A Question for Drivers

[DaleCooper]

Today I saw an EWS Class 66 being reversed onto some tankers, it was being driven from the front cab which looked awkward as the driver had to lean out of the cab window. I wondered why the driver wasn't using the rear cab which, it appeared to me, would make the operation a lot easier. No doubt there is a simple explanation.

 

[neilb62]

I always found it easier to propel onto stock from the rear cab, with a decent shunter its no issue.

It's a few years since I've driven loco's so I'm amazed its still allowed?

 

[scott118]

He will be being backed onto the stock, by a shunter, as stated above. Maybe his mirror's were dirty/defective, which could be another reason, why the driver was also looking back, through the open window.

Can only take a guess, that they didn't want to change ends again, to carry out a brake continuity test, once coupled. To then continue onwards, from the same cab..

 

[najaB]

As a question, could there have been a fault that prevented driving from the rear cab? Would a loco be allowed to continue in service if one cab was inoperative?

 

[contrex]

In the 1960s you used to see EMUs e.g. 2 x 4EPB, being reversed at Herne Hill. The driver would stick his head out of the trailing cab window and trundle the formation backwards out of one of the Down platforms, onto the Tulse Hill spur, past the crossover, then stop and wait for the points to switch over, and then bring it back into one of the Up platforms. I imagine the move would have been very inconvenient if the driver had to drive from the leading cab and change ends, since the spur is on a viaduct at that point. Unless a spare driver was available.

 

[leomartin125]

That sounds like exactly what the DB Cargo 66 drivers do at Swindon with the steel coil waggons. They shunt back and forth using the front cab as the driving cab...

 

[MrPIC]

I am fairly sure the rule state a train must be driven from the leading cab (except if it is faulty etc), but I suppose with a shunter controlling the move it is okay, I only have experience of shunting in 08 locos which only have one cab anyhows, and in EMU's, where we would change ends when reversing the movement, even with a shunter present. Reverse was only to be used when uncoupling is what we were told!

 

[scott118]

I'm pretty sure that, passenger trains, whether they are ECS or in service, have to be driven from the leading end. Freight on the other hand, are permitted to propel. I will stand corrected if that isn't the case.

http://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERT8000-SS2 Iss 5.pdf - module SS2 - section 6 states -

You must drive from the leading cab whenever possible when making any other shunting movement. If you cannot do so, you may drive from another cab, providing a shunter can control the movement..

 

[cf111]

I'm pretty sure that, passenger trains, whether they are ECS or in service, have to be driven from the leading end. Freight on the other hand, are permitted to propel. I will stand corrected if that isn't correct.

Would one or more of the Highland Caledonian Sleeper portions not be propelled at some point during the shunting operations at Edinburgh?

I've never actually seen it in action from the platform but it was just a thought.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Would one or more of the Highland Caledonian Sleeper portions not be propelled at some point during the shunting operations at Edinburgh?

I've never actually seen it in action from the platform but it was just a thought.

The Lowlander will also get a propelling movement; this would be at Carstairs in the up direction only as it is backed on to the rear of the portion from Glasgow.

 

[tsr]

I'm pretty sure that, passenger trains, whether they are ECS or in service, have to be driven from the leading end. Freight on the other hand, are permitted to propel. I will stand corrected if that isn't the case.

http://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERT8000-SS2 Iss 5.pdf - module SS2 - section 6 states -

You must drive from the leading cab whenever possible when making any other shunting movement. If you cannot do so, you may drive from another cab, providing a shunter can control the movement..

ECS passenger units in multiple certainly don't have to be, if local instructions require it. There are one or two "two man shunts" remaining on the Southern network for trains without cab corridor connections. In this case the conductor (these generally happen where conductors will still be retained...) will be in the leading cab for at least one part of the movement, and control the movements of the train by means of buzzer codes - eg. set back / slow down / stop etc.

There are various permutations but it is done - maybe not even every week, but usually around a few times a month in my area.

 

[theageofthetra]

We have the 'Strood Shunt' propelling ECS move.

 

[TimboM]

Saw a DB Class 60 shunting at Northwich the other day and the driver stayed in the "front" cab as it reversed and I had a similar thought to the OP. However, did occur to me that with a long rake of wagons and reversing round a corner into sidings that the driver wouldn't be able to see whatever cab he was in and would be relying on the shunter either way.

 

[FordFocus]

Regularly have a shunter on a radio system. The shunter doesn't necessary have to stand next to the train and walk along side it. They need to just be able to see the movement and the area is clear. If the radio goes dead (no talking or beeping) the movement stops immediately.

 

[scott118]

...or it should do.

https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/shunter-struck-by-train-in-august-2007

 

[No Fault Found]

He will be being backed onto the stock, by a shunter, as stated above. Maybe his mirror's were dirty/defective, which could be another reason, why the driver was also looking back, through the open window.

Can only take a guess, that they didn't want to change ends again, to carry out a brake continuity test, once coupled. To then continue onwards, from the same cab..

Quite possibly