pikefreak

1. I would say yes to some extent I am a train-nut. Not as extreme as some can be, but definatly more than most :). I can talk endlessly about it but I dont foam over "omg a locomotive i havent seen before".
2. The best part of my job is the freedom I have. When Im driving it's just me and me doing my thing. Dont have to think of others.
3. The worst part is all the waiting. When something goes wrong there is usually a lot of waiting. Talking several hours. When a passenger train is late its usually 3-4 times as bad for a freight train.
4. Driving freight trains are a lot heavier and longer than passenger trains. And therefor also drive slower. The freight trains I drive are usually between 630-650meters long and 1500-1800 tons. Most passenger trains are between 80-300 meters and usually not more than 400-500 tons.
5. Ive hit several deer, moose, foxes, birds, hares... Thats the most common things you hit. The more uncommon Ive hit are wild boars (was between 7-10 in 1 hit) and a bird of prey. Have been very close to hitting a car that had stopped between the barriers at a crossing. Wasnt much than maybe a meter between.
6. My grandfather was a train driver and always spoke very highly of the profession so I applied for an education after reading up about it and felt it was for me. And after my first work practice I was hooked.
7. I think most, if not all train drivers are train nuts in one shape or another :)

Id say my favorite station would be Hallsberg. Its the biggest trainyard in northern Europe, and there is always something new to see every time youre there. The sheer size of it and number of tracks makes you almost dizzy sometimes :p.

My favorite route, when it comes to beauty so far nothing has beaten the 1 rail track that runs from Flen up to Eskilstuna. During the early summer mornings driving through the forest, coming out to a scenery where the sun has just come up over the horizon and shines its first yellow shine over a lake so still it's like a mirror. Its just so beautiful you want to stop and just stay there.

Oh yes! The big rushing penis train going into the tunnel. Oh yes its something special.

In Sweden you become a train driver by applying to an (what we call it here) Profession Highschool. You go through several tests before getting accepted, testing your logical thinking, multitasking and psychological tests. After getting in, which is hard only 1 in 10 pass the tests, you have about 1 year and 3 months of education where half is actually out driving trains with a tutor at one of the train companies in Sweden.

On really long trips I usually listen to music or talk on the phone with one of my coworkers also out working. It keeps you alert during the long shifts, especially during the night. Youll need to find small things to keep yourself busy with, like keeping track of the kilometers. We must look forward at all times reading a book is a big NO-NO

So far only 2 moose. I dont drive far enough north to be in the danger zone to hit reindeer. http://i.imgur.com/LuHmCAK.jpg What was left of the moose after my first hit.