# Secondman

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Secondman
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Secondman.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondman
> Source revision: 1342660775
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with Great Britain and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (September 2025) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 1,983 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing German Wikipedia article at [[:de:Triebfahrzeugbegleiter]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|de|Triebfahrzeugbegleiter}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Ukrainian. (September 2025) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 329 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Ukrainian Wikipedia article at [[:uk:Помічник машиніста локомотива]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|uk|Помічник машиніста локомотива}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Secondman Occupation Synonyms Driver's assistant Occupation type Engine occupation Activity sectors Rail transport Description Competencies Assisting train driver Related jobs Train driver, fireman

A **secondman** or **driver's assistant** [1][2] is a railway employee who assists the [driver](/source/Railroad_engineer) of a train.

## Background

Historically, due to the pervasive use of steam traction, locomotives were always crewed by at least two people: a driver and a fireman. The driver handled the driving controls, whereas the fireman was responsible for tending to the fire and ensuring that the appropriate boiler pressure was maintained.[3]

Drivers were only recruited internally from railway staff. A person wishing to become a driver would begin as an engine cleaner, progressing to become a fireman after a few years. As a fireman, they would begin to learn the duties of the driver, and on passing the relevant tests and examinations become a driver themselves.[4]

## Diesel and electric traction

Diesel and electric traction, which lacked a fire and a boiler requiring constant maintenance, made the job of a fireman obsolete. However, there were still many duties to be performed with [diesel](/source/Diesel_locomotive) and [electric](/source/Electric_locomotive) traction that the driver could not do by themselves, such as preparation of locomotives, operation of [train heating systems](/source/Steam_generator_(railroad)), shunting duties, and many others. This role was filled by the secondman.

Even when the role of secondman was being phased out, all trains travelling at speeds of over 100mph were required to have a second, fully-qualified driver in the cab. The purpose of the second driver was to provide a lookout for signals and ensure that the main driver had responded to the signals correctly, in absence of other safety systems such as [Automatic Train Protection](/source/Automatic_Train_Protection_(United_Kingdom)) or [Train Protection and Warning System](/source/Train_Protection_%26_Warning_System).[5] In 1988 the requirement was relaxed slightly to allow services to operate at speeds of up to 110mph with only one driver.[6][7]

The Traincrew Agreement of 1988 scrapped the concept of a secondman and replaced it with the role of "Trainman (Driver)". The purpose of this specific role was to be present on trains where the presence of a second person in the cab was required but it was not necessary to have two fully qualified drivers. The role of trainman was more versatile than that of secondman, as trainmen could be trained in guarding duties, allowing one person to act as a secondman on one service and a guard on another service, within the same duty.[8]

The Traincrew Agreement also re-structured the railways so that secondmen were not required on the vast majority of trains. Certain trains were still required to have a trainman present in the cab in addition to the driver:[9]

- Light locomotives on journeys exceeding 10 miles in length where said locomotive was not fitted with a [driver safety device](/source/Dead_man's_switch)

- [High Speed Train](/source/InterCity_125) power cars working light engine

- [Class 20 locomotives](/source/British_Rail_Class_20) working bonnet first

- Other train movements as determined by a Regional Manning Committee

In September 1996 the requirement for double manning was ended entirely.[10]

## Modern use

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Secondman" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

With increasing automation of [rolling stock](/source/Rolling_stock), many trains today only require the operation of a single driver, and thus this post has started to disappear. However, it remains in many places, especially on heavy freight, express routes and night trains. Trainee drivers (often known as *traction trainees*) may also act as secondmen in order to learn routes and operating methods.

Certain railway lines in the UK (for example, the [East Suffolk Line](/source/East_Suffolk_Line)) are not approved for [driver-only operation](/source/Driver-only_operation). Passenger trains will usually have a driver and a [guard](/source/Conductor_(rail)#Train_guard_(United_Kingdom,_Australia,_and_New_Zealand)), but empty stock movements would require a secondperson (usually a second qualified driver) or a [guard](/source/Conductor_(rail)#Train_guard_(United_Kingdom,_Australia,_and_New_Zealand)) to accompany the driver.

On [heritage railways](/source/Heritage_railway), where the older types of locomotives are still in use, the position of second man is still an important role filled by volunteers, and usually part of the training to become a driver.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["RoSPA articles ... Holden verses Connex South Eastern ... Introducing ASLEF's role ..."](http://csenews.net/rospajune2002.html) *csenews.net*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250513234543/http://csenews.net/rospajune2002.html) from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Train Operations Page"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060701140123/http://www.railway-technical.com/tr-ops.html#Crew-names). *www.railway-technical.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.railway-technical.com/tr-ops.html#Crew-names) on 2006-07-01. Retrieved 2025-10-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Allo, Jon (2022-03-11). ["A Day in the Life of a Fireman"](https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/2022/03/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-fireman/). *Isle of Wight Steam Railway*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250711015827/https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/2022/03/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-fireman/) from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Oliver, Bobbie (January 2009). ["ASLEF and the Locomotive Engine Drivers', Firemen's And Cleaners' Union of Western Australia – Some Comparisons And Contrasts In Their Early Development"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340599152). *Conference: Research Workshop, Institute of Railway Studies and Transport History*: 7 – via ResearchGate.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Hall, Stanley (1992). *Railway Disasters: Cause and Effect*. The Promotional Reprint Company Limited. p. 18. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1856480496](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1856480496).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Traincrew Agreement 1988: Final Draft.* Part One - Agreement, para. 51. [British Rail](/source/British_Rail). May 1988. *"The High Speed Train Manning Agreement will be revised to the effect that current references to 100mph be replaced by 110mph"*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Traincrew Agreement 1988: Final Draft.* Part Two - Appendices; Appendix I, Section D. [British Rail](/source/British_Rail). May 1988. *"Trains scheduled to run at speeds in excess of 110mph will be manned with two Drivers (both with relevant traction and route knowledge)..."*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Traincrew Agreement 1988: Final Draft.* Part One - Agreement, para. 5. [British Rail](/source/British_Rail). May 1988. *"Train(wo)man (Driver)*. On all trains where the traction manning arrangements require the presence of a second traincrew member accompanying the driver (other than trains scheduled for two drivers). Also, where required and when qualified to act as a Driver under the higher grade duty arrangements; Train(wo)men will be designated as Relief Driver... *NOTE: The grade of Train(wo)man whilst being in each of the parallel lines is a fully versatile grade. The occupant of the post whether designated Train(wo)man (Driver) or Train(wo)man (Guard) will perform the duties of the other grade provided training in that role has been received... This will mean such staff working diagrams that would contain a mixture of former Driver's Assistant and Guard's roles..."*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** *Traincrew Agreement 1988: Final Draft.* Part Two - Appendices; Appendix I, Section B. [British Rail](/source/British_Rail). May 1988.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_10-0)** Uff, John (2000). [*The Southall Rail Accident Inquiry Report*](https://www.jesip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Southall-Rail-Crash.pdf) (PDF). [Her Majesty's Stationery Office](/source/The_Stationery_Office). pp. 58–60. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0717617572](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0717617572). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250119035348/https://www.jesip.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Southall-Rail-Crash.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2025.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Secondman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.