Nothing, as such. The letters coming from the 'Signal'. SG is a convenient legend to fit on the button that's unlikely to be confused for something else.
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Approaching cautionary signals...
- Thread starter Hincappie
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RailUK Forums
SG to me means “standing” as @theironroad says above. Or Signaller (in my mind as you are notifying them of your presence)
I always presumed it was just the closest onomatopoeic match for the 'signal' button, but then I'm neither a Driver nor Signaller.
theironroad
Established Member
Does it begin with F?
Don't know why but hadn't thought of that, good one. Maybe it's part of the plan to automate signalling, wait a few seconds for line to (hopefully
) be clear then change the signal from the cab.2 yellows (power off, invariably a class 6), into initial
1 yellow, ensure speed is at 40 - 4.5 bar
Approaching Red from the single - shout or sing to myself, "red ahead m*****f****r"
At red magnet, 10, coasting generally to a stand.
Yes, I sing a lot. Badly. I swear like a trooper most of the time anyway...
1 yellow, ensure speed is at 40 - 4.5 bar
Approaching Red from the single - shout or sing to myself, "red ahead m*****f****r"
At red magnet, 10, coasting generally to a stand.
Yes, I sing a lot. Badly. I swear like a trooper most of the time anyway...
PudseyBearHST
Member
No hands on the steering wheel?!
Ooh you drivers are a very impatient bunch (I'm sure much of this is tongue in cheek)! From the control side, you can definitely see times where conflicts are going to happen with not much the signaller can do - you can never know what's happened down or up the line.
Thanks for that.
I meant to write impatient - Fruedian slip haha?
Strat-tastic
Established Member
So what do you think SG stands for?
zuriblue
Member
I thought it was a badly spelt 55.So what do you think SG stands for?
SignallerJohn
Member
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Always appreciated at 0300 when you’ve given up a line blockage and not put the ‘A’ button back on!!Press 'SG' on the GSMR as soon as the double yellow comes into view and start grumbling about the signaller off making a brew.
Only works if you have chicken!
On sighting the signal?
My rule of thumb is to power off on sighting the signal regardless of single or double yellow (I’d generally start braking on sight if it’s a short section) but based on service braking distance between the first restrictive and the red, I usually start to brake on passing the first yellow. Better err on the side of caution though I guess (literally), and with a single yellow I’d want to be braking before passing it. No one will ever criticise for being cautious. I find at the moment I’m probably over cautious purely because I’ve only just qualified.
As with all these things, route knowledge is key.
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on sighting the signal it’s a comfortable breaking down to those speeds. If they were doing a ton past a double yellow and only shut off, breaking on the single yellow you’d need an uncomfortable amount of break to get the speed down before any grids etc. I agree though that route knowledge is key. There’s a signal well known for given Suburban drivers bruised finger nails gripping the secondmans side. Double yellow, doing 80 and still wide open, absolutely no risk and a very slow brake curve onto a station with a red on the end.
Yes there's a signal outside Peterborough which if a double yellow I'd whiz by happily at 100 as it's miles to the Red
Doing 125mph and spotting a double yellow in the rapidly diminishing distance (or worse, on a curve or at a poor sighting location) is something of an adrenaline booster, to say the least. But I aim for 80 at the double and 40-50 at the single in an ideal world. The worst situation being a poorly sighted double yellow, a very short signal section to the single yellow, at which speed may still be 80+, and relying on route knowledge (and a good brake) to be sure that TPWS or worse isn't going to cause a tea and biscuits incident.
Not a driver, but as a signal engineer cab-riding I experienced the heightened tension when an unexpected cautionary aspect comes into sight and seems to approach at an alarming rate. At least I can trust (hope!) my fellow professionals have spaced out the signals correctly to account for braking distance. It is no surprise that regulators have ruled that cab signalling is a necessity for any increase in speed over 125mph.
A lot of faith gets put into the signalling system. Like the previous couple of posters I've comfortable whizzed past a single yellow around 60mph but going 70mph on greens and seeing the signal step down as it passes the window makes you swear rather profusely.
For me; I've gone back to the old school 'rule of thirds' Drop it by a third at 2Y then by another third at the 1Y. Other than using a consistent braking technique; commentary driving at all times when under cautionary aspects. Press and Call used every time.
From the passenger's perspective it's often intriguing how quickly (or not) a train slows on sighting a double yellow. On my local Snow Hill line for example, with a line speed of 75mph, trains used to approach Kidderminster at a fair pace from the north even on double yellow but often nowadays reduce speed dramatically and trundle into the station. Maybe the timetable is so slack there's no need to wear the brake discs out? Or maybe it's better to just ensure a slow enough speed in case the signal at the end of the platform turns red?
It’s always best to crawl up to reds to be safe. Driving habits change or are changed over the years due to professional driving policies etc.
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