Andy Pacer
Established Member
Severe disruption to Thameslink services this morning due to what is described as an 'operational incident' at Blackfriars. Delays of up to around 60 mins.
Please do not travel, all lines between St Pancras and London Blackfriars will be closed to allow for urgent repair work to the overhead electric wires to take place.
Service information to follow shortly
CorrectSomeone forgot to pan down at Farringdon?
Thanks for that. Probably fortunate it's not a weekday morning peakFrom Thameslink on Twitter at 0838:
-Peter
While I’m sad to see the line closed and people’s journeys affected, I’m glad “operational incident” turned out to be a (somewhat silly and embarrassing) driver mistake and not a derailment as I had first feared. That’s usually what has happened when train staff use that term, I’ve found.Correct
You're very welcome - went on Twitter and thought it might be worth sharing.Thanks for that. Probably fortunate it's not a weekday morning peak
Oh does that still happen? Used to be regular. Thankfully with 755s pan protection stops us before we do any damage but it’s tight at Farringdon so no room for error.Someone forgot to pan down at Farringdon?
Someone forgot to pan down at Farringdon?
Thought that was all automatic now?Correct
Doesn’t it go directly into tunnel at Farringdon though?What exactly happens when drivers forget? I thought the pantograph would simply sit redundant in the air, the train would leave before shortly crawling to a halt. The a case of switching to third rail power and carrying on. Or vice versa
Doesn’t it go directly into tunnel at Farringdon though?
The overhead continues right through to City Thameslink anyway. The pan only comes off the wires just a short distance before Blackfriars southbound.How long would a non-conducting rail have to be beyond the end of the overhead line to force the pan down and protect it from the tunnel roof? Would that be practical?
The conductor bar basically ends on the incline out of City Thameslink, as the line emerges into daylight.The overhead continues right through to City Thameslink anyway. The pan only comes off the wires just a short distance before Blackfriars southbound.
So what happened in this case? Did the pan come off the wires after City Thameslink or something?the overhead tends right through City Thameslink
While I’m sad to see the line closed and people’s journeys affected, I’m glad “operational incident” turned out to be a (somewhat silly and embarrassing) driver mistake and not a derailment as I had first feared. That’s usually what has happened when train staff use that term, I’ve found.
That’s what’s happened before. The distance between the two stations is very short, (only about 100m to the building at Queen Victoria St), so if the front pan over extends AIUI the auto dropping device won’t catch it before getting to Blackfriars. The rear pan will still be in contact for longer.So what happened in this case? Did the pan come off the wires after City Thameslink or something?
That’s what’s happened before. The distance between the two stations is very short, so if the front pan over extends AIUI the auto dropping device won’t catch it before getting to Blackfriars. The rear pan will still be in contact for longer.
Yes, save that it is (I think) a rigid bar rather than wires.So what happened in this case? Did the pan come off the wires after City Thameslink or something?
Not sure how the ADD works across the two half-trains...Presumably the train can carry on applying power (via the rear pan) until the auto dropping activates?
More often than any of the above it’s used to indicate a one-under.I'd say that this is used more for a SPAD or opening the doors wrong side, missing a stop or something than a derailment. I think you should not jump to the latter conclusion whenever you see that stated!
Ahh fair enough. Cheers for that.The overhead continues right through to City Thameslink anyway. The pan only comes off the wires just a short distance before Blackfriars southbound.
Empty stock trainThought that was all automatic now?
That's normally 'Emergency services dealing with an incident'More often than any of the above it’s used to indicate a one-under.
It's wires at City. The bar is only in the St Pancras area.Yes, save that it is (I think) a rigid bar rather than wires.
I've never once on National Rail heard a one under referred to as an operating incident!More often than any of the above it’s used to indicate a one-under.
In my day it was always referred to publicly as 'an incident on the line'.I've never once on National Rail heard a one under referred to as an operating incident!
Is there no engineered protection to prevent this?Correct
Indeed - drivers rarely have to manually do the changeover now, so they are more likely to make a mistake on the rare occasion they do have toSo when in passenger service Class 9, the pan drops auto, but when in ecs mode, the pan has to be lowered by the driver, just sounds like an accident waiting to happen....oh it did !
Only when the train stops in passenger service!Is there no engineered protection to prevent this?