Question about terminology

[Worm]

Hello,

I’m still fairly new to this and two regular terms crop up I can’t find a definition for on the forum or Google (which gets itself confused with other things in the results).

Basically please could someone explain what signing (e.g. a depot/staff don’t sign a specific rolling stock type) and diagrams are.

Diagrams I’ve taken to mean a specific train in terms of time and location, for example a hypothetical 15:05 to Oxford from Manchester.

thanks.

 

[hexagon789]

Hello,

I’m still fairly new to this and two regular terms crop up I can’t find a definition for on the forum or Google (which gets itself confused with other things in the results).

Basically please could someone explain what signing (e.g. a depot/staff don’t sign a specific rolling stock type) and diagrams are.

Diagrams I’ve taken to mean a specific train in terms of time and location, for example a hypothetical 15:05 to Oxford from Manchester.

thanks.

Signing a type of stock means that a driver is fully trained in its operation and can drive it, not signing it means a driver can't drive it as they aren't familiar with it essentially, the same applies to guards.

Signing a route means a driver is familiar with it, all the speed restrictions, gradients, signals, level/foot crossings, junctions, stations etc and is thus allowed to drive trains on this route - also known as route knowledge. Again guards will sign certain routes as well.


Diagrams are a set of train services a particular train (locomotive or multiple unit) will operate on a given day. So one train might start in London, work to Manchester, return to London, go up to Glasgow etc and the entire set of services would be the whole diagram.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

'Signing' is a crew member's knowledge of either a route or form of traction - if they 'sign' a route or type of traction, they can work them.

Diagrams are the body of work on any given day for a resource (be they traincrew or physical units) - e.g. a Driver on Avanti West Coast may do Glasgow - Preston - Glasgow as a day's work - that is their diagram.

 

[Worm]

@hexagon789 and @MidnightFlyer - thank you both for your very insightful answers I’m very grateful .

Upon reflection a diagram is the equivalent of a bus running board.