Train leaves conductor on platform, passengers locked on train

[RJ21]

When I lived in London there was a bit in the paper about a guard getting left behind at Victoria in the days of slam door stock. The train was running a little late and the guard was waiting on the platofrm when a passenger went into the guards van and gave 2 on the bell. The train was held at the next station until the guard could be taxied to his train.

I believe this happened once at Manchester Piccadilly on a 101, apparently it was held for some time at Ashburys until a guard arrived by taxi. From what I was told the train was busy and the guard wanted some people to leave the train before he was going to let it depart and went on to the platform to find unwilling volunteers to be late home. No idea what happened to the culprit.

 

[Adam0984]

Another situation I have heard leading to something like this is when the guard after closing the doors leaves the train to investigate a hazard light not going out on the coach from which they are working . In order to ensure that it is a fault with another door you might close your local door behind you . If it is just another set of doors sticking slightly open once you pull them shut the driver will get interlock and there is risk that again they could take off on auto pilot . .

And there kids is a logical explanation. On a 333 the train is to be in neutral for the conductor door panel to work, once all the door except the conductors door which is now under local control are closed if the driver puts it into either forward or reverse the local door will close and drivers auto pilot could think he's heard the buzzer and took off

 

[tsr]

brilliant

It is, but the strange thing is that I saw it happen on a preserved railway a few years back, without recourse to parrots or special whistle codes! The driver just trundled off and left the guard hurrying along behind the train...

 

[Busaholic]

When the Routemaster bus still held sway in Oxford Street at the beginning of this century I came across a young 'clippie' (female conductor) on the pavement outside Selfridges crying her eyes out because her bus had gone without her. Having established which route she operated, and knowing her bus would only have been going to the Aldwych (and knowing it could hardly turn back!) I suggested she board another of the (then) numerous buses to Aldwych and wait til she spied her bus stationary somewhere along the route when her driver had realised he'd goofed!

 

[47271]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-16265091

Here's another way of doing it. This is of no help to the discussion but to quote:

'Alan Lyle, defending, said Stansfield had no idea how the doors of the train had managed to lock with him still standing on the platform.'

A drunken conductor who was left behind on the platform after his train left without him has been fined £1,000.

Simon Stansfield admitted having excess alcohol in his system when he was working on a ScotRail service from Dundee to Inverurie in November.

Officers from British Transport Police breathalysed Stansfield after a station supervisor who approached him smelt alcohol on his breath.

He resigned two days after the incident.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard that the train made it from Dundee to Carnoustie in Angus before the driver was alerted to the fact his guard - who was three times the legal alcohol limit - was still on the platform.

The Inverurie-bound train then had to return to Dundee.

Fiscal depute Ross Cargill told the court Stansfield was responsible for telling the driver when it was safe to depart.

He was also in charge of passenger safety and for operating the system to lock the doors and deactivate the braking system.

Mr Cargill said: "Mr Cox, the station supervisor, was approached by Mr Stansfield and told what had happened. The driver was contacted and stopped the train.

"While speaking to Mr Stansfield, Mr Cox smelled alcohol on his breath and contacted the controller. The British Transport Police were contacted and Mr Stansfield was breathalysed.

"He said he had last had a drink at 10am that morning."

Mr Cargill said the breathalyser showed a preliminary reading of 110 mics of alcohol. Stansfield was taken to the police HQ in Dundee, where a blood test revealed a level of 120 mics.

Under railway safety laws, the alcohol limit is 35 mics - the same as for drink driving.

Stansfield, 45, from Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge of working with excess alcohol in his blood while working on a transport system and controlling the movement of a vehicle.

Alan Lyle, defending, said Stansfield had no idea how the doors of the train had managed to lock with him still standing on the platform.

He added: "He has resigned from his position and has seen his GP to address his alcohol problem.

"He's very ashamed of the position that he finds himself in."

Fining Stansfield, Sheriff Richard Davidson said the public had to be confident the train would operate safely.

"On that day you were in such a bad way for drink that you could not possibly carry out the requirements of your office," he said.

"As such to some extent the public were placed at risk by your state and that's completely unacceptable."

