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signal irregularity

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red2005

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oh my goodness!..........I'm a newly qualified driver (1 month alone) and i had my first signal reversion/irregularity the other day!

had a single yellow turn to green in front of me, i then entered a 50 so took full power to get up to 45 to do my RBT............get half way through my RBT when i notice the signal ahead is at danger........slammed them in then i stop JUST before the red and as i stop i notice the signal is now flashing constantly between green and yellow!

i contacted the signaller who then told me it was just showing a green on his panel so it must be a fault and he gave me permission to enter section etc.

to say it put the wind up me is probably an understatement and i couldn't stop thinking about it all day!...........is it normal that i was thinking about it all day/reacted the way i did?? or was i overreacting and it's just a hazard of the trade??

thoughts?
 
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dk1

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It is all part of the job but does shake you up & especially if you'd already cancelled the AWS horn before the previous signal changed to green. Then you question yourself. I've shot passed red lights at almost 100 only for the signaller to say "no worries, the S&T have dropped a relay" :o
 

Tomnick

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I don't think you're overreacting - it can't be a nice experience, after all! There are so possible reasons that I might have for replacing a signal to danger in an emergency, and I'm sure that they're all going through the driver's head when one goes back on him for whatever reason. That's why we ask the driver whether he's fit to continue - to which some, quite reasonably, say no!
 

ComUtoR

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Many many times :(

It can be worse. I have gone through reds at linespeed watching other trains come across a junction.

Yes it is normal for you to react the way you did and I will strongly suggest that you take the decision to come off. There are too many incidents that I have been aware of that are in part due to previous issues on duty. In all honesty most you can suck up as you see them in time and react.

Wait till you get your first STOP message <D

You will look back on them and laugh. Mention it in the mess room and you will get many anecdotes about signals going back.
 

red2005

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ah cheers for the messages guys! it's good to know i'm not alone lol!! i think i was a bit more shook up than i thought because the signal in question protects a level crossing!

hindsight is a wonderful thing but i wish i had made the decision to come off!.....i'll put that one down to inexperience!.....hey ho i've learnt from it if nothing else :)
 

Dieseldriver

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I had a 90mph Cat C SPAD before a sweeping right hand curve in my first 6 months on my own. Passed it by half a mile and ended up at the next signal. Drivers in the mess room might act all big balls about it but when things happen to the loud mouths, they still get shook up by it! It's normal for things to affect you but obviously try not to worry so much about it and concentrate on the job in hand. Take care out there :)
 

Deepgreen

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ah cheers for the messages guys! it's good to know i'm not alone lol!! i think i was a bit more shook up than i thought because the signal in question protects a level crossing!

hindsight is a wonderful thing but i wish i had made the decision to come off!.....i'll put that one down to inexperience!.....hey ho i've learnt from it if nothing else :)

Sounds to me as if you reacted quickly and properly, and avoided a SPAD as a result, although it could be argued that, as the signal was faulty, it would not have actually been a SPAD. It also sounds as if you are conscientious and your first irregularity was harmless and possibly good on-the-job training.
 
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507 001

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I'd say you reacted properly and professionally.

Don't worry about what happens afterwards, it's what happens during the incident that's important. If you can keep your head and follow your training then your doing ok.

I've had signals go back on me in work (although it's slightly different for us as we can stop much, much quicker than you guys can) and it's not a nice feeling at all.

Speaking to a few people afterwards and they all said the same, the first few seconds you just think "I'm sure that was green a second ago"!
 

ComUtoR

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Speaking to a few people afterwards and they all said the same, the first few seconds you just think "I'm sure that was green a second ago"!

Good points. It is how you deal with it that matters the most.

The bit I quoted is because I wish to elaborate and offer a bit of advice. Everything is recorded. The otdmr will record you and the signal has a datalogger. Our networkers have forward facing cameras too.

We all go through that moment of doubt but remember that the beauty of the data recorder is that it can be reviewed. If you are sure that a signal changed and it is ever brought into question then you can always ask for clarification. In an incident it will happen for sure but signal irregularities (from our perspective) is widely accepted and we move on pretty quick.

Try not to have those doubts and have the confidence in what you saw. Also remember to report it instantly. Take a deep breath before you press ]1[ and write the details on the back of your schedule.
 

talltim

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<D You just needed to make sure you passed it when the green was flashing on...
 

Nippy

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Many many times :(

It can be worse. I have gone through reds at linespeed watching other trains come across a junction.

That is a very serious wrong side failure. If the road has gone back on you there shouldn't be any conflicting routes able to be set for a period of time between 2 and 4 minutes.
 

westcoaster

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That is a very serious wrong side failure. If the road has gone back on you there shouldn't be any conflicting routes able to be set for a period of time between 2 and 4 minutes.

I think he is saying the junction signal has gone back, but no conflicting move on his line if I read it right.
 

rugi

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Thanks red for sharing that, I have just passed out and am route learning. I shall be taking your post and the responses to date as a learning exercise.
For what it's worth I think you handled it well.
 

