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Meet Jack Baldwin

Rail Engineering Technician

Jack is a Reliability Technician at West Midlands Trains

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What I do

I’m a Reliability Technician at West Midlands Trains. That means I fix and maintain trains to keep them running safely and on time. When something goes wrong, I’m the one who investigates and repairs the fault, so the train can get back into service.

I sort all sorts of issues, from brakes, to changing engine oil, to electrical faults. My job helps people get where they need to go, because trains can only keep moving if someone sorts out any problems they may have.

Jack, wearing overalls, gloves, safety goggles and a hard hat, standing in a service pit underneath a train, doing maintenance on its undercarriage.

How I became a technician

I’ve always loved trains, I was even a bit of a trainspotter when I was younger. I grew up next to a train line, watched Thomas the Tank Engine as a kid and my grandad took me to the local steam railway.

When I was 12, I started volunteering at a heritage railway near me, and I’ve been involved ever since.

How I became a technician

At school, I was lucky enough to take engineering as a GCSE. I also did media, history and geography. I didn’t get great results, but I kept going.

After school, I went to college to study vehicle maintenance, where I learnt all the essential skills needed to tune, maintain and repair cars. I also re-took my English GCSE alongside the course and was pleased to pass it with a much better grade.

How I became a technician

I knew I wanted to work in the rail industry, so I started applying for apprenticeships with West Midlands Trains.

I eventually got onto a Level 3 rail engineering apprenticeship, which I started when I was 17. The apprenticeship involved a year at college alongside working.

How I became a technician

I worked hard on my apprenticeship. I asked a lot of questions and took every chance to try something new. That made a big difference.

I moved up quickly and, after about three or four months, I was put on a special placement to try out reliability work, and I ended up getting the job permanently. I’ve now been at West Midlands Trains for over five years.

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A typical day in my working life

My shifts are 12-hours long, and I can work either days or nights. I do seven day shifts and seven night shifts every month, so I only work for 14 days a month which is great.

When I arrive, I put on my overalls and boots, then we have a team meeting to find out which train we’re working on and what needs doing.

A typical day in my working life

Some jobs are regular checks and tests, we call them ‘exams’, where we make sure everything on the trains is safe and working properly.

Other times, we’re fixing faults, like replacing a broken starter motor, or solving an electrical issue, so that the train can go back into service.

A typical day in my working life

Sometimes trains pull into the sidings (that’s where they park overnight) and they need a fast repair while they’re being cleaned and refuelled, before they go back out into service.

You never really know what you’re going to get, which keeps the job interesting.

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Jack, wearing overalls, gloves, safety goggles and a hard hat, kneeling beside a train, replacing a filter.

What I love about my job

The best part is that every day is different. I never know what I’ll be working on when I wake up, so it’s never boring or repetitive. I enjoy having to think on my feet and use my initiative to solve problems. I like that I’m always learning and that there’s always something new to figure out.

Even when the jobs are tough or the deadlines are tight, I like the challenge of getting a train back into service safely and on time.

The skills I use most

Problem solving is the skill I use the most. A lot of my work involves finding faults and working out how to fix them, especially with electrics. You also need to be able to work independently and use your initiative, especially when you’re out on your own doing repairs.

Teamwork is important too, and having a positive attitude helps a lot. If you’re respectful and friendly, people are more likely to help you. I’ve learnt loads from the more experienced technicians just by being curious and getting stuck in.

I never know what I’ll be working on when I wake up, so it’s never boring or repetitive.
I like that I’m always learning and that there’s always something new to figure out.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

In my depot, there are about 16 technicians in each team and three reliability technicians per shift. A lot of the time we work in pairs, but sometimes we’re on our own if two trains break down at once. What’s great is that everyone helps each other.

The more experienced team members have so much knowledge, and they’re always willing to share if you’re friendly and keen to learn. It’s a mix of team working and lone working, but either way you feel supported. It makes the job a lot easier and a lot more fun.

My favourite piece of equipment

My favourite bit of kit is my multimeter. It’s an electrical testing tool that shows things like voltage, current and resistance. I use it a lot when I’m fault finding. It gives me the answers I need when something’s not working properly. If you’re working with electrics, it’s one of the handiest tools to have in your bag.

What I like to do in my spare time

I love travelling. Because of the way my shifts work, I get nine days off every month in a row, so I’ve got lots of time to get away. This year I’ve been to places like Portugal, Tenerife, Ibiza, Germany, Greece and Belgium.

When I was younger, I played table tennis and did lots of photography, and I still volunteer at the heritage railway where I’ve worked since I was 12.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

I’ve won a couple of awards, including Apprentice of the Year at my company, which meant a lot to me.

Outside work, I help lead a project at the Severn Valley Railway where we’re converting an old diesel train to run on hydrogen power. I’ve been working on it for over four years. It’s a great way to learn about project management and sustainability, and it looks brilliant on my CV.

A surprising fact about my job

People often think I’m always out on the tracks fixing trains, but most of our work is done in the depot. We only get called out if a train breaks down during the day and can’t make it back. That doesn’t happen very often, only about once a month. Most of the time, the trains come to us.

The next steps in my career journey

I’ve finished my apprenticeship and now work full time. Next, I’m hoping to do a Level 4 Higher National Certificate in engineering, to help me progress further in my job.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Don’t stress too much about your future. Keep trying to do your best and things will fall into place. Whatever you choose to do, ask questions and take every chance to learn. Make the most of your opportunities – putting in effort makes a massive difference later on.

Jack, wearing overalls, gloves, safety goggles and a hard hat, using a multimeter to test an electrical system.

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