Driving The Thameslink Simulator 

Geoff: "Is it sad that I recognise it?" Tim: "Yeah.."

For anyone wondering what that 'big red button' - the DRA, does: It is basically an extra step you have to go through before getting the train moving again. Once pressed, it will light up red, and the throttle will not apply power. It was introduced because drivers would sometimes stop at stations, forget they had passed a yellow signal to enter the station, and inadvertently pass the red signal shortly after the station - or stop at a station with a red signal, and forget to check it before leaving. Now, because drivers must set the DRA in this situation, they have a big red reminder in their cab that they have a red signal ahead; and they must press it to move the train again, in the process noticing the reminder.

I'm doing a drinking challenge on this channel. Every time Geoff doesn't let someone finish a sentence I down a shot. Gout is setting in

It's great that you have a set of unreleased videos to draw on whilst we are all socially distancing in lockdown! Thank you for making these, Geoff!

In the 1980s I lived right above Essex Road station tracks - not that you'd know, it's very deep. My sister wouldn't use the station because the dark foot tunnels made her feel unsafe and indeed there was a nasty series of attacks down there. Being the 80s there was not much in the way of CCTV. Hope it is better now.

The dream school desk you never got... lmao

Tell you what - I'd love to see this simulator more in-depth - perhaps sitting in with actual trainees (anonymised or not) and learning alongside them.

Love the northern city line, NSE nostalgia is amazing!

And you HANDILY had a tile in your hand 😂

Another good video, and nice to see Geoff explain why it's no picnic to be a train driver.

I love the sound of those Thameslink trains on third rail.

That looks like it would be really interesting to try out. A little more realistic than Train Simulator on my PC :)

Oh that’s a very German looking cab, it has BR422/425 vibes except for the large panels on the left side. TSW trained me for this moment

Reasons why Geoff is not a train driver: "Are the doors Still open?" "You're speeding at the moment. You're still speeding." "Is that the emergency brake?" "yes." "I didn't press the AWS button fast enough."

I’ve been on the class 700 training simulator around about the time your video of the class 700 was released

This looks like tremendous fun Geoff :-). Thanks for sharing this :-). Have a nice evening and take care of yourself Geoff :-D :-). From your friend Foxy :-).

Had a train on fire just outside my back garden today (class 465 to charing x) just thought of the pressure going through the drivers mind when that happened..saying it was a brake fault, but by the amount of emergency services and police parked up in my street with also police helicopter present makes me wonder if it was something else then a brake overheating.

Focus Geoff, focus buddy!

I think the old tiles should be preserved: some displayed in the LTM, and a whole bunch stocked in their Acton Depot.

For when the secrets of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise?

I think its the Network south east side of Essex road station that makes it look dingy (that weathered maroon colour ) rather than the tiles they are replacing .

Great video mate I really like watching your videos there really cool 😊👍

I heard "Hornsey Depot" and my first thought was "Is it OO gauge?"

It would be nice to see Geoff in the GBRF 66 simulator, or the Cross Country 220/221 simulators.

In Sacramento at the California State Railroad Museum, there is a genuine Japanese Shinkansen simulator. Anyone can use it for the price of admission.

I always wondered what was in that new building I pass on the way to the recycling depot. Now I know.

We need to crowdfund to get Geoff one of these for his kitchen.

Will Essex Road just be dingy on one side of the tracks with shiny new platforms?

I dunno why but I had a real sense of dejavu at the start of this video.

so is this MSTS, Railworks (Train Simulator), OpenBVE/BVE4, TSW or some proprietory software?

What did we do before we had simulators like this? Train on the real thing I guess.

I simultaneously love and hate Essex Road, it’s both beautiful and ugly.

Gotta love Essex road

Haha Geoff, I would've gotten a 9 or 10!

So the drivers are only being retained until the automatic system can be rolled out all across the system ....

Absolutely Incredible video woohoo ❤

How much for the set up?

They should make a Densha De D, simulator.

1:25 But tiles....old ones are going new ones are coming. He sound terrified when he said that lol

Gutted it didn't go via Corrour....

Did they have any simualted accidents on the line? The one time I tried a simulator (NIR C3/4K) I was instructed to ignore the car crash on the line off the bridge and kep going pretending I didn't see it.

This is brilliant.

Geoff I personally think all the gtr stations need refurbishment. They are so shabby and they have really nice trains... What do you think? Hi from 🇮🇹 italy

When are they removing the Tiles.

Pulling to accelerate and pushing to brake, isn't that counterintuitive?

It is a lot like driving a car, but in a different way. A lot of it does become like reflex action, driver observation also plays a big part.

