Train Describer Messages

[E_Reeves]

Hi all,

On websites such as OpenTrainTimes and Traksy (where you can see the headcodes or train describers) I've seen many messages from signallers, some of which made me laugh.

Some of which included christmas or holiday messages and I saw the other day "TARA" and "ABIT" in a blockade (I think the signaller was saying bye?)

Has anybody else seen messages put in by the signallers, I'm interested to see...

Thanks!

 

[theironroad]

Most just say things like 'blok' ' "T3" ', 'shut' 'eso' . I'm sure there will be other oddities when a signalled is bored just like some trains have odd descriptions in the destination screens on trains.

 

[EM2]

When a sinkhole appeared under the track in South London a few years ago, I remember seeing ABIG HOLE

 

[TheEdge]

I've seen -OH- DEAR at Norwich when Trowse swingbridge had failed quite spectacularly

 

[Pete_uk]

When a large folder ended up on the line between Stroud and Swindon the signalling block had ROCK written in it.

In all seriousness had a train hit it would been a pretty serious accident.

I do wonder what T3 and **** mean

 

[matt]

T3 is a possession of the line.

 

[Z12XE]

The best one I’ve seen was around Easter once where in the various ones around Felixstowe docks it had. SHUT -ALL GONE HOME

 

[Mag_seven]

I do wonder what T3 and **** mean

I've seen **** used when a run round is taking place.

 

[theironroad]

I think **** is just a quick way of showing the berth protected/blocked rather than a specific meaning.

 

[E_Reeves]

I think **** is just a quick way of showing the berth protected/blocked rather than a specific meaning.

I think it's if a train is occupying a block without a running headcode, the system automatically puts in ****.

I've also seen when the WCML shut down due to high winds, headcodes were removed and replaced with unit numbers, -390 016-, for example.

 

[33056]

I think it's if a train is occupying a block without a running headcode, the system automatically puts in ****.

That is correct, also happens when a track circuit shows occupied for some reason, one sure way on the various on-line tracking sites of telling that something's going on. If you see a whole trail of **** during engineering works it usually means something has been moving in the wrong direction (also happens if something is set back following an incident).

A place I used to work at did a lot of shunting and we were supposed to put 0S00 in the train describer to indicate this to the adjacent box but one of my colleagues often forgot to the extent that he gained the nickname of "four star general"!

 

[TheEdge]

That 0S00 is odd. I've noticed that shunts around Norwich often just get described as their destination (PL-5), also hauled sets staying in the station tend to be marked as STBL.

 

[318266]

At Dumbarton Central on Traksy, there is RUST RUST.

 

[Alteran Ancient]

I've seen these ones before:

• 5H17 - Broken or defective train
• COWS - What do you think this could be?

That's about it, though.

 

[E_Reeves]

I've seen these ones before:

• 5H17 - Broken or defective train
• COWS - What do you think this could be?

That's about it, though.

Or 5H17 was a genuine headcode?

 

[318266]

I've seen these ones before:

• COWS - What do you think this could be?

That's about it, though.

A train transporting cows.

 

[318266]

Also there is RUST between Croy and Larbert, on a loop.

 

[GW43125]

I’ve heard a story of “BOWL” and “LOKS” being put in two consecutive berths when it went wrong.

At Waterloo, -J— gets used a fair bit to indicate a joining move

And when it goes up the wall, we often get the train type eg 12CR 8CAR 8455 etc

I’ve seen “FIRE” for, well.

I’m sure I’ve also seen “BANG” for a broken unit.

I see “STBL” and/or a time every now and then.

At Dumbarton Central on Traksy, there is RUST RUST.

I believe RUST is used to show track is out of use.

 

[318266]

Then why is there *OOU at Rood End Goods and SHUT on the end of the Stourbridge to Brieley Hill line?

 

[E_Reeves]

Then why is there *OOU at Rood End Goods and SHUT on the end of the Stourbridge to Brieley Hill line?

There isn't a specific message that signallers use, SHUT is one of the common ones. Also BLOK when the line is blocked.

 

[AlexNL]

I got a good chuckle out of "BAH HUM BUG DAY"

 

[318266]

Another one is NOGO, btwn Durham and Darlington, on a branch line.

 

[318266]

DP
ON in Motherwell TMD

 

[AlexNL]

I've also seen "TMPR", probably to indicate a tamper on the line?

 

[GW43125]

NOAC/NODC or -OFF (all self explanatory)

GONE is another one for OOU.

 

[E_Reeves]

TBRD for thunderbird

 

[318266]

I found TEST near Harlesden on Traksy

 

[E_Reeves]

-153 currently at Nuneaton P1. It hasn't failed again has it?

 

[318266]

CL57 at Rugby

Self-explanatory

 

[318266]

*B32 at BHM Platform 4B