David

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Welcome to the wonderful (!!!) world of buttock clenching, eyes bugging, jaw dropping 'oh sheeeeeeeeet' moments! I've had my fair share as well, especially when I did drive a 7.5t lorry for a few years ....
 

HSTfan!!!

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I've been out 7 months or so and the only thing I've had when drawing up to a red signal was the AWS clear "ding" which did confuse me for a few seconds but nothing more serious than that. I can't imagine it being much fun in your situation but it's one of those things you know you'll have to deal with from time to time, it looks like your training as served you well!
 

fluff

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I've been out 7 months or so and the only thing I've had when drawing up to a red signal was the AWS clear "ding" which did confuse me for a few seconds but nothing more serious than that.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that's a wrong side failure which is very serious indeed.
 

red2005

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Sounds to me as if you reacted quickly and properly, and avoided a SPAD as a result, although it could be argued that, as the signal was faulty, it would not have actually been a SPAD. It also sounds as if you are conscientious and your first irregularity was harmless and possibly good on-the-job training.

good to know :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'd say you reacted properly and professionally.

Don't worry about what happens afterwards, it's what happens during the incident that's important. If you can keep your head and follow your training then your doing ok.

I've had signals go back on me in work (although it's slightly different for us as we can stop much, much quicker than you guys can) and it's not a nice feeling at all.

Speaking to a few people afterwards and they all said the same, the first few seconds you just think "I'm sure that was green a second ago"!

yeah i was quite lucky there as i knew that i'd definitely seen the signal prior change from yellow to green
 

HSTfan!!!

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Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that's a wrong side failure which is very serious indeed.

Yes you are quite correct and it is very serious, fortunately I had the red in sight and was already at a slow speed.
 

red2005

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Thanks red for sharing that, I have just passed out and am route learning. I shall be taking your post and the responses to date as a learning exercise.
For what it's worth I think you handled it well.

ah thanks very much mate!........well i hope it helps you in any way shape or form pal! i know i've taken many experiences people have shared on here on board and tried to use it to my advantage! this site is excellent for things like that! all the very best mate
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've been out 7 months or so and the only thing I've had when drawing up to a red signal was the AWS clear "ding" which did confuse me for a few seconds but nothing more serious than that. I can't imagine it being much fun in your situation but it's one of those things you know you'll have to deal with from time to time, it looks like your training as served you well!

ha yes i think that would have definitely thrown me as well lol!!
 

Deepgreen

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No argument whatsoever. It would not have been a SPAD.

I agree - the reason I mentioned it was that, if the signal happened be showing red at the moment of being passed (if it had actually been passed anyway), it would presumably have been treated as a SPAD until proved otherwise by the data/records.
 

LAX54

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15 Jan 2008
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oh my goodness!..........I'm a newly qualified driver (1 month alone) and i had my first signal reversion/irregularity the other day!

had a single yellow turn to green in front of me, i then entered a 50 so took full power to get up to 45 to do my RBT............get half way through my RBT when i notice the signal ahead is at danger........slammed them in then i stop JUST before the red and as i stop i notice the signal is now flashing constantly between green and yellow!

i contacted the signaller who then told me it was just showing a green on his panel so it must be a fault and he gave me permission to enter section etc.

to say it put the wind up me is probably an understatement and i couldn't stop thinking about it all day!...........is it normal that i was thinking about it all day/reacted the way i did?? or was i overreacting and it's just a hazard of the trade??

thoughts?


And I hope completed an RT3185 with the Signalman ? :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sounds to me as if you reacted quickly and properly, and avoided a SPAD as a result, although it could be argued that, as the signal was faulty, it would not have actually been a SPAD. It also sounds as if you are conscientious and your first irregularity was harmless and possibly good on-the-job training.

SPAR not a SPAD, only Cat A is now deemed a SPAD, rest are Signal passed at Red.
 

TDK

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sure does! the signal in question was LED

Wasn't last time I looked Buddy if it's the signal I believe you described it was :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I agree - the reason I mentioned it was that, if the signal happened be showing red at the moment of being passed (if it had actually been passed anyway), it would presumably have been treated as a SPAD until proved otherwise by the data/records.

You presume wrong I am afraid. It wouldn't have been treated as a SPAD as it was a signalling irregularity.
 

carriageline

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Wasn't last time I looked Buddy if it's the signal I believe you described it was :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




You presume wrong I am afraid. It wouldn't have been treated as a SPAD as it was a signalling irregularity.


Precisely. As the signaller, if I knew it was showing a green then got a SPAD alarm then I know I was an irreg.
 

red2005

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Wasn't last time I looked Buddy if it's the signal I believe you described it was :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


You presume wrong I am afraid. It wouldn't have been treated as a SPAD as it was a signalling irregularity.

yes you are right actually TDK
 
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