Use of horns

[Krokodil]

More likely for setting back/propelling moves. It was also commonplace for locos to 'run round' without the driver changing ends but of course that practice is frowned upon today and rightly so given the number of collisions that happened 'back in the day' caused by drivers not being in the leading cab.

True. Back in the day DMUs used to come off of Bath Road shed and be propelled back into the platform with the guard in the now-leading cab

 

[william.martin]

We have over excitable guards at the back that like to do that.

I've had that in the midlands, the guard did a treble tone on the horrifically loud class 350.

Does anybody know if the horn rules have changed going through Barmouth? 6 years ago when I was there every weekend, they would sound the horn at every bridge turn and crossing going straight through the town. When I go there now, they hardly sound the horn, sometimes not even at the W signs. (This is all during daytime hours)

 

[Strat-tastic]

I cabbed a 47 and the driver told me about the rear horn. It was actuated by a sideways movement of the regular horn lever.

 

[75A]

You live and learn.
Mind you I only went on one twice- Brighton - Manchester (Kensington Olympia)

 

[Llanigraham]

I don't for most stations but I always do it at Smethwick Galton Bridge on the down - it's a very busy and narrow platform, on a curve with the view obstructed by a bridge at the start of the platform. I feel better giving a bit of a warning just in case.

I've done it with my manager sitting beside me! He did point out it's been out of the rule book for a long time, but I prefer to do it as part of the processes I follow in that scenario. I also found it very helpful as a guard when the driver did it, so I could work out why the train stopped and then proceeded without bothering the driver at a difficult time - and it was also reassuring if I could see we were going past a red to know it was ok!

Besides, if you're getting talked past a red, there's a pretty good chance there's some S&T staff somewhere nearby....

On an AB line, where the Red is only just in sight, I used to like the "toot" to know that the driver had set off after our conversation.

 

[Strat-tastic]

On an AB line, where the Red is only just in sight, I used to like the "toot" to know that the driver had set off after our conversation.

What's an AB line?

 

[dk1]

What's an AB line?

Absolute Block.

 

[cool110]

What's an AB line?

Absolute Block, the traditional method of signalling with mechanical signal boxes rather than anything computerised.

 

[Merle Haggard]

More likely for setting back/propelling moves. It was also commonplace for locos to 'run round' without the driver changing ends but of course that practice is frowned upon today and rightly so given the number of collisions that happened 'back in the day' caused by drivers not being in the leading cab.

After a number of mishaps the L.M.R. about 1970 made it a disciplinary offence to drive from the rear cab. One of my colleagues wrote out a few No2/No 1 forms for the (at the first stage, alleged) offence, not just if they resulted in mishaps but if observed. Applied to locos as well as m.u..
It seems to have lapsed but shunting incidents resulting in collision damage resulting from driving from the rear cab still occur - I've heard that there was one at King's Heath fairly recently.

 

[dk1]

After a number of mishaps the L.M.R. about 1970 made it a disciplinary offence to drive from the rear cab. One of my colleagues wrote out a few No2/No 1 forms for the (at the first stage, alleged) offence, not just if they resulted in mishaps but if observed. Applied to locos as well as m.u..
It seems to have lapsed but shunting incidents resulting in collision damage resulting from driving from the rear cab still occur - I've heard that there was one at King's Heath fairly recently.

Although always told to drive from the leading cab whenever possible it wasn’t until OTMR was fitted that it became the norm.

 

[12LDA28C]

After a number of mishaps the L.M.R. about 1970 made it a disciplinary offence to drive from the rear cab. One of my colleagues wrote out a few No2/No 1 forms for the (at the first stage, alleged) offence, not just if they resulted in mishaps but if observed. Applied to locos as well as m.u..
It seems to have lapsed but shunting incidents resulting in collision damage resulting from driving from the rear cab still occur - I've heard that there was one at King's Heath fairly recently.

Not changing ends whilst running round / shunting was still common after that, indeed 47461 was written off at Liverpool Lime Street circa 1990 in exactly such an incident and there are other examples.

 

[DJ_K666]

I've actually noticed modellers using DCC Sound to use the horns much more than the 12"/ft scale ones do. Although loco drivers do seem to use them more as they're more used to having workers around them.

 

[Babybirdrobin]

Never blow for the horn for anyone doing the idiotic horn hand gesture. Maybe they’ll stop it at some point.

