2011 Newcomer

[Maymoon]

Hi all, I have just started work at Serco Docklands as an Assistant Project Engineer within Signalling. It is a completely new area for me and I am looking to start working towards the exams for 2011. I completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering and have worked in the Rail industry for 2.5years but in project management. I would appreciate it if I can get some pointers from anyone as to what would be the first steps in terms of physical studying. I've done my background reading on this forum and have read the introductory threads. I am in the process of applying for membership and once the exam registration is up on teh website I will be completing that also. Additionally, I will be attending the YM AGM on 20th Jan to help me get started. In the meantime, has anyone got info on the following?

Is it ambitious to undertake 2 modules per year bearing in mind I have to learn from first principles(I am quite worried...)? I'm not quite sure whether these exams are designed for people coming from backgrounds other than signalling and therefore the level of difficulty will be higher for me?

I have not seen any set information regarding study groups in London for 2011, anyone know where they may be held?

Can I get hold of the textbooks/technical papers etc at the IRSE Library and if neccessary purchase the listed textbooks? I am also particularly interested in the "green booklets" and technical papers. Atleast then I have all the material and can get started on studying.

Do I get access to past papers when I have completed an exam registration including model answers? I have already got a copy of the 2010 papers.

Are there any tutorials held anywhere alongside the study groups to aid with your independant learning?

I have alot of questions in mind but do not want to bombard you with all sorts right now! I want to make sure I understand what I am letting myself in for so I can prepare well and remain commited and focussed.

Many Thanks

[Peter]

Hi all, I have just started work at Serco Docklands as an Assistant Project Engineer within Signalling. It is a completely new area for me and I am looking to start working towards the exams for 2011. I completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering and have worked in the Rail industry for 2.5years but in project management. I would appreciate it if I can get some pointers from anyone as to what would be the first steps in terms of physical studying. I've done my background reading on this forum and have read the introductory threads. I am in the process of applying for membership and once the exam registration is up on teh website I will be completing that also. Additionally, I will be attending the YM AGM on 20th Jan to help me get started. In the meantime, has anyone got info on the following?

Is it ambitious to undertake 2 modules per year bearing in mind I have to learn from first principles(I am quite worried...)? I'm not quite sure whether these exams are designed for people coming from backgrounds other than signalling and therefore the level of difficulty will be higher for me?

If you are talking about learning right from scratch, to do so for any two modules in a year might be tight. A lot of the exam is not just about mechanical application, you need to be able to spot the subtle bits and deal with those. Doing 20 auto signal Control Tables will not get you many marks, but doing one swinging overlap well would be good. See the comment on when to do M1

I have not seen any set information regarding study groups in London for 2011, anyone know where they may be held?

There will be an update to the link on the IRSE website and the hopefully, those working with the London group will update the section on this site.

Can I get hold of the textbooks/technical papers etc at the IRSE Library and if neccessary purchase the listed textbooks? I am also particularly interested in the "green booklets" and technical papers. Atleast then I have all the material and can get started on studying.

I have to say I am not sure that the IRSE has a library. Technical papers should be available from the IRSE Proceedings but I am not sure what the availability of these is for years gone by. Find a colleague with the old ones in a dusty cupboard. The Green Books are available from IRSE but sort out your membership first as members get them cheaper.

Do I get access to past papers when I have completed an exam registration including model answers? I have already got a copy of the 2010 papers.

Past papers are usually on the study pack disk for the relevant module that you get when you register, although sometimes they seem a bit slow coming out. Previous candidates were allowed to have copies of the papers they sat so if you know someone who has taken modules in previous years, they may have them. If you have a request for a particular year's paper, you can put a request on here and someone may be able to share it with you. Model answers are not issued as a matter of course. Some do exist from a variety of sources but these are probably not endorsed by the examiners.

Are there any tutorials held anywhere alongside the study groups to aid with your independant learning?

Only the study groups. This forum was set up for those who cannot get to a fixed group and works on the basis of people giving feedback on attempted answers or comments on particular points rather than being here to carry out teaching.

