One tone horn rule in Scotland?

[The 158 Man]

The rule book was changed a few years ago to ammend the 'use of warning horn' section, and drivers are now only supposed to use the low tone of the horn at whistle boards etc unless they actually see someone on/near the line.

Was this rule just for England? Because I see a lot of Scottish videos where drivers are still using the high and low tones of the horn?

 

[driver9000]

The rule applies on all Network Rail controlled infrastructure but the Driver may sound both notes if s/he feels necessary. There may be local instructions contained in the Scotland Sectional Appendix that say both notes are to be used at various locations....or the Drivers are playing to the camera

There are several W boards where I still sound both notes for example when emerging from a tunnel.

 

[Rugd1022]

Certain foot crossings on my routes are notorious for people using them without looking where they're going, consequently I use both horn tones when I approach them. With the Summer also upon us, a lot of the lineside vegatation can hide people from view right up until you're on the crossing, so it's best to play safe.

 

[The 158 Man]

Interesting, thanks.

 

[Yew]

Certain foot crossings on my routes are notorious for people using them without looking where they're going, consequently I use both horn tones when I approach them. With the Summer also upon us, a lot of the lineside vegatation can hide people from view right up until you're on the crossing, so it's best to play safe.

Yeah, one note could be a car horn, however the two tone is distinctive to trains.

Usually I hear one long tone, then just a tiny bit of the other tone, over here in lincoln (usually Low-high)

 

[O L Leigh]

There seems to be a general misunderstanding that you must only use the low tone. It just isn't so.

The rule is low tone at "W" boards. However, you must use both tones to give warning to anyone on or near a running line (TW1 10.2). Therefore, if you pass a "W" board you would give a low tone, but then if you see people standing near it (e.g. about to cross) you would give them both tones. Likewise, if someone is standing near the line with a camcorder you would give them both tones, hence why you are probably seeing it happening a lot on YouTube.

O L Leigh

 

[trainplan1]

There seems to be a general misunderstanding that you must only use the low tone. It just isn't so.

The rule is low tone at "W" boards. However, you must use both tones to give warning to anyone on or near a running line (TW1 10.2). Therefore, if you pass a "W" board you would give a low tone, but then if you see people standing near it (e.g. about to cross) you would give them both tones. Likewise, if someone is standing near the line with a camcorder you would give them both tones, hence why you are probably seeing it happening a lot on YouTube.

O L Leigh

I was on a cab riding/route learning trip in Anglia couple of months ago and that seemed to be pretty much standard. All 3 drivers I was with did pretty much the same thing, 1 low tone at boards and more when needed.

I never realised how close people look when your in the cab at speed, particularly the ones who choose to stand over the yellow line...

 

[O L Leigh]

You should try it from my side of the office. hock:

O L Leigh

 

[Rugd1022]

You should try it from my side of the office. hock:

O L Leigh

I know exactly what you mean....

As usual, when passing through Luton today at 60mph with 6M47 I had to sound the horn twice approaching the down slow platform as there were four passengers standing on the wrong side of the yellow line, two of them only moved at the last minute and one of these two didn't even look up from her mobile phone....:roll:

 

[The Snap]

I know exactly what you mean....

As usual, when passing through Luton today at 60mph with 6M47 I had to sound the horn twice approaching the down slow platform as there were four passengers standing on the wrong side of the yellow line, two of them only moved at the last minute and one of these two didn't even look up from her mobile phone....:roll:

I imagine they **** themselves upon the sound of your horn! (Assuming it was a 66 you were driving?). Ridiculously loud the horns on those things...

 

[OxtedL]

The nice considerate drivers only sound the low tone south of Hurst Green. Residential area you see.

Occasionally you get some who don't sound at all. That's bloody scary when you're on a foot crossing on the inside of a blind corner.

 

[Rugd1022]

I imagine they **** themselves upon the sound of your horn! (Assuming it was a 66 you were driving?). Ridiculously loud the horns on those things...

Yup, 66 603 today, rough as a bear's ar*e but at least the horn works

Some of ours have modified '4-way' horns which give you two extra tones.

 

[pendolino]

The nice considerate drivers only sound the low tone south of Hurst Green. Residential area you see.

Occasionally you get some who don't sound at all. That's bloody scary when you're on a foot crossing on the inside of a blind corner.

Well, not so much it being a residential area, more to do with the rule book stating only the low tone should be used at a whistle board.

If you're referring to the first foot crossing on the way to East Grinstead (Red Lane Holland FC), I know what you mean about the blind bend. It worries me from the driving seat too (especially as there's only that one whistle board for the next 4 crossings). The signal's quite difficult to see too - there's a very rare 'dartboard' sign prior to the bend reminding drivers to check the AWS (Railsigns has it on his site: http://www.railsigns.co.uk/sect12page1/sect12page1.html - scroll down) as the signal's been SPADed more than once.

Assuming you're talking about drivers not blowing up during the day (because of course between 2300 and 0700 there's no requirement to sound the horn at a whistle board), Southern are aware of this - a notice went up recently reminding drivers to always sound the horn at a whistle board, so hopefully you'll see (hear?) some improvement.

 

[OxtedL]

I have no idea why I would be on that footpath after 11pm!

I have wondered about that corner, it seems oddly signalled. I've been on all four of those footpaths you note (two by getting lost ), and the three on the Uckfield, many times, and have only had a problem twice. Still, it's very scary as the electrostars are so quiet (no danger of not hearing the 171s )

 

[trainplan1]

You should try it from my side of the office. hock:

O L Leigh

Honestly I dread to think.

The Norwich-London driver I was with quite simply put it "Well I'm in this big heavy loco (90) and there not, so they'll get hurt not me"

(On a side O L Leigh, thanks to you and your colleagues for being so cheerful when people like me are in the cab with you, really appreciate you guys being so helpful. I got asked more questions about what I do rather than vice versa!)

 

[O L Leigh]

Most welcome. Does your username reflect your position?

O L Leigh

 

[Pacerpilot]

Minimum of two tones from me...everywhere. I'd rather explain to my DM every week why I used two tones, than explain to some poor family at an inquest why I only used one.

 

[trainplan1]

Most welcome. Does your username reflect your position?

O L Leigh

It does indeed. Not the most popular place in the railways from what I hear but had to start somewhere!

 

[Hydro]

It does indeed. Not the most popular place in the railways from what I hear but had to start somewhere!

<shakes fist>

 

[O L Leigh]

It does indeed. Not the most popular place in the railways from what I hear but had to start somewhere!

I suppose if we knew more about the role we'd understand better. It's the same with all grades.

Mind you, there are some odd decisions made that you just have to wonder about. I'm not sure if it's train planning or the signaller, but there's been an ECS movement out of Liv St in the evenings that has caused a lot of delays because it seems to be consistently sent into the wrong platform on it's inbound working.

Oh well.

O L Leigh

 

[trainplan1]

<shakes fist>

See what I mean
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I suppose if we knew more about the role we'd understand better. It's the same with all grades.

Mind you, there are some odd decisions made that you just have to wonder about. I'm not sure if it's train planning or the signaller, but there's been an ECS movement out of Liv St in the evenings that has caused a lot of delays because it seems to be consistently sent into the wrong platform on it's inbound working.

Oh well.

O L Leigh

Thats true I guess

Mmm, that evening train sounds interesting, I'll send you a PM.