 

[Sean Emmett]

It happened at Marylebone on a steam special. Lots of steam, excitement and waving of arms, and the train set off. Unfortunately, none of those waving was the guard who took a taxi to catch up with the train at Denham

 

[Bletchleyite]

When the Routemaster bus still held sway in Oxford Street at the beginning of this century I came across a young 'clippie' (female conductor) on the pavement outside Selfridges crying her eyes out because her bus had gone without her. Having established which route she operated, and knowing her bus would only have been going to the Aldwych (and knowing it could hardly turn back!) I suggested she board another of the (then) numerous buses to Aldwych and wait til she spied her bus stationary somewhere along the route when her driver had realised he'd goofed!

I remember being on a RM without a conductor once. However, the driver seemed to be putting no effort into finding out what had gone on and seemed to be operating it himself. Only ever saw that once. Not allowed I'm sure (where's Blakey when you need him)...

 

[Bantamzen]

Was the train that this incident happened on definitely a 321 / 322 / 333 unit? If so i didnt think these units allowed the train to depart with the rear cab doors open? Is it possible that this train was actually a 150 instead?

Very unlikely, I use this line ever day and I can't remember a 150 ever working a service on this section (Wharfedale). Even on the rare occasion that a DMU replaces the usual EMU, it has usually been a 158 or 144. 150s are only ever seen on the Aire section running to Morecombe, and even then they tend to be the 150/1s rather than a 150/0. It would almost certainly been a 333, or 321/322. I believe this is the service:

2D37 0824 Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square (terminated at Shipley)

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y62301/2017/01/31/advanced#

Edit:

Actually it could have been this one:

2V13 0816 Ilkley to Ilkley (terminated at Guiseley)

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y67494/2017/01/31/advanced

 

[TUC]

It's also possible that the Guard may have left the doors 'keyed in' somewhere and the Driver, for whatever reason, didn't want to or couldn't walk back to switch them out.

'Couldn't' is one thing. 'Didn't want to' is quite another.

 

[BestWestern]

'Couldn't' is one thing. 'Didn't want to' is quite another.

Indeed, but the possible reasons for either are numerous.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

This is purely speculation but could there have been a trainee with the guard? The trainee has given two on the bell and the guard/trainer has been left on the platform?

This happened on TPE recently at Huddersfield
The minder conductor was quite embarrased about it.

 

[Parallel]

I've seen it happen before too with GWR on a 150 - The guard started the doors closing operation, and whilst the alarm was sounding stood back on the platform to make sure all other doors were closing and his closed whilst he was on the platform, and couldn't get back on. Fortunately the door controls at his door were lit inside so a passenger was able to just press the door open button and the guard could get back on board (with a slightly red face)

 

[Crossforth]

This happened on TPE recently at Huddersfield
The minder conductor was quite embarrased about it.

I was on the train behind which had to pick up the minder

 

[trentside]

I've seen it happen before too with GWR on a 150 - The guard started the doors closing operation, and whilst the alarm was sounding stood back on the platform to make sure all other doors were closing and his closed whilst he was on the platform, and couldn't get back on. Fortunately the door controls at his door were lit inside so a passenger was able to just press the door open button and the guard could get back on board (with a slightly red face)

We've all done it. I did it recently on a 158 at a station with a few minutes dwell time. I'd keyed out of my original panel and walked down the train prior to departure and keyed in at a new panel and completely overlooked the local switch. Fortunately realised as door started to close and managed to hit the switch. Been locked out once or twice though!

 

[tsr]

We've all done it. I did it recently on a 158 at a station with a few minutes dwell time. I'd keyed out of my original panel and walked down the train prior to departure and keyed in at a new panel and completely overlooked the local switch. Fortunately realised as door started to close and managed to hit the switch. Been locked out once or twice though!

Nowhere near as bad as managing to lock yourself out of the last empties of the evening (or having the train lock you out by itself due to a door fault, which once happened to me!).

 

[BestWestern]

Managed to get locked in a toilet on a 158 once. That was different!

 

[Deepgreen]

It happened at Marylebone on a steam special. Lots of steam, excitement and waving of arms, and the train set off. Unfortunately, none of those waving was the guard who took a taxi to catch up with the train at Denham

Did you mean 'one' of those waving ...?