Was there anything like the "smashboard" in the UK?

[Egg Centric]

The smashboard - which I've just learned about 30 seconds ago so am hardly an expert in - was a signalling concept in the US where in certain circumstances semaphore signals would place a board in front of the train, thus if you SPAD'd you'd smash through it which would hopefully alert you to your SPADding (if you weren't aware) - and also prove that you'd gone through the aspect to the investigators.

Was there ever anything like this in the UK? I suppose gate level crossings and fusible plugs in steam locos are both a bit like it in certain ways but definitely not the same.

 

[Rescars]

Rather less dramatic, but tripcocks should prevent a SPAD. IIRC the NER tried them in the 1900s. Are there still some on the London Underground? There were also detonator placers in signal boxes as the attention grabber of last resort. The ultimate stopper of runaways are trap points, but they only come into play once the train has passed the point of no return!

 

[Egg Centric]

Much of the London Underground still works on trip cocks yes. I ain't gonna tally it all up in my head but I'd guess more than half still. Certainly more than a quarter and less than three quarters (by track mileage)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

Actually now I've thought a bit more it's probably less than half.

 

[Taunton]

Automatic detonator placers, worked in conjunction with the Stop signal, are not dissimilar. The LMS put them in at various points with the Wirral electrification in 1938, particularly at IBS signals which were not under direct oversight of the signalman, and they were used in a few other places elsewhere. Apart from their action, they left the evidence they had gone off.

 

[Railsigns]

Rather less dramatic, but tripcocks should prevent a SPAD. IIRC the NER tried them in the 1900s. Are there still some on the London Underground?

A few lines on the main railways are still fitted with trainstops; details on this linked page.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Rather less dramatic, but tripcocks should prevent a SPAD. IIRC the NER tried them in the 1900s. Are there still some on the London Underground? There were also detonator placers in signal boxes as the attention grabber of last resort. The ultimate stopper of runaways are trap points, but they only come into play once the train has passed the point of no return!

Being pedantic, tripcocks don't prevent a SPaD, they bring the train to a stand if it has a SPaD

 

[John Webb]

As an alternative to trap points in sidings 'Scotch Blocks' could be used, either applied by hand or worked remotely. These were substantial chunks of timber typically 10 inches by 10inches (250mm by 250mm) in cross-section and 5feet (1.5m) long, pivoted outside one running rail and could be swung across that rail against an equally substantial stop attached to the sleepers. Suitable only for where space was limited and speed low.

 

[edwin_m]

As an alternative to trap points in sidings 'Scotch Blocks' could be used, either applied by hand or worked remotely. These were substantial chunks of timber typically 10 inches by 10inches (250mm by 250mm) in cross-section and 5feet (1.5m) long, pivoted outside one running rail and could be swung across that rail against an equally substantial stop attached to the sleepers. Suitable only for where space was limited and speed low.

The modern equivalent is a derailer, a shaped piece of metal designed to lift the wheels and throw them off to one side. These are commonly seen in depots, but again only suitable for low speeds.

 

[Mr. SW]

I 'm sure I read somewhere that there was some experimental system that when the signal was at danger, a lineside trigger would knock out a wooden dowel mounted on a clamp attached to the locomotive and thus applying the brakes. It was designed so that the driver had to get out of the cab to reset the mechanism. I may be wrong though. Can't remember what railway, country, whatever, when I read this.