Cab clocks

[Inversnecky]

Considering that trains run to a timetable, it always struck me as odd that until very recently no cab ever included a clock amongst its instruments, even when the technology was available.

Was there any particular reason? Or was a driver’s watch deemed reliable enough?

Which was the first cab to include a clock on its dashboard?

 

[Darandio]

Some cabs had them decades ago. The prototype HST had what resembled a digital clock on the right, production vehicles received a more traditional analogue version instead.

 

[py_megapixel]

I suppose getting each driver to set their watch accurately every so often is easier than making sure in-cab clocks keep time. Of course now everything is computer controlled they can set themselves automatically.

Not sure if that's the reason though, just a theory.

 

[Inversnecky]

But it stood alone, and no other class cabs had them fitted?

 

[Darandio]

But it stood alone, and no other class cabs had them fitted?

The HST? As stated above all production power cars received an analogue clock. If you look at this picture here it's the instrument on the right of the picture with yellow hands.

 

[ExRes]

We certainly had them on 90s

 

[172007]

Cab clock, ha ha. 11 year old unit. Clock next to speedo has no seconds, is not radio controlled and to top it off, if you advance the minutes to get it correct the seconds don't reset so if it's 23 seconds out it will always be. O' did I mention it's only a 12hr clock as well.

 

[Inversnecky]

So apart from HSTs, they weren’t a feature of any cab till the end of the 1980s?

 

[DanNCL]

Definitely a feature on the 91s.

Believe the 370s had an analogue clock in the cabs too.

 

[driver9000]

158s had a digital clock on the desk and modern trains tend to display it on the TMS. Clocks were not really necessary in driving cabs as until the most recent rule book change all train crew were required to carry or wear a watch

 

[172007]

158s had a digital clock on the desk and modern trains tend to display it on the TMS. Clocks were not really necessary in driving cabs as until the most recent rule book change all train crew were required to carry or wear a watch

I thought the recent rule book change actually mandated a watch as it wasn't before. It was only required by local company rules.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Definitely a feature on the 91s.

Believe the 370s had an analogue clock in the cabs too.

That certainly appears to be the case…

 

[driver9000]

I thought the recent rule book change actually mandated a watch as it wasn't before. It was only required by local company rules.

TW1 section 21 did mandate a watch as part of the personal equipment list a Driver or Guard must have with them on duty. The December 2021 edition has removed watches from the list and the requirement is now anything that can be used to get an accurate time such as an onboard TMS/PIS display or a company issue device.