to become a driver.
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
of a train with his duties. For this reason the term driver's assistant is also used. In this role the second man could learn the duties of the driver and on passing the relevant tests and examinations become a driver himself.
With the ending of steam traction
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
on many railways, the job of fireman or boilerman was made obsolete. However, there were still many duties to be performed with diesel
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
and electric
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
traction that the driver could not do by themselves, such as preparation of locomotives, operation of train heating systems
Steam generator (railroad)
Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars...
, shunting duties, and many others.
With increasing automation of rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
, many trains today only require the operation of a single driver, and thus this post has started to disappear. However it remains in many places, especially on heavy freight, express routes and night trains. Trainee drivers (often known as traction trainees) may also act as secondmen in order to learn routes and operating methods.
Certain railway lines in the UK are not approved for driver-only operation. Passenger trains will usually have a driver and conductor, but empty stock movements would require a second man (usually a second qualified driver) to accompany the driver. (Example: the East Suffolk Line
East Suffolk Line
The East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are...
)
On heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
s, where the older types of locomotives are still in use, the position of second man is still an important role filled by volunteers, and usually part of the training to become a driver.