I have alot of questions in mind but do not want to bombard you with all sorts right now! I want to make sure I understand what I am letting myself in for so I can prepare well and remain commited and focussed.

Many Thanks

I note you are intending to attend on Thursday so that will be a good place to clear up some of your queries.

Peter

[PJW]

Hi all, I have just started work at Serco Docklands as an Assistant Project Engineer within Signalling.

Given the size of th organisation, Serco Docklands has been pretty well represented for people doing the exam (many of whom had had an NR background previously) and attending events so you might well be able to get some help and advice from such individuals.

I've done my background reading on this forum and have read the introductory threads....... Additionally, I will be attending the YM AGM on 20th Jan to help me get started. In the meantime, has anyone got info on the following?

Sounds as if you've made a sensible start already.
Do download the question papers from IRSE's webbsite to look at before and have as reference on the day.
Use the opporunity of networking in the various breakes to try to make contact with others in London with whom you may be able to arrange to study.

Is it ambitious to undertake 2 modules per year bearing in mind I have to learn from first principles(I am quite worried...)? I'm not quite sure whether these exams are designed for people coming from backgrounds other than signalling and therefore the level of difficulty will be higher for me?

Project Management experience, even if it were completely non railway, should help a bit in module 1 and module 7. However you still need the "railway domain knowledge" and since DLR is somewhat special, then choice of questions specifically applicable to that might be a bit limiting, so a deliberate widening of knowledge to include a little of other railways would also be useful- for compare and contrast if nothing else.
Two modules is sensible I feel- it may be with your experience that mod 1 and 7 could form a useful pair. There's quite a bit of overlap; a lot of people fail mod1 whereas mod7 generally has much higher pass rate. Suggest therefore you go for both and if you pass mod7 but fail mod1 then don't be too surprised, but probably better than just attempting mod 7.

I have not seen any set information regarding study groups in London for 2011, anyone know where they may be held?

Neither have I- basically it needs a group of people to form for mutual benefit and an employer willing to permit the use of a meeting room at the end of the day. Use the YM AGM / Exam Review and this Forum to try to get one started. There were groups at Euston and Holborn in 2010 which may well be continuing; I don't know about the Croydon group but since it was Peter Scott who was the main driver who has sadly now died I doubt that it will meet unless someone reinvigorates; however all these groups really are best run by the YM students themselves.

Can I get hold of the textbooks/technical papers etc at the IRSE Library and if neccessary purchase the listed textbooks? I am also particularly interested in the "green booklets" and technical papers. Atleast then I have all the material and can get started on studying.

The IRSE library is a sorry story; we lost much of it at the time of the divorce from IET. However I believe that it has been reconstituted to some extent; not sure what the arrangements are so suggest contact IRSE and asking. Certainly text books are available for sale from IRSE, including the new one on ERTMS. The old Green books have been republished in groups of 4 and can similarly be bought- you can quite often find originals on sale on EBay as the old generation of signal engineers downsize their homes or pass away.

Do I get access to past papers when I have completed an exam registration including model answers? I have already got a copy of the 2010 papers.

Yes I think that at least the last 5 years are included on the Study DVD, due for publication in April I think. Unfortunately we are not allowed to place all the old papers on this website, but I tend to take a more relaxed view of making copies available to a particular individual as a one-off; make yourself known to me at the event or in the pub afterwards.

Are there any tutorials held anywhere alongside the study groups to aid with your independant learning?

The format of Study Groups varies, but yes some can include tutorials. We do try to run some weekend YM exam events every year and these also can include such. Details not finalised for 2011 (but latest info will be presented on Thursday); it is actually easier to get individual volunteers to help than it is to get companies to make premises available / sponsor the event by providing lunch etc.

[quote]
I have a lot of questions in mind but do not want to bombard you with all sorts right now! I want to make sure I understand what I am letting myself in for so I can prepare well and remain commited and focussed.
/quote]

Indeed; come to listen and ask questions at the event, use the networking time wisely and if possible come and chat over a beer afterwards.