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Driving a train with the door open

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RailwayDan

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Interesting replies, thanks.

Came across this story whilst researching -

http://metro.co.uk/2007/06/11/train-driver-in-urination-tragedy-446051/

Authorities now believe that a German train driver died after he opened a door to have a pee while the train was moving.

Officials began investigating after a train was stopped between stations in Berlin on May 31, as an electronic signal from its cabin alerted railway controllers that the train had no driver.

Drivers have to press a safety button – a ‘dead man’s switch’ – at regular intervals, otherwise a computer on the train stops it automatically, and alerts authorities that there is a problem.

The driver was found dead with his trousers open by the side of tracks several hundred metres away from the train, and police now say that it appears he fell out of the locomotive after he opened a door to relieve himself from the train.

The train was travelling at 70 mph at the time.

A spokesman for the train driver’s union, Maik Brandenburger, said: ‘It is not at all unusual that staff relieve themselves out of an open door while driving. With only one driver they cannot take a leak otherwise.’

He did however note that this would normally be done when the train was moving slowly.
 
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bronzeonion

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All Underground stocks apart from the 09 and S stock are able to be driven with the cab doors open. Was extremely rare to see an A stock without the offside cab door wide open when the weather was nice and you even used to see the front door partially opened!
 

LE Greys

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I seem to remember Wessex drivers often running with the end-gangway door open (at least partly) to provide what must have been a howling gale as ventillation.

Voyagers do indeed have inward opening doors. In fact there is a video I came across a few years ago, and the front door of the voyager has it's door open. Also note how the voyager is hauling a pendolino on the fast line!

[youtube]HGPers-Te9o[/youtube]​

The rear pantograph on the Pendy seemed to be up, so it might have been pushing the Voyager. On the other hand, it might simply have been drawing power for the on-board systems, since the Voyager's engines were running.
 

Scotrail84

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Bit OT, but when volunteering on the SVR many years ago, the best coaches to be a guard on were Mk 1's, as they had an inward opening guard's door - bliss on a hot day. LMS and GWR coaches both had outward opening doors :cry:

So do mk2 van doors.
 

Newshy37

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Not quite the same but I've been on many trains in Hungary with coach doors open whilst the train was travelling. It would have been really easy to fall out, especially for a child or someone a little less steady on their feet. The job would have well and truly stopped over here.
 

whhistle

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For additional information, the Class 390 crew doors (not cab doors) cannot be open while the train is moving.
 

ValleyLines142

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I've never seen any cab doors open on a passenger train, but regularly see Class 66 doors open on the side, only ajar though, but as someone said above there's a centre door leading through to the cab, so no major risks.
 

83G/84D

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As far as the rule book is concerned this would be a 'door open in traffic' incident and certainly within my company is dealt with very seriously!

As regards driving cab doors that open inwards I don't see it as a big issue to have an open cab door on a moving train, just advise driver at the next station. Obviously an open sliding or plug type cab door is a different matter. 150/1 unit's have inward opening cab doors that could be left open when the unit is moving.
 

Crossover

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For additional information, the Class 390 crew doors (not cab doors) cannot be open while the train is moving.

If I'm thinking of the right one, the crew door is a plug type so the train would be way out of guage running with it open I think. Pendos don't have cab doors...;)
 

Wikipedia

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If I'm thinking of the right one, the crew door is a plug type so the train would be way out of guage running with it open I think. Pendos don't have cab doors...;)

Correct the crew door is also the luggage compartment door IIRC!
 

455driver

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Didnt we have a thread a while ago about a train driver <shock horror> standing up in the cab while driving the train!

As long as the train is being driven within the rules what exactly is the problem?
 

asylumxl

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I was told many years ago by a Southern Region guard that when he was having a pee out of the door, he was always careful to pee in bursts so as not to connect with the 3rd rail :(:(


Time for me to be a pedant. He'd have been fine even if he didn't pee in bursts, the whole electrocution things a bit of an urban legend :P.
 

KA4C

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Didnt we have a thread a while ago about a train driver <shock horror> standing up in the cab while driving the train!

As long as the train is being driven within the rules what exactly is the problem?

Only real way to drive a SUB
 

Mojo

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Didnt we have a thread a while ago about a train driver <shock horror> standing up in the cab while driving the train!

As long as the train is being driven within the rules what exactly is the problem?
I wasn't aware there was a problem? Someone was only asking a question.
 
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