Driver > guard communication

[James101185]

The fire bell test button (that shuts down the local engine entirely) is positioned on the control cubicle in the clean air compartment behind the cab so I don't see how the driver could operate it while the train is moving without taking their foot off the DSD and leaving the cab. It sounds like a bit of an exaggeration to me or even an outright tall tale.

 

[waterboo]

Could always depress it using a bag ect..

 

[Krokodil]

The fire bell test button (that shuts down the local engine entirely) is positioned on the control cubicle in the clean air compartment behind the cab so I don't see how the driver could operate it while the train is moving without taking their foot off the DSD and leaving the cab. It sounds like a bit of an exaggeration to me or even an outright tall tale.

Haven't other posters said that at the time it was on the desk, and only moved to the cubical when replaced by a "local engine stop"?

 

[PZ 08895]

The fire bell test button (that shuts down the local engine entirely) is positioned on the control cubicle in the clean air compartment behind the cab so I don't see how the driver could operate it while the train is moving without taking their foot off the DSD and leaving the cab. It sounds like a bit of an exaggeration to me or even an outright tall tale.

The source which recited this was very reputable - the Fleet Manager from Laira at that time, so I am sure that it is genuine, it is just my memory from that long ago which may have got the detail wrong about the engine being switched off rather than revert to idle when the fire alarm was pressed, but the outcome is the same, only the rear power car is providing power. With regards the fire alarm test button, it may have changed when the power units were replaced with MTUs, this would have been a Paxman engine power car in the 1980s, but HST cab control diagrams for that period clearly show a fire alarm test button on the driver's desk located below the brake cylinder pressure gauge.

 

[43096]

The fire bell test button (that shuts down the local engine entirely) is positioned on the control cubicle in the clean air compartment behind the cab so I don't see how the driver could operate it while the train is moving without taking their foot off the DSD and leaving the cab. It sounds like a bit of an exaggeration to me or even an outright tall tale.

“Is” being the key word. “Was” is a different matter - see here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/driver-guard-communication.305042/post-7880986

The source which recited this was very reputable - the Fleet Manager from Laira at that time, so I am sure that it is genuine, it is just my memory from that long ago which may have got the detail wrong about the engine being switched off rather than revert to idle when the fire alarm was pressed, but the outcome is the same, only the rear power car is providing power. With regards the fire alarm test button, it may have changed when the power units were replaced with MTUs, this would have been a Paxman engine power car in the 1980s, but HST cab control diagrams for that period clearly show a fire alarm test button on the driver's desk located below the brake cylinder pressure gauge.

See my explanation here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/driver-guard-communication.305042/post-7880986