Hull Trains left King's Cross with 'do not move' sign attached

[jon0844]

This morning, while standing at Finsbury Park, a Hull Trains 180 came through at 0952 (making this the 0948 service from KGX) with the 'do not move' sign attached to the London-end cab.

Now it was on the right hand side if looking at the train from the London/platform end (the 'east' side), so I was wondering what would happen if the train was on a curve and passed another one. Surely that could be quite dangerous, or at the very least to some damage to a passing train? Would there be enough clearance?

And what if it came off while flying through a station?

I should have reported it to the staff at Finsbury Park, but wasn't sure how to explain it - or if they'd be interested in the slightest. Then I realised that I wouldn't have a clue who to call who might have been able to do something.

 

[yorkie]

I would have reported it. Not necessarily just for the dangers the sign itself could cause (I have no idea how well attached they are or what they are made of) but because if that sign is attached to the train, it is done for a reason.

Agreed the staff may not be interested, but if anything happened and the staff took no action, the RAIB would certainly be interested.

Anyway I suspect someone did report it at Finsbury Park as I notice it was delayed by 14 mins in the Alexandra Palace area.

 

[YorkshireRider]

This is a pretty big cock up, because hull trains are self dispatch the guard could be in a bit of bother. I dont think there will be a problem with clearance but it could defo fly off, hopefully a staffed signal box will have noticed it on route. Although the board is usually there just while the train is re-tanked with water it can in some cases be there if there is a fitter working underneath the train.

 

[DarloRich]

This is a pretty big cock up, because hull trains are self dispatch the guard could be in a bit of bother. I dont think there will be a problem with clearance but it could defo fly off, hopefully a staffed signal box will have noticed it on route. Although the board is usually there just while the train is re-tanked with water it can in some cases be there if there is a fitter working underneath the train.

yes but it might also indicate something important is broken! VERY silly! Serious cock up - at the very basic level it could have flown off and hurt someone or danaged infrastructure or another train

 

[BOSCH]

The person that puts the board on works for ISS who also clean the trains and is the only one that can remove it AFAIK,however,the guard should also have checked this pre-departure that it was no longer attatched !

 

[tempests1]

The person that puts the board on works for ISS who also clean the trains and is the only one that can remove it AFAIK,however,the guard should also have checked this pre-departure that it was no longer attatched !

Drugs & Alcohol Screen, & a bit of time off!

 

[Hydro]

The fact the train was in service with the sign attached is of more concern, in my opinion. A "NOT TO BE MOVED" notice is attached for various reasons (can also be a red light or flag). At a station, it's normally while the train is tanked or cleaned, to prevent the train moving with hoses attached, or with platform/maintenance staff on board. Normally everyone carrying out a duty hangs a padlocked tag on the "NOT TO BE MOVED" board to keep tally of who's working at that time. The train cannot move whilst that board is attached and the board cannot be removed if there are tags on it.

The boards can also be attached in conjunction with track work. A track blockage can be taken that is called a T2-A, which involves dropping and maintaining the track circuit to "occupied" using a special device. If a train is already stabled on that circuit, then the train can be used as the device to maintain the track circuit under special arrangements provided that "NOT TO BE MOVED" boards are in place to prevent the train a) moving out of the track circuit, and b) to avoid it moving towards the track workers.

It's of concern that the train was despatched whilst the board was still attached. It could mean that a member of cleaning staff just got an unexpected journey, but it could potentially mean that the method of protection for track workers working in a safe green zone could have been removed without them knowing it.