Loco parking

[richieb1971]

How does a driver know where to park a loco?

Take any siding scenario, how do you know when to go right down the bottom of the siding vs parking it somewhere in the middle? I've always wondered this as its so random.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Rule Book says to the end of the Siding. Unless a Shunter or Signaller or someone else instructs the driver to put it somewhere else

 

[12LDA28C]

How does a driver know where to park a loco?

Take any siding scenario, how do you know when to go right down the bottom of the siding vs parking it somewhere in the middle? I've always wondered this as its so random.

A driver doesn't really 'park' a loco, it's stabled although a 'parking brake' would be involved as part of the stabling process. Generally a loco should be taken all the way onto the stops of a siding - if it was left anywhere else it may prevent another loco/train entering the siding behind it. If a loco will only be in the siding for a short time, eg whilst shunting then it may just go 'in clear' of the points or signal before leaving the siding again.

 

[DarloRich]

You have to find a space and hope no one has parked a 66 accross the lines.

Then you have to work out which app to use to pay for the parking or find the machine doesnt take google pay and you havent any money!

I think the convention is you drive to the end of the siding so someone else can park behind you.

That can lead to blocking in which causes all manner of fun!

 

[Welshman]

You have to find a space and hope no one has parked a 66 accross the lines.

Then you have to work out which app to use to pay for the parking or find the machine doesnt take google pay and you havent any money!

I think the convention is you drive to the end of the siding so someone else can park behind you.

That can lead to blocking in which causes all manner of fun!

Then you hope the Revenue Inspectors don't visit and find you've left it for longer than you've paid for.

 

[Iskra]

Can just any siding be chosen?

 

[12LDA28C]

Can just any siding be chosen?

That wouldn't generally be up to the driver. Where signalled, the signaller would decide dependent on siding capacity, what other movements were planned, if the loco were required to be fuelled and so on. At an unsignalled location with say handpoints, which siding was used would be down to a shunter if there is one, although the driver may well have a specific siding indicated by either his docket or route knowledge and so on. In any case the final location of the loco would probably be communicated to someone eg a supervisor and/or the signaller.

 

[GardenRail]

Can just any siding be chosen?

Depends where it is. Could be Signaller Discretion, Shunter Discretion.....

 

[Iskra]

That wouldn't generally be up to the driver. Where signalled, the signaller would decide dependent on siding capacity, what other movements were planned, if the loco were required to be fuelled and so on. At an unsignalled location with say handpoints, which siding was used would be down to a shunter if there is one, although the driver may well have a specific siding indicated by either his docket or route knowledge and so on. In any case the final location of the loco would probably be communicated to someone eg a supervisor and/or the signaller.

Thank you

 

[InkyScrolls]

At some locations (e.g. Skipton) the station coordinator will inform drivers where they are required to stable stock.

 

[Annetts key]

Can just any siding be chosen?

Some are privately owned, so no.

 

[greyman42]

You have to find a space and hope no one has parked a 66 accross the lines.

Then you have to work out which app to use to pay for the parking or find the machine doesnt take google pay and you havent any money!

I think the convention is you drive to the end of the siding so someone else can park behind you.

That can lead to blocking in which causes all manner of fun!

If you only go half way down a siding and park, do you get a ticket?

 

[43066]

If you only go half way down a siding and park, do you get a ticket?

More likely a rollicking from the signaller, unless you shut the cab down quickly enough to kill the GSMR before he calls…

 

[richieb1971]

Are the jokes because I said "parking" rather than something like "stabling"?

Although I cannot find examples I've definitely seen locos stabled with gaps between it and the buffers.

Although not any buffers in sight locos stabled at Eastleigh adjacent to the station seem to be in slightly different places from time to time. Sometimes the siding isn't a terminus.

Certainly makes sense to utilise the track in an efficient manner.

 

[66701GBRF]

Route knowledge and experience also is a factor.

 

[Welly]

The driver has to hope the ANPR camera used by certain parking companies has accurately read the loco number otherwise he would need to scroll through blurry photos on the machine to find the right picture to pay for the parking!

 

[DarloRich]

Are the jokes because I said "parking" rather than something like "stabling"?

It is just a bit of fun!

Although I cannot find examples I've definitely seen locos stabled with gaps between it and the buffers.

If you are going to be the only item in that siding I would park at my convenience - eg closet to the van!

 

[12LDA28C]

Although I cannot find examples I've definitely seen locos stabled with gaps between it and the buffers.

I should hope so. Locos and other trains should be stabled 2m from buffer stops, unless a local instruction or similar notice states otherwise.

 

[Deepgreen]

Hours of fun to be had watching someone trying to parallel park a 66! Jokes aside, it's only called stabling because of the railway's terminology roots in the horse-drawn era.

 

[zwk500]

Although I cannot find examples I've definitely seen locos stabled with gaps between it and the buffers.

Drivers are generally briefed to pull up a bit short to avoid accidentally denting the buffers. However I've seen times when drivers have needed to use every last inch of space and the skill to bring the train to a stand almost kissing the buffer stop is an art in itself.

Although not any buffers in sight locos stabled at Eastleigh adjacent to the station seem to be in slightly different places from time to time. Sometimes the siding isn't a terminus.

On through lines it can be slightly different, as it depends on what other trains might need to come in from either end and whether any shunting is planned. I guess different FOC locos can also complicate matters, as the signaller will need to make sure a loco isn't trapped in when it should be forming a train. So on a double ended line a loco may be placed more in the middle to allow shunts in from either end.

Certainly makes sense to utilise the track in an efficient manner.

Indeed. some of the yard plans are very carefully worked out.

 

[ExRes]

I think @66701GBRF is the closest in post #15 as route and depot knowledge are far and away the number one priorities, drivers should know exactly where a loco should be berthed and if there are any changes to the norm then there should be groundstaff there to advise

 

[cf111]

Drivers are generally briefed to pull up a bit short to avoid accidentally denting the buffers. However I've seen times when drivers have needed to use every last inch of space and the skill to bring the train to a stand almost kissing the buffer stop is an art in itself.

The Caledonian Sleeper at Euston is a great example of this, it always impresses me how the drivers can get such a long train to stop smoothly so close to the buffers.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

If the siding is on an incline which slopes down towards the buffers, then park the loco near the buffers so that if the brakes fail, it doesn't roll down the incline as it will be prevented from doing so by the buffer stops

 

[Snow1964]

A driver doesn't really 'park' a loco, it's stabled although a 'parking brake' would be involved as part of the stabling process. Generally a loco should be taken all the way onto the stops of a siding - if it was left anywhere else it may prevent another loco/train entering the siding behind it. If a loco will only be in the siding for a short time, eg whilst shunting then it may just go 'in clear' of the points or signal before leaving the siding again.

Here is an example, photo I took at Southampton (berth 106) today, plenty of siding remaining, but blocked by a public walkway to the car park, so loco drawn up just clear of the points. Saw two 66s do this few minutes apart.

 

[Cowley]

Here is an example, photo I took at Southampton (berth 106) today, plenty of siding remaining, but blocked by a public walkway to the car park, so loco drawn up just clear of the points. Saw two 66s do this few minutes apart.

That literally looks like they’re parked (stabled) in an airport carpark.
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