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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > Cumbrian Coast line single line token working

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 02/02/2014 at 14:12 #54842
maxand
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SEE ALSO: single line working, SLW

Quote:
The single line sections of the Cumbrian Coast Line in North West England still see the use of 'Token' working to control train movements bewtween Sellafield and Whitehaven. We see passenger trains and a nuclear flask train at Sellafield and St. Bees exchanging tokens with the signallers in 2011
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjigMiu915U[/video]

Last edited: 03/02/2014 at 01:34 by maxand
Reason: Single line TOKEN working is not the same as SLW, see discussion below

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 02/02/2014 at 14:26 #54843
jc92
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" said:
(cross-ref: single line working)
single line working isn't the same as Token working over single lines. it relates to working a pair of unidirectional double tracks with only one become Bidirectional via a Pilotman.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 02/02/2014 at 15:48 #54846
Stephen Fulcher
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To expand on what Joe has correctly said, there is a distinct difference between a single line worked by a token system, as seen in this video, and single line working, which applies when a line that is not normally bidirectional is worked as a single line in an emergency.

The method shown above is a time-served method of working single lines which has been in operation in the UK since the nineteenth century, and is likely to remain so for many years to come, whereby the driver is not permitted to enter the single line without being in possession of the token or staff. This is a normal method of signalling.

Single-line working is the rule book description for "working" trains in both directions over a uni-directional line, where no facility exists for "wrong-direction" running using the normal signalling system. This is not normal working, and a pilotman will be required to be appointed for it, and in some circumstances points would have to be clipped. It is not as common as it used to be.

Instances such as the Dawlish Sea Wall, where running in the Down direction is permitted over the Up line, are NOT single line working because there is a provision in the signalling system to enable it to happen under normal signalling.

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 02/02/2014 at 23:52 #54870
maxand
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Quote:
(cross-ref: single line working, SLW)
(Added "SLW")

Thanks for amplifying the difference between the two situations. I put the cross-reference there so that anyone searching this forum under "Single line working" or "SLW" would find this thread. If this cross-ref is likely to cause more confusion than not, I will be happy to remove it.

A quick peruse of the Internet reveals "Single line working token system", "Single line operation", "Token railway signalling" (Wikipedia), but no official term similar to SLW. My interpretation as an amateur is that SLW is used as an umbrella term to cover both abnormal working over a bidirectional line, and normal working over a unidirectional line where a token is employed. If I had to be pedantic I must say I haven't encountered "SLT" or "SLTW" but always stand ready to be corrected by those who know.

There is (was) even the tokenless, paper SLW system for normal, single-line operation as explained in the video I posted here.

Sheesh, there are days I feel I can't get anything right!

Last edited: 03/02/2014 at 00:10 by maxand
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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 00:57 #54872
mfcooper
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" said:
My interpretation as an amateur is that SLW is used as an umbrella term to cover both abnormal working over a bidirectional line, and normal working over a unidirectional line where a token is employed.
The only time the term Single Line Working (SLW) is used is:


Quote:
When one line of a double line becomes blocked, single line working by pilotman allows trains to travel over the other line in either direction.
(Quoted from the UK Rule Book Module P1 link (pdf))

This would usually be implemented during extensive failures and planned engineering works. The Pilotman pretends to be a token (Person-In-Lieu-Of-Token/PILOT) for this temporary method of working.

A single line that uses a token or a bidirectionally signalled line in normal operation are *not* using SLW. In a failure situation, these may be worked in a similar way to SLW, but the official terminology from the UK Rule Book is "Working single and bi-directional lines by pilotman". (See associated UK Rule Book Module P2: link (pdf))

Last edited: 03/02/2014 at 01:10 by mfcooper
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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 01:31 #54875
maxand
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Quote:
"Working single and bi-directional lines by pilotman"
Wow, what a mouthful.

Okay, I yield and will modify the cross-reference accordingly.

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 02:25 #54879
Danny252
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" said:
The Pilotman pretends to be a token (Person-In-Lieu-Of-Token/PILOT)
That sounds like quite an impressive backronym!

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 08:09 #54880
Forest Pines
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I am convinced that must be a backronym!

For further potential confusion, you can also have pilotman working on single lines, if there is an equipment failure or if the block section is partially obstructed. In that case - as I understand it - it would just be referred to as "pilotman working".

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 21:24 #54951
Josie
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I've been assured that 'person in lieu of token' is indeed a backronym in the past, although I don't have a solid reference handy at the moment.

'Pilot' is originally a nautical term, referring to someone highly qualified in safe routes through dangerous waters (e.g. in and out of harbours or busy shipping channels). Where used, a pilot takes charge of the ship through the area they're working in, and is then picked up by a pilot boat and taken back to shore (or vice versa) - not unlike a railway pilotman who supervises the movement of the train through their area of control, and I believe this is where the railway usage comes from.

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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 03/02/2014 at 21:44 #54952
Forest Pines
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There's also the term "pilot loco" for a loco assisting at the front of a train.
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Cumbrian Coast line single line token working 04/02/2014 at 04:09 #54977
Danny252
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" said:
For further potential confusion, you can also have pilotman working on single lines, if there is an equipment failure or if the block section is partially obstructed. In that case - as I understand it - it would just be referred to as "pilotman working".
Although there are cases where you can enter an obstructed section on a token - even better, you can have it so that two trains enter the section, one with a token, and the other with a pilotman!

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The following user said thank you: Forest Pines