6M53

[Loppylugs]

A bit confusing last night as around 20-30 6M53 was noted waiting west of Swindon. This is the Swindon stores to Toton train. Railcam was showing the loco as 66654 and said train would not be seen normally in that position. However, on further investigation Swindon-Toton was by that time in the Birmingham area. The train stood at Swindon west was in fact 6M53 Parkadillick-Stoke hauled by 66755. Is this not confusing for signallers to have two trains with identical headcodes as it certainly seemed to be for Railcam! (and me)

 

[LA50041]

A bit confusing last night as around 20-30 6M53 was noted waiting west of Swindon. This is the Swindon stores to Toton train. Railcam was showing the loco as 66654 and said train would not be seen normally in that position. However, on further investigation Swindon-Toton was by that time in the Birmingham area. The train stood at Swindon west was in fact 6M53 Parkadillick-Stoke hauled by 66755. Is this not confusing for signallers to have two trains with identical headcodes as it certainly seemed to be for Railcam! (and me)

Normally the same headcode should not be used on the same signal panel for ideally 12 hours. there was around 5 hours between the trains yesterday

 

[Freightmaster]

Normally the same headcode should not be used on the same signal panel for ideally 12 hours.

In my experience, that rule is adhered to 99% of the time, but some freight services fall through the cracks
such as two 6M84s within an hour at Leicester last week:

 

[Trainz6013]

A bit confusing last night as around 20-30 6M53 was noted waiting west of Swindon. This is the Swindon stores to Toton train. Railcam was showing the loco as 66654 and said train would not be seen normally in that position. However, on further investigation Swindon-Toton was by that time in the Birmingham area. The train stood at Swindon west was in fact 6M53 Parkadillick-Stoke hauled by 66755. Is this not confusing for signallers to have two trains with identical headcodes as it certainly seemed to be for Railcam! (and me)

I noted something similar at Northallerton earlier this year, Transpennine 185114 passed through at 08:47 on 1A64, followed by Grand Central's 180107 at 11:39, on the same line! The Grand Central train has always ran, but I believe the Transpennine one was created due to TRU upgrade works, only running Redcar - York, but still, two 1A64s on the same line only a couple of hours apart!

 

[LA50041]

I noted something similar at Northallerton earlier this year, Transpennine 185114 passed through at 08:47 on 1A64, followed by Grand Central's 180107 at 11:39, on the same line! The Grand Central train has always ran, but I believe the Transpennine one was created due to TRU upgrade works, only running Redcar - York, but still, two 1A64s on the same line only a couple of hours apart!

As said above, 99% of the time it’s fine, occasionally they slip through the net during validation, but as long as they are not both on the same pannel at the same time it s not a major issue. The transpennine was long gone before the GC left its origin

 

[800002]

As said above, 99% of the time it’s fine, occasionally they slip through the net during validation, but as long as they are not both on the same pannel at the same time it s not a major issue. The transpennine was long gone before the GC left its origin

Yes.
It would generally only be an issue when both headcodes are registered with the GSMR (comms) system at the same time, in the same geographic location.
Being on the same panel/ area at the same time is where things go awry and the GSMR potentially cannot connect with the correct / intended train (driver).

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Back in 2001, the late running 1S25 2030(?) London KX - Glasgow Central was passing through Carstairs whilst Caledonian Sleeper 1S25 2130 London Euston - Inverness was passing Gretna Jn.
Normally of course, they would never have seen each other on the same signalling panel!


(pic shows: the late running 1S25 2030(?) London KX - Glasgow Central passing through Carstairs whilst Caledonian Sleeper 1S25 2130 London Euston - Inverness was passing Gretna Jn.)