Why do some trains not have yellow front panels?

[Mr Veeohlay]

I seen a steam engine at the station the other day, the front wasnt painted yellow like everything else. Why doesnt it have to be?

 

[trentside]

Steam engines have 'grandfather rights' from before the time yellow fronts were required, therefore they are exempt from that requirement.

 

[TDK]

I seen a steam engine at the station the other day, the front wasnt painted yellow like everything else. Why doesnt it have to be?

As above but the do need a headlight

 

[ainsworth74]

They also don't really need them as a steam locomotive won't sneak up on trackside workers in quite the same way that a diesel or electric locomotive/unit will.

 

[Hydro]

They also don't really need them as a steam locomotive won't sneak up on trackside workers in quite the same way that a diesel or electric locomotive/unit will.

You'd be surprised, they're not all that noisy when not under power, or whatever kettle term applies. I had Bittern coast past me once when I was a lookout and it made little more noise than a diesel.

Working hard is of course a different kettle of fish. Same with certain diesels though.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Agreed with the honourable gentlemen above. If they haven't got the regulator open then they can sneak up on you quite easily.

 

[DesiroDom]

They are exempt because they were introduced before the requirement was brought in for new trains.

 

[LE Greys]

Our old friend Owen Hodgson (sadly inactive for some years) has of course shown what in might look like.

http://www.fictitiousliveries.co.uk/photo.php?S_9F_rfg.jpg

 

[Peter Sarf]

They also don't really need them as a steam locomotive won't sneak up on trackside workers in quite the same way that a diesel or electric locomotive/unit will.

So why do pacers have to have yellow ends then :roll:.

Actually I wonder about grandfather rights. Would that apply to preserved diesels that started life with no yellow warning panel or a half yellow warning panel. I can only hope.

I remember spending a day at Thirsk 1977-ish. Dead straight line but the Deltics could appear suddenly. I would not be much use as a lookout. A class 40 took ages to get to me on the slow lines.

 

[sprinterguy]

Actually I wonder about grandfather rights. Would that apply to preserved diesels that started life with no yellow warning panel or a half yellow warning panel. I can only hope.

The yellow warning panel rule seems to apply to all vehicles intended to lead a train on Network Rail with exceptions only for steam locos and shunting locos, which of course have the wasp stripes and rarely move out of yards, or at more than a brisk walking pace. I think that the appearance of diesel locos in original pre-yellow panel livery on the main line would require a relaxation of the rules on warning panels, as has been tried without success when the IC225s and then the 332s were introduced.

Although there have been a number of locos with headcode displays back on the main line again (with only minimal areas of yellow), suggesting that the single high intensity headlight is sufficient, so never say never. And many of the aggregate operators of the 59s seem to be keen on not having the yellow panel as a feature of their liveries...

 

[DavidBusDriver]

Believe that the actual yellow panel requirement is surprisingly small, 1.8m^2 I think, but for a more neat appearance the liveries are designed with a larger yellow area.

 

[leyland1725]

How does Tornado get away with not having a yellow front?

 

[sprinterguy]

Believe that the actual yellow panel requirement is surprisingly small, 1.8m^2 I think, but for a more neat appearance the liveries are designed with a larger yellow area.

Yeah, that's the measurements I've seen mentioned as well.

 

[Smudger105e]

How does Tornado get away with not having a yellow front?

Good point, can't have grandfather rights, as it is a new loco...

 

[swt_passenger]

The warning panel area requirement is even less, only 1m^2 in overall area, with the minimum dimension 0.6 m, so if you do reduce to this the other dimension becomes 1.67 m. This is as far as the live document GM/RT2483 is concerned. Earlier versions of group standards had a larger area with train speed higher than 125 mph, but that is no longer required on NR infrastructure, for fairly obvious reasons...

I think this is how those 59s get away with little more than a yellow stripe, although I have my doubts about their height meeting the minimum, however as it is well over 2 m wide it probably meets the area requirement - might it conform to a much earlier rule, cos I can't find anything that allows less than 0.6 m minimum anywhere...