Irrelevant by now but I wave (as a spotter) but that on my case it’s more as respect and acknowledgement to the staff than wishing for the horn to be blown although I certainly used to use the annoying horn gesture until I realised a few years ago that is stupid + pointless

 

[Class15]

Never blow for the horn for anyone doing the idiotic horn hand gesture. Maybe they’ll stop it at some point.

Absolutely agree. Have never used that gesture and I will keep it that way.

 

[Surreytraveller]

It seems pretty obvious why it was there in the first place - so that any P-way staff working on the line, aware that the protecting signal is maintained at danger are warned of an approaching train. The removal of that rule seems to make the railway less safe, IMO.

There shouldn't be any p-way on the track with a train authorised to pass a signal at danger

 

[12LDA28C]

There shouldn't be any p-way on the track with a train authorised to pass a signal at danger

They don’t need to be ‘on the track’. P-way could quite legitimately be attempting or about to attempt to fix a track circuit failure which is preventing the signal from being cleared. They may well be ‘near the line’ and be appreciative of the warning provided by a driver sounding the horn when passing the signal.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Absolute Block.

Absolute Block, the traditional method of signalling with mechanical signal boxes rather than anything computerised.

Thanks

 

[Efini92]

There shouldn't be any p-way on the track with a train authorised to pass a signal at danger

What about the ones that are fixing the fault?

 

[dk1]

Thanks

My pleasure.

 

[JAWZ]

Props to the driver of 70 007 on today's 4O57 as he gave me a toot when passing while I taking photos at Corston rugby ground

 

[43066]

Props to the driver of 70 007 on today's 4O57 as he gave me a toot when passing while I taking photos at Corston rugby ground

Maybe it was @dk1 .

I’ve been doing this for years and am still yet to get a mention on here .

EDIT: just re read this. It wouldn’t have been @dk1 unless he’s migrated to the dark side.

 

[JAWZ]

Maybe it was @dk1 .

I’ve been doing this for years and am still yet to get a mention on here .

Shame It's totally made my day (so far!)

 

[dk1]

Shame It's totally made my day (so far!)

Certainly not me on a class 70 or class 4 freight mate.

 

[43066]

Certainly not me on a class 70 or class 4 freight mate.

I thought you senior top table ex BR men did a bit of everything.

 

[dk1]

I thought you senior top table ex BR men did a bit of everything.

Haha that would be nice wouldn’t it? Apart from the depot drivers my depot is the biggest on GA yet we only sign one traction now. Different world to what it was a few years ago when we signed up to thirteen.

 

[43066]

Haha that would be nice wouldn’t it? Apart from the depot drivers my depot is the biggest on GA yet we only sign one traction now. Different world to what it was a few years ago when we signed up to thirteen.

Must admit I’m lucky to always have signed more than one traction type, which I prefer for the variety. Never as many as thirteen, though! Three max at any one time in my case.

That said, these days I’m never happy when I’m asked to drive a class 360.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Haha that would be nice wouldn’t it? Apart from the depot drivers my depot is the biggest on GA yet we only sign one traction now. Different world to what it was a few years ago when we signed up to thirteen.

THIRTEEN!! mad!
We’re a 1 traction depot also, and just 2 routes + a maintenance depot (no depot specific drivers). I often think it would be nice to have a little more variety in both traction and routes but it’s a lovely depot to work at so can’t complain too much.

 

[dk1]

THIRTEEN!! mad!
We’re a 1 traction depot also, and just 2 routes + a maintenance depot (no depot specific drivers). I often think it would be nice to have a little more variety in both traction and routes but it’s a lovely depot to work at so can’t complain too much.

I’m glad I did most of them but wouldn’t change now. The new order works in just about every respect. That’s what you need in your day job.

 

[InkyScrolls]

THIRTEEN!! mad!
We’re a 1 traction depot also, and just 2 routes + a maintenance depot (no depot specific drivers). I often think it would be nice to have a little more variety in both traction and routes but it’s a lovely depot to work at so can’t complain too much.

Leeds Northern crews used to sign, for a brief period in 2020, 14! (142, 144, 150/1, 150/2, 153, 155, 156, 158, 170, 195, 321, 322, 331, 333)

 

[Krokodil]

Leeds Northern crews used to sign, for a brief period in 2020, 14! (142, 144, 150/1, 150/2, 153, 155, 156, 158, 170, 195, 321, 322, 331, 333)

Though some of those only differ in very small ways from each other. Which reminds me that once you signed one class of blue square DMMU, you signed the lot.