I've done that have you met patrick

I always watch every video, and appreciate your work. It was disappointing that you treated the whole simulator experience as one big joke instead of taking the opportunity seriously.

The northern city line needs investing

Someone's learning

Seriously jealous...!!! :-)

I heard there may have been some wrestling on this show tonight. Can anyone confirm?

We're abouts is that

Excited much?

Be Even better if he stopped interrupting Tim and tell him what to do....

a aa aaaa AAAAAAAA AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH I’m jealous

Guys if you think that driving a train is easy then go drive a train in tsw2 with all sayftey devices and hud off then come back

You already have so many comments

Shame there wasn't a clip of you flying down the tracks at full speed, ignoring the procedures.

36c ountede mm yself

The train services will be under Public ownership by 2021 all train services for London & the southeast which will be under Control of Network Southeast intercity train services will be under control of Intercity Rural & regional services will be under control of Regional Railways For you to do Geoff I will elect you on behalf of the British Rail Party as the Chancellor so your role will be to invest £4 million on all 3 businesses to show To work alongside The English Conservative Party the Scottish National Party & the Welsh Labour Party to make Dicetions

Terrible......

"...so I still have to press the AWS then..." "...you're speeding." "can I just coast?" "You're still speeding."

Essex Road feels like an abandoned Tube station until you see the Great Northern train. It's weird

Essex Road: The Land that Time Forgot Sounds like a good title for a new book...

Tim: Student Grade - Fail. Doesn't let instructor finish Geoff: SENTENCES

“I was told not to press big red buttons” 😂😂😂

I like how The stations on the Northern City line look like the underground tube stations.

Mum: You need to go to bed now Me: but Geoff Marshall uploaded Mum: Oh Ok Edit: This conversation actually happened!

It's a shame that the simulator doesn't use collimated display systems like those used in commercial aircraft simulators. The experience is completely different from looking at a screen. It brings a whole new level of realism.

Essex Road genuinely looks like it’s stuck about 30 years in the past

As someone who loves Train Simulator and TSW, I desperately want to have a go of this.

I went through Essex Road a few days before the lockdown took effect, and sure enough all the tiles had been removed, so the platforms there looked even more "dingy!!" I don't know how far they've progressed with putting the replacements up; I wouldn't have thought it was high on their list of priorities at the moment.

Essex road is my local train station and I had to wait to get served as the ticket officer was buying weed of a guy😂🤣

Just needs SimSig integration.

@networkrail at essex road please keep the NSE as a subtle nod to the past

It's a shame there's not more footage of this. Especially the simulator bits. I would have loved to see you actually driving the train for a full route with stops and time tables and issues.

ill need to see essex road and the other nse underground station after the restrictions have been lifted

I once had the opportunity to drive an Class 08 Shunter on the Forest of Dean railway. I can remember the intense concentration as I listened to the instructions. Being told to take up to notch 2, but keep the speed at about 10mph, she could do 15, but I might cause the generator to flash over. And to look back occasionally to check on the train and to keep the speed in check as we went around the curve, as she tends to rally. Even though, it was only for a short trip, got a taste of what it must be like for the professional drivers.

Wow, they've still got Network South East branding 😮

I'm curious to know if they use customized off the shelf train simulators like the one Dovetail makes (albeit with modifications to allow them to configure the scenarios and to support the custom control systems), or if it's 100% bespoke.

The lighting when he's on the platform makes it look like he's on a green screen. Even the lighting there is a little weird never mind the tiles

Poor old 365s sitting in the depot unused

Essex Road gives me Network SouthEast Flashbacks!

Electrostar? Surely Desiro would be more relevant at Hornsey? \m/

That's amazing! I would like to have a try on that simulator too!

Will the new Essex Road station tiles be in the same shapes?

People complaining about train drivers strike and saying you dont need drivers just to press a button should watch this video, kt proves that even on an automatic railway you still need drivers.

The Great Northern Railway Goes to Essex Road as well!

377999? Seems interesting.

It's weird to see Geoff doing a handshake (and not even his standard left-handed handshake) at the end of the video. I wonder what he will be doing, instead of shaking hands, after the lockdown ends.

I'm a little surprised this doesn't get rented out for parties. People would pay money to do this

one thing i can’t get over is how geoff pronounces it sim-ul-ator

Great Video! Looks very realistic. Wish I could use one of those one day

Sounds hard!

I want a go in that!

I bet you were hired by NR to promote Essex Road as being the new star station in the whole of London

that simulator is complicated.

How can I get my go? 😂