QUICK LINKS

Where is the train

Home Signal The Blower British Rules & Regulations Where is the train

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #165458
    Avatarfivog
    Participant

      If a train is stopped with the driver looking at a red signal is the train train “in front of” or “behind” the signal?

      #165463
      AvatarMike Hodgson
      Participant

        Those terms would not be considered appropriate, the train could be said to be “in rear of” the signal, or the signal  “in advance of” the train.

        Of course when communicating with the signalman he would say he was “at” the signal, giving both the signal number and the train reporting number.  It is important  that it is clear who is calling as a misunderstanding could conceivably result in the driver being given instructions intended for the driver of some other train.

        #165469
        Fast Line FloydFast Line Floyd
        Participant

          Actually these days Approach and beyond would be more likely used.

          #165478
          StevieGStevieG
          Participant

            Over about five decades fivog, on/in differing railways doubtless still having some character of their respective pre-nationalisation practices (not necessarily official), I have heard a few times a train referred to as ‘behind’ a Home signal, on the one hand/area when standing on its approach side, and on the other when a train has been brought completely past the Home signal – the latter for which I’ve also heard referred to as having brought the train ‘inside’ the signal.    Never heard of a train described as ‘in front of’ a signal.

            Partly as others have mentioned, the official terms are nowadays that a train (or certain other items) is either ‘on the approach to’, or ‘beyond’, a signal;  for which the traditional equivalents up to around twenty years ago, were ‘in rear of’ and ‘in advance of’, respectively.

            #165480
            Avatarfivog
            Participant

              Many thanks to those who replied, I will use the recommended approach and beyond terminology.

              #169115
              AvatarIan Short
              Participant

                A little caveat on the subject.  Very early in my career I attended a talk by Mr. W. Egan who, at the time, was chief signalling inspector for the Nottingham Division.  His talk was on engineering operations, and he told a story of an engineers train working in side a major operation in the Derby area.  The driver had called the box and the signalman had asked him, “can you confirm that you are behind signal XX?”.  The driver was happy to give him that confirmation.  The signalman replied, “Thank you.  I want you to stay where you are for the moment.  I have three movements to make through the connections ahead of you, then can you contact me again?”.  The driver agreed to do so but after the first of the movements was back on the phone.  “That train you just had across the front of me – it was only a few inches from my buffers. What’s going on?”  Signalman – “You did say you were behind signal XX?”  Of course, Mr. Egans next qustion to us was obvious if you think about it.  What colour is a semaphore arm if you are “behind” it?  We know what we would normlly term being behind it, but that doesn’t make sense does it?  The terminology isn’t wrong.  The driver and the signalman were both right, but the signalman should have taken more care to ensure that he and the driver were on the same wavelength.

                Ian

                • This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Ian Short.
              Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
              • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

              Home Signal The Blower British Rules & Regulations Where is the train