This month we caught up with some of Aurizon’s female train drivers to find out what it’s like to drive trains that can be up to two kilometres long and weigh thousands of tonnes!
Trudy Montague
When did you know this was the right career for you?
When I got out driving by myself without a trainer for the first time, I knew this would be a rewarding career that I could see myself enjoying long term.
What’s the biggest challenge you face?
The biggest challenge by far is the shift work. We work a rotating 24/7 roster 365 days a year so it can be a challenge to get into a regular pattern. Also being in an isolated part of the country and not being able to visit my children and their families as often as I would like can be difficult.
What’s a skill you’ve picked up?
Multi-tasking! When driving a 2km train you must be aware of the parameters of the train as you can be controlling up to five locomotives at once. The front loco may be braking while the back locos are powering while cresting a hill. You’re also talking on the radio, monitoring the vigilance system, cross-calling signals, watching for vehicles or workers around the track and constant awareness the trains operation.
What do you find most rewarding?
Doing a job that I love and working with great people around me that encourage and support each other.
What would surprise people about your job?
I would say most people are surprised by the length and weight of a train. Most trains are up to 2km long and 13,356 tonnes when fully loaded. People may also think that train driving is a predominantly a male industry but in reality there are more female drivers coming through than males.
What advice would you give to someone new to industry?
If you get the opportunity, you should definitely jump on it because it could change your life financially and teach you skills you never thought you’d get the chance to learn.
Lisa Cook
When did you know this was the right career for you?
I was in my 30’s when this opportunity came by, and I thought why not give it a go and see where we end up. Seeing my mum in her 60’s with no significant work experience since having children, I knew I needed to get skills behind me to help support my family, for now and the long term. Being in the mining industry has provided many opportunities to develop my skills both as a train driver and more recently in a trainer role, and I have not looked back.
What’s the biggest challenge you face?
Trying to know as much as those who have been there many years longer than myself. The older drivers had to work their way through entry level positions and have way more experience and understanding than I will ever know.
What’s a skill you’ve picked up?
Driving a locomotive has become second nature. There are over thirty buttons and levers to manipulate on every drive and finding them quickly is a skill a driver needs to learn quickly.
What do you find most rewarding?
Helping others learn how to do what we do.
What would surprise people about your job?
We work by ourselves or with only one other person a lot, so you need to be comfortable with your own company.
What advice would you give to someone new to industry?
Take every opportunity you can. There is much support both professionally and personally in the industry, understanding how and when to use that support has been very helpful.
Lauren Blake
When did you know this was the right career for you?
I come from an emergency services background, with ten years served in the Northern Ireland fire service followed by four years in the Queensland Police Force and as an auxiliary firefighter within Queensland. I knew this was the job for me as soon as I started. I love the depot that I work out of, and driving the train is a lot of fun. Also, as a train driver I get to see the most beautiful scenery, sunsets and sunrises.
What’s the biggest challenge you face?
Shift work. I have four young children so managing sleep can sometimes be difficult, but my partner and I make it work. I am lucky that he is also in the industry and understands what is required and is totally supportive.
What’s a skill you’ve picked up?
Preempting what I need to do, based on the location of the train and the undulating track. As we are almost 700 metres long and with 42 wagons of coal, traversing through hills and dips can be interesting to manage to avoid getting run ins and damaging anything.
What do you find most rewarding?
I love my job and I find it most rewarding to make it to each destination safe and on time. I also really enjoy being challenged and when things sometimes are out of the ordinary it can certainly be challenging.
What would surprise people about your job?
How much of a positive atmosphere we have, considering the night shifts and the different start times. We are a social group, with a few of us taking part in playing golf on our days off and enjoying catching up during track closures.
What advice would you give to someone new to industry?
My advice would be to utilise your time properly. Make time to do the things that make you happy, be that sport or hobbies, as it can be difficult to stay motivated when you are fatigued from shift work.
Kaitlin Harris
When did you know this was the right career for you?
Honestly it was after driving my first train and the freedom I felt when being out on track. The scenery, with the creeks, mountains and wildlife is something else and to know that this is my office space is truly special.
What’s the biggest challenge you face?
Being a female driver trainer in a male dominated position at times has its challenges.
What’s a skill you’ve picked up?
Public speaking. I don’t think there are too many people that enjoy it, but in a roundabout way having to conduct group training sessions has been a great way to learn the new skill.
What do you find most rewarding?
Teaching, having the ability to build someone’s confidence and see them achieve something they maybe thought they wouldn’t be able to achieve.
What would surprise people about your job?
How complicated it can be to learn to drive a train and getting use to the inertia, especially trains with DP (Distributed Power). The job is definitely more than just pressing a button.
What advice would you give to someone new to industry?
Be patient, don’t stress the little things and don’t stop learning.
