Promotion to Goods Driver

In terms of provisions of this Ministry’s letter No. E[NG]I-94/PM7/16 Pt.I dated 1.5.96, whenever the Railways are unable to fill in the vacancies of Goods Driver through Shunters in terms of Board’s letters of same number dated 3.8.95 and dated 13.12.1995, Railways may, with the personal approval of General Manager, also consider First Fireman / Diesel/ Elect. Asstts. [including Shunters with less than 3 months service] for filling up the vacancies of Goods Drivers provided they have put in:-

i]    six years service [combined as Second Fireman and First Fireman / Diesel Asst./ Elect. Asstts.].

ii]    two years service as First Fireman / Diesel Asst./ Elect. Asstts; and

iii]   60,000 km. experience on foot-plate as First Fireman / Diesel Asst./ Elect. Asstts.

2.         In view of the fact that the posts of Second Fireman and First Fireman are no longer in existence, some of the Railways  are experiencing difficulties in filling up the posts of Goods Driver as per the conditions stipulated in letter dated 1.5.96.

3.         The matter has, accordingly, been considered by the Board and it has been decided that in the eventuality of non-availability of Shunters, General Managers may consider Diesel/Elect. Assistants { redesignated as Asstt. Loco Pilot [Diesel / Elect.]}  with 2 years service as Diesel Asstt. /Elect. Asstt.  and 60,000 km. experience on foot-plate for selection for promotion to the post of Loco Pilot [ Goods] subject to the following conditions:

i]    Suitability of such Asst. Loco Pilots to work independently as Driver {Loco Pilot [Goods]} shall be personally certified by the Mechanical/Electrical officer [as the case may be], incharge of Power of the Division concerned.

ii]    Such promotee drivers be placed under the supervision of a dedicated Loco Inspector for 5 trips or 500 kms of driving whichever is earlier;

iii]   For sections classified as ‘ghats’,  such promotee drivers may work with a regular driver as ‘co-driver’ for seven days or 1000 kms. whichever is later.

iv]  Provision of hands on training for independent loco driving to Diesel / Electrical Assistants in their induction and refresher courses shall be included in the course content for the promotional trainings.

v]   Training centres should be got equipped with simulators progressively.

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Copy of Board’s letter No. E[NG]I-94/PM7/16  dated 3.8.95 [RBE No. 84/95]

Sub: Promotion of staff in Loco running cadre – relaxation in two years rule – reg.

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            As the Railways are aware, with a view to overcome the difficulties being experienced by the Railways in filling up vacancies of Goods Drivers due to non-availability of Shunters with two years service,  the condition of minimum service of two years in the immediate lower grade for promotion as Goods Driver was relaxed by the Board under their letter No. E[NG]I-84/PM7/43 dated 1.4.87.  Under this letter, First Firemen/Diesel/Electric Assistants in scale Rs. 950-1500 were also made eligible for promotion as Goods Driver in scale Rs.1350-2200, alongwith Shunters in scale Rs.1200-2040, subject to certain conditions.  This dispensation  was extended from time to time and was last valid upto 30.12.94. 

2.         The feed back received from the Railways has revealed that the problem of shortage of eligible employees for promotion as Goods Drivers still continues to be faced by the Railways.  The matter has, therefore, been reviewed by the Board and in modification of the above instructions,  it has been decided that the two years’ service required as shunter for promotion as Goods Driver as per normal rules, may be relaxed, with the personal approval of the G.M. , upto three months, if so warranted in administrative interest.  However, only Shunters shall henceforth be considered for promotion as Goods Driver. 

3.         It has also been decided by the Board that the two years’ service condition may be relaxed by the Railways in other loco running categories as well with the personal approval of the General Manager, whenever such relaxation is found to be inescapable in the interest of administration, subject to the condition of minimum service of one year in the immediate lower grade being enforced.

4.         In either case, if the difficulties are still faced by the Railways, they may refer the matter to the Board for consideration on a case to case basis. 

5.         The above dispensation will be valid for a period of one year w.e.f. the date of issue or the revision of policy, whichever is earlier. 

[This also disposes of S.C. Rly’s reference No. P/529/TP/LRS/Pt.III dt. 27.4.95]

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Copy of Board’s letter No. E[NG]I-94/PM7/16/Pt.I  dated 1.5.96 [RBE No. 40/96]

Sub: Promotion of staff in Loco running cadre – post of Goods Drivers. 

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            Attention is invited to Board’s letter No. E[NG]I-94/PM7/16 dated 3.8.95 laying down that the posts of Goods Drivers in scale Rs.1350-2200 may be filled only by promotion of Shunters in scale Rs.1200-2040/Rs.1350-2200 with at least three months service in the grade and that for such promotion the residency period of two years in the lower grade for promotion to the next higher grade may be relaxed, with the personal approval of G.M. upto three months, if so warranted in administrative interest.  It was subsequently clarified vide Board’s letter No. E[NG]I/94/PM7/16 dated 13.12.95 that the relaxation of the residency period as above would mean that Shunters with 8 months of service or more as such will be eligible for being considered for the post of Goods Driver.

2.         Some of the Railways have brought to the notice of the Board that they are having difficulties in filling up the vacancies of Goods Drivers inspite of relaxation granted under Board’s letter dated 3.8.95 due to very small cadre of Shunters or due to refusal of Shunters for being considered for promotion as Goods Driver. 

2.1       The Board have reviewed the matter and have decided as an interim measure, that whenever the Railways are unable to fill up the vacancies of Goods Drivers in terms of Board’s letters dated 3.8.95 and dated 13.12.95, the Railways may, with the personal approval of their General Manager also consider First Firemen/Diesel/Elect.Assts./ [including Shunters with less than 3 months service  ] for filling up the vacancies of Goods Drivers provided they have put in:

            [i]      six years service [combined as Second Fireman and First Fireman/Diesel Assistant/Electric Assistant];

            [ii]      two years service as First Fireman/Diesel Assistant/Electric Assistant; and

            [iii]     60,000 Kms. experience of foot-plate as First Fireman/Diesel Assistant/              Electric Assistant];

3.         The above dispensation will have prospective effect and will remain valid till further  orders in this regard.