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Failing Shunt Signals

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > Failing Shunt Signals

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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:31 #82970
LMK
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133 posts
I'm pretty sure shunt signals occasionally fail in real life, so would it be possible to add failing shunt signals to SimSig?
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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:43 #82971
headshot119
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4869 posts
They do fail in SimSig.
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:44 #82972
AndyG
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1842 posts
Shunt signals do fail in SimSig, as per another other signal...BUT...generally the (failed) lamp aspect is not repeated back to the panel indication.

When this happens on a route with running shunts, if the running shunt fails then the signal in rear (ie main aspect) won't clear as the running shunt is unlit.

Edit: had one the other night on Bristol with 2 running shunts on one route, took a couple of trains through to identify which one was dead.

I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either.
Last edited: 09/06/2016 at 20:46 by AndyG
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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:47 #82973
Stephen Fulcher
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2078 posts
Most shunt signals are not "lamp-proved" back to the panel. This is not always the case.

If a signal fails, the first the signalman will know about it is when a driver phones up to complain. If the signal fails to clear, then this will generally be known, but if it goes out then the panel will not show it.

Certainly on Western Region E10k panels, the vast majority of ground signal indications are provided purely by the position of the aspect control relay. If the interlocking has "commanded" the signal to clear it will show GREEN on the panel, if not it will show RED. If the signal goes out then the green or red indication will remain on the panel.

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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:48 #82974
Steamer
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3984 posts
Shunt signals don't have an 'unlit' indication like main signals do, they're just shown as remaining on red. EDIT TO ADD: This is as far as SimSig is concerned, real installations may vary.
"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 09/06/2016 at 22:25 by Steamer
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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 20:50 #82975
Stephen Fulcher
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2078 posts
I probably should add that the panel lamp can, and does, fail!
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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 21:26 #82976
Ron_J
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331 posts
" said:
Shunt signals don't have an 'unlit' indication like main signals do, they're just shown as remaining on red.

Scottish Region Geographical Interlocking has the panel indication go blank if a shunt signal aspect is unlit. Seen it many times!

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Failing Shunt Signals 09/06/2016 at 22:25 #82977
Steamer
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3984 posts
" said:
" said:
Shunt signals don't have an 'unlit' indication like main signals do, they're just shown as remaining on red.

Scottish Region Geographical Interlocking has the panel indication go blank if a shunt signal aspect is unlit. Seen it many times!
Sorry, I should've said- my statement refers only to SimSig, I don't know about real boxes. Original post edited.

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Failing Shunt Signals 11/06/2016 at 15:20 #82995
Firefly
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521 posts
Quote:
Scottish Region Geographical Interlocking has the panel indication go blank if a shunt signal aspect is unlit. Seen it many times!
It's certainly not the norm, but as we've seen many times there are alway exceptions.

As for when shunts are lamp proved on standard BR free wired interlockings it's for pre-set shunts and Limit of Shunts.

For running shunts (facing shunt, pre-set shunts whatever you wish to call them) only the white OFF lamp is lamp proved. This is to prove that the shunt signal is showing proceed before you allow the main signal to clear.

The limit of shunts are lamp proved because the risks associated with a train missing an unlit signal are more significant.

These days it's very easy to lamp prove signals on electronic interlockings so it's often done.

FF

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Failing Shunt Signals 13/06/2016 at 14:04 #83025
Jersey_Mike
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250 posts
" said:

These days it's very easy to lamp prove signals on electronic interlockings so it's often done.

FF
You know what's easier? A line in the rulebook that instructs the driver to treat any dark or improperly displayed signal as if it were displaying its most restrictive indication. Boom, problem solved. B)

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Failing Shunt Signals 13/06/2016 at 14:10 #83026
Jamesh1492
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23 posts
And the rule book does have something like that!! plus the driver would stop to any signalling issue!
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Failing Shunt Signals 13/06/2016 at 14:28 #83027
Firefly
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521 posts
Quote:
You know what's easier? A line in the rulebook that instructs the driver to treat any dark or improperly displayed signal as if it were displaying its most restrictive indication. Boom, problem solved. B)
Which is the case, always has been to my knowledge. The reason that running shunts are lamp proved in the off state is because a train can approach them at 125mph and if they were dark the driver should treat it as red and do an emergency stop!!

All other shunts would be approach at shunting speeds so no major issue treating it as danger and stopping to speak to the signaller.

The beauty of having the signal lamp proved is that the signaller may notice the problem earlier and call the technicians out.

FF

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Failing Shunt Signals 14/06/2016 at 16:43 #83062
Stephen Fulcher
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2078 posts
" said:
" said:

These days it's very easy to lamp prove signals on electronic interlockings so it's often done.

FF
You know what's easier? A line in the rulebook that instructs the driver to treat any dark or improperly displayed signal as if it were displaying its most restrictive indication. Boom, problem solved. B)
Fine as long as the driver sees the black signal and reacts to it, not always that easy in pitch black nights.

" said:
Shunt signals don't have an 'unlit' indication like main signals do, they're just shown as remaining on red.
Unless they are out when they are supposed to be OFF, in which case they will often show clear on the panel, certainly do in WR E10k interlockings.

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