Question - Trains Stopping
Discussion
We have stop boards on the platform telling us where to stop.
If we miss the platform or over shoot it, it's generally down to misreading the stopping pattern,slipping through the station or lack of concentration.
Again it's down to driver knowledge as to where to put the brake in to stop in time for the station.
If we miss the platform or over shoot it, it's generally down to misreading the stopping pattern,slipping through the station or lack of concentration.
Again it's down to driver knowledge as to where to put the brake in to stop in time for the station.
dcw@pr said:
Bodie390 said:
Again it's down to driver knowledge as to where to put the brake in to stop in time for the station.
presumably the brake isn't just on/off is it?Braking on passenger and freight trains are two different skills entirely, the locos I drive (Class 66s) have a special valve fitted in the braking system to allow a slower and more progressive application when hauling freight.
As for stopping in the right place, as has been said above it's a case of route knowledge and practice. We only drive on routes we are officially passed out on or 'sign for'. Imagine driving the full length of (say) the M1 in both directions and having to memorise every single junction, road sign, speed restriction, bridge, gradient etc, and having to prove that you know it all off by heart .... that's what it amounts too in railway terms.... hope that helps!
Nidge
dcw@pr said:
do you learn a route from a book first of all, before you do it in a train?
No, not as such, but we do have track diagrams and route maps to help us out when we ride up front with another driver. A certain amount of road learning has to be done in darkness too, it all looks very different when the sky goes from blue to black ;o)Many years ago, a driver I used to work with was involved in a very serious (but thankfully not fatal) derailment, during the investigation which followed he was asked "how do you know you are where you think you are?", to which he gave the correct reply, "route knowledge".
;O)
David87 said:
Seeing as you're a diesel train driver... What kind of MPG would your train get and how far can it go on a full tank? Silly question maybe, but I was asking myself this whilst on the train the other day!
Blimey it's getting technical now...! Not sure on MPG exactly but some of our 66s have a 1500 litre capacity fuel tank, they usually get refuelled every couple of days, it depends on how far they travel between top ups and the weight being hauled on any given day though.David Spooner - 'bit like driving a car only bigger.....' but with no stereo or kids in the back ;o)
In normal running It's all down to route knowledg,we spend time learning a route running out with other drivers,plus track diagrammes and other printed matter on known hazards of the route.We have an assessment over the route with a manager plus written questions.In the NW when the pacers where introduced the original brake system relied on a single (air)brake cylinder per axle connected to the brake shoes via steel cable in a tube,what a stupid system the cable would slowly stretch leaving you with sometimes only 50% brakes,braking was often a squeeky bum affair!
W124Bob said:
In normal running It's all down to route knowledg,we spend time learning a route running out with other drivers,plus track diagrammes and other printed matter on known hazards of the route.We have an assessment over the route with a manager plus written questions.In the NW when the pacers where introduced the original brake system relied on a single (air)brake cylinder per axle connected to the brake shoes via steel cable in a tube,what a stupid system the cable would slowly stretch leaving you with sometimes only 50% brakes,braking was often a squeeky bum affair!
Scary stuff!Not long after I'd passed out on 66s I had a duff one.... approaching a permanent speed restriction for a junction I put the brake in but the needle didn't budge in the gauge, it threw me for a minute..... I could feel the initial brake application going in but the needle was stuck behind the gauge glass!
P5Nij said:
David87 said:
Seeing as you're a diesel train driver... What kind of MPG would your train get and how far can it go on a full tank? Silly question maybe, but I was asking myself this whilst on the train the other day!
Blimey it's getting technical now...! Not sure on MPG exactly but some of our 66s have a 1500 litre capacity fuel tank, they usually get refuelled every couple of days, it depends on how far they travel between top ups and the weight being hauled on any given day though.David Spooner - 'bit like driving a car only bigger.....' but with no stereo or kids in the back ;o)
In the good old days when we still had the old "Thumper" diesel trains there was an infamous occasion when the train ran out of diesel before it got to our station. Result was we got out and walked, only to find the ticket inspector wanting to check tickets at the station. Strangely he didn;t get a good reception.
The modern diesel units are nowhere near as much fun, theres a relatively high chance once you're on it that will arrive at its destination, and usually ontime. On the Thumper it used to be a lottery!
The modern diesel units are nowhere near as much fun, theres a relatively high chance once you're on it that will arrive at its destination, and usually ontime. On the Thumper it used to be a lottery!
P5Nij said:
David87 said:
Seeing as you're a diesel train driver... What kind of MPG would your train get and how far can it go on a full tank? Silly question maybe, but I was asking myself this whilst on the train the other day!
Blimey it's getting technical now...! Not sure on MPG exactly but some of our 66s have a 1500 litre capacity fuel tank, they usually get refuelled every couple of days, it depends on how far they travel between top ups and the weight being hauled on any given day though.David Spooner - 'bit like driving a car only bigger.....' but with no stereo or kids in the back ;o)
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