Telephone numbers on signals

[strange6]

I'm assuming that the telephone numbers that you see on signals (Plenty of examples around the Man Picaddilly area) are there to provide traincrew a means of contacting the signaller because it's considered too dangerous for the driver or whoever to go trackside. Are these actual telephone numbers or are they part of the NRN system or similar?

 

[Tin Rocket]

I'm assuming that the telephone numbers that you see on signals (Plenty of examples around the Man Picaddilly area) are there to provide traincrew a means of contacting the signaller because it's considered too dangerous for the driver or whoever to go trackside. Are these actual telephone numbers or are they part of the NRN system or similar?

You can use mobiles,just input the correct prefix that lets you access the internal network.

 

[Rugd1022]

Some signal boxes will have more than one phone number if the area they cover is split into adjoining panels or 'work stations'. For instance, when working on the Midland Mainline south of Bedford I have to ring one of four numbers for West Hampstead Panel, depending on where I am. Not all of the signals in each area will have the phone number on though.

 

[driver9000]

Correct, a telephone that train crew must not use is identified by an X (except in emergency). The telephone number sometimes displayed is for the internal railway BRT network accessible by NRN radio. I've never managed to get the prefix to work! After a while you get to know the telephone numbers by heart although they are published in the notices should you need a reminder.

 

[strange6]

Great info as usual. Thanks guys

 

[Hydro]

Correct, a telephone that train crew must not use is identified by an X (except in emergency). The telephone number sometimes displayed is for the internal railway BRT network accessible by NRN radio. I've never managed to get the prefix to work! After a while you get to know the telephone numbers by heart although they are published in the notices should you need a reminder.

I've never got the prefix to work either. I had to spend about 25 minutes once trying to find an external number for Donny PSB.

 

[Tin Rocket]

Did anyone use the old handheld PlugPoints??if i remember it was 761 to get onto the internal net and 113 would let you dial out onto the mobile network,its must be 10 years since i've used one they were handy though i used them a lot

 

[Cherry_Picker]

That's odd. I have never had any trouble getting prefixes to work in the Birmingham area. The prefix is just the same as the prefix you would use if you want to dial into your booking on point or mess room. You just need to figure out where to cut the NRN/internal number off at the start and bobs yer uncle. Chances are if you have the number for a signal box then it is the internal number with a prefix anyway.

 

[driver9000]

I have a lot of 'BT' numbers for dialling signal boxes or BOPs etc from mobiles anyway, I tried it out just to see if it worked.

 

[Rugd1022]

All of the internal numbers I need, including the thirty odd signal boxes I work under are programmed into my works mobile, as well as their repsective landline numbers. On odd occasions, I've actually got through quicker by calling the landline.



Edit... just remembered - I've still got the numbers listed of several boxes which no longer exist, like Lichfield and Tamworth Trent Valley.!

 

[Old Timer]

761 will only work on a mobile that has a SIM which is enables for this service.

Now that pretty much every telephone has DDI access, 761 is no longer required.

For the record what it did was to allow the mobile phone to enter the BR internal network as if it was an internal phone.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I've only got the landline numbers for a few local boxes, and the local ECO (heritage rail purposes).

 

[Rugd1022]

The amount of times I get stopped being a freight driver, it pays to have all the right numbers pre-programmed in.... you'd be surprised how many signal post telephones in goods loops don't work or have very bad sound quality...

 

[Tin Rocket]

my third day on the railway and i was on my first track patrol,i was given the plug point phone and every plug point we passed was told by the PICOW to phone the ECR to "make sure the line is working ok" after the 4th time of doing this task was told in no uncertain terms to "fu%king pack it in" by the ECO,caused much hilarity as i remember,happy days..

 

[tirphil]

The amount of times I get stopped being a freight driver, it pays to have all the right numbers pre-programmed in.... you'd be surprised how many signal post telephones in goods loops don't work or have very bad sound quality...

The mobiles that EWS used to issue to drivers were all pre programmed with signal box, yard master, control, TCS' and TI's numbers. Quite why I needed the phone number for Frethun, Milburn Yard, St Blazey (etc etc etc) was always a mystery to me though!

GSM-R is pre programmed with signal box, control etc numbers too.

 

[bluenoxid]

I've never got the prefix to work either. I had to spend about 25 minutes once trying to find an external number for Donny PSB.

Quicker Facebooking them

 

[strange6]

Quicker Facebooking them

That would be a great idea! Would be great to follow the daily exploits of boxes on Facebook. Would be a fascinating read.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

That would be a great idea! Would be great to follow the daily exploits of boxes on Facebook. Would be a fascinating read.

Reading PSB have, or used to have, a website.

 

[strange6]

Reading PSB have, or used to have, a website.

http://www.readingpsb.org/

 

[ralphchadkirk]

http://www.readingpsb.org/

That's the one

 

[strange6]

That's the one

Last updates a few years ago. Seems like they have given up on it which is a shame. They look like a really close gang of workers.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Isn't that closed now anyway? I thought they flattened it at Christmas for the rebuilding, and the area is being transferred to Thames SCC at Didcot? Or it is going to anyway, it won't be around after 2013 :razz:

 

[AlexS]

Alas Reading PSB is indeed no more, RIP.