If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Irregular token working - Incident at Aylesbury

Discussion in 'Signalling M.I.C.' started by gwr4090, Jun 12, 2008.

  1. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2005
    Messages:
    2,847
    Likes Received:
    222
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Scientist (Rtd)
    Location:
    Dorset
    The RAIB has recently reported on an incident at Aylesbury, where two trains (one carrying passengers) occupied the single line section between Aylesbury and Claydon at the same time. Fortunately the trains came to a stop in sight of each other before a collision occured. It is a salutary reminder of the dangers of slack working with tokens, especially in circumstances as here, where there is an intermediate (auxiliary) token instrument. The main cause was that the token for a freight locomotive was returned to the intermediate token instrument while the locomotive was still standing in section on the running line. There are other important lessons to be learnt from this incident that may well be of relevance to token operation on Heritage lines.

    <http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources/080611_R132008_Aylesbury.pdf>

    David
     
  2. boldford

    boldford Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2005
    Messages:
    435
    Likes Received:
    2
    I shudder to think what the outcome may have been. Thanks for sharing it with us
     
  3. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2006
    Messages:
    7,484
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    Employed
    I am supriesed that - given the incredibly (fail)safe nature of single line operation this has happened not once but 4 times. Recomendations in the report suggest improvements in training and written/verbal communication but not an upgrade to the infrastructure - I would have thought appropriate.
     
  4. gz3xzf

    gz3xzf Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    57
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    21C142
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks for posting that David, it was very interesting. You could see what was going to happen as you read the report and it highlights the importance of the driver keeping hold of the single line token when on a single line. It is luck in this instance that the line speed was low and the weather was clear and bright.

    It is interesting that the two token release plungers allow a token withdrawal from any of the machines, it appears to allow for a bit of a lottery if someone were waiting at each machine. 8-[
     
  5. southyorkshireman

    southyorkshireman Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2005
    Messages:
    6,558
    Likes Received:
    34
    Location:
    Rotherham 41D or Metropolitan Railway boardroom
    I think the idea is that you have to have verbal permission as well before removing the token.

    The NYMR chaps might know more about this type of system, the Middlesbro-Whitby line using remote release token machines between Battersby and Whitby, the one at Grosmont being a subisduary in the middle of the Glaisdale Whitby section.
     
  6. boldford

    boldford Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2005
    Messages:
    435
    Likes Received:
    2
    Indeed you should have verbal permission before removing a token at a remote token instrument and I'm sure the NYMR guys follow the correct procedure.

    At the risk of being wrong, isn't there two machines at Whitby; one on the platform and one near the run round siding?
     
  7. 5914

    5914 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    520
    Intermediate token machines were reasonably common. The nearest to me having been the section between Corfe Castle and Worgret Junction (pre-closure) where Furzebrook sidings were operated in this way. The system is only failsafe until someone puts a token back when there is still a train in the single-line section - an elementary mistake, but too often forgotten by some goods guards in more modern times. There was an incident at Honeyborne some years ago when a guard put part of the train in the sidings and returned the token to the machine with the rest left on the main - a following HST being halted as it entered the single line (after the goods train-crew realised their mistake and contacted the signalman) - a very near miss. Less lucky was a Class 33 driver who was killed when he hit part of a train was left on the Up line at Holton Heath (near Wareham), the Ground Frame release given back to the signalman and his light engine allowed into the section (albeit in a double track situation).

    All systems are only failsafe as far as they are correctly operated.
     
  8. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,910
    Likes Received:
    10,061
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The token instruments on the Whitby -Battersby line are not remote release. Whilst the regulations require you to ask permission from the signalman before removing a token he does not give a 'release'. There is nothing other than procedure that prevents anybody from extracting a token if they have the appropriate key to the instrument cubicle and no other token is already out. The regulations require drivers to obtain permission to withdraw a token, inform the signalman that they have done so and then request permisssion to pass the stop board (in effect the section signal). When the train is out of section, the driver has to inform the signalman that the complete train is out of section, any ground frame is restored to normal and that the token has been replaced in the instrument. All these conversations are recorded.
     

Share This Page