Page 1 of 1
| Crew changes 15/11/2020 at 11:37 #133879 | |
postal
5265 posts |
I've been musing about the real life process at crew changes and whether it will have an impact on the length of time to allow for a crew change in a SimSig TT. The Rule Book (GERT8000-TW1) says in 14.2 that driver, guard or train preparer must must make sure there is a tail lamp that is lit at the rear of the train when it is: • on a running line • on a through or reception siding • being propelled in the right direction. As a first question, when there is a physical hand over from one driver to another, is it acceptable that the first driver confirms to the second driver that when he last checked there was a lit tail lamp on the consist? Moving on from that, if that verbal assurance is not acceptable or if the train has stood for a long layover so the incoming driver has already left, is the new driver mandated to go to the rear of the train to check the tail lamp? For some freight services in particular that could be a walk of several hundred metres possibly in both directions which could take 15 minutes or more for the longest trains (so not an enjoyable task in bad weather). “In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe Last edited: 15/11/2020 at 11:46 by postal Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| Crew changes 15/11/2020 at 12:07 #133881 | |
JamesN
1608 posts 
|
Yes, it is acceptable for it to be verbally confirmed on handover.
Log in to reply The following user said thank you: postal |
| Crew changes 15/11/2020 at 12:44 #133882 | |
|
Late Turn
699 posts |
In many cases, where crew relief takes place on a running line, going back to check for a tail lamp would require line blockages to be taken just to get there safely - it really wouldn’t be practical!
Log in to reply The following user said thank you: postal |
| Crew changes 15/11/2020 at 16:14 #133886 | |
jc92
3687 posts |
What if there is no verbal handover? I know I've seen the odd occasion at Doncaster where a northbound freight has arrived, the incoming driver has left and the outgoing driver has arrived separately. Can the outgoing driver assume that the train has been prepared correctly at its origin and take it out? "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Crew changes 16/11/2020 at 18:56 #133916 | |
KymriskaDraken
963 posts |
Late Turn in post 133882 said:In many cases, where crew relief takes place on a running line, going back to check for a tail lamp would require line blockages to be taken just to get there safely - it really wouldn’t be practical!And it would be a hell of a hike if the train is 500+ metres long. Kev Log in to reply |
| Crew changes 16/11/2020 at 19:58 #133919 | |
|
postal
5265 posts |
KymriskaDraken in post 133916 said:Late Turn in post 133882 said:I guess that running line crew changes would be a 2 minute stop and the signaller wouldn't let it happen until (s)he knew the relief was available. But off the running line, does the driver have to do the hike if there has been no handover?In many cases, where crew relief takes place on a running line, going back to check for a tail lamp would require line blockages to be taken just to get there safely - it really wouldn’t be practical!And it would be a hell of a hike if the train is 500+ metres long. “In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe Log in to reply |
| Crew changes 16/11/2020 at 21:34 #133920 | |
|
Late Turn
699 posts |
postal in post 133919 said:KymriskaDraken in post 133916 said:Late Turn in post 133882 said:I guess that running line crew changes would be a 2 minute stop and the signaller wouldn't let it happen until (s)he knew the relief was available. But off the running line, does the driver have to do the hike if there has been no handover?In many cases, where crew relief takes place on a running line, going back to check for a tail lamp would require line blockages to be taken just to get there safely - it really wouldn’t be practical!And it would be a hell of a hike if the train is 500+ metres long. I can't speak for freight drivers, but we're certainly expected to go and check for ourselves at our (passenger) place. It's a fair assumption that it's got tail lights if you've seen it come in and directly relieved the inward driver, but other than that, you can't really rely on the previous driver leaving them set right. One example, and I'm pretty sure that it's not purely hypothetical (!), is where there's been a last-minute set swap on what should've been a through service with crew relief - the inward driver leaves whites on the front ready for the next driver then rapidly leaves the premises, unaware that the train's going to form a service back in the opposite direction. Obviously that sort of scenario isn't really applicable in the world of long freight trains though! Log in to reply The following user said thank you: postal |
| Crew changes 16/11/2020 at 22:41 #133923 | |
Steamer
3985 posts |
On a related note, FOCs have rules over how long a rake of wagons can be left before it's necessary to do a full brake continuity test on picking them up- there was a fair bit of discussion about it on another Forum following the publication of the RAIB report into the double SPAD/runaway near Wakefield.
"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: 16/11/2020 at 22:42 by Steamer Reason: None given Log in to reply |