Engine Crews and Bicycles?

[Ewan Campbell]

Hello! I hope you're well,

I've seen some photos of tank engines with bicycles strapped or attached to the smokebox or front of the engine over the past few years. Sadly, I haven't been able to find any photos of this, but it got me wondering why engine crews did this? I imagine they'd have be useful for reaching signal boxes along the line to warn of engine failures or other emergencies, or perhaps to go into town from the station and so on, but it seems to be a very unrecorded practice.

If anyone has any thoughts or information on the topic, I'd love to hear them! I hope you had as best a Christmas as possible and a better new year.

Yours thankfully,
Ewan

 

[Undiscovered]

I've heard stories from a lot of old hands that when a locomotive was being held at a red, if it didn't clear after a few minutes, crews would leave the engine, usually to pop into the nearest village or town.

Whoever was left on the footplate would be told to give a couple of toots on the whistle when the signal cleared, for the rest of the crew to return. A bike would certainly speed this up!

 

[47296lastduff]

Safer from theft than if left lying around the depot? Many crew would have cycled to work.

 

[Spartacus]

Could be done to enable someone to get a sly early finish with just one man taking the loco back to shed. Only practical on tank locos.

 

[edwin_m]

I've heard stories from a lot of old hands that when a locomotive was being held at a red, if it didn't clear after a few minutes, crews would leave the engine, usually to pop into the nearest village or town.

Or more likely the nearest pub.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Could be done to enable someone to get a sly early finish with just one man taking the loco back to shed. Only practical on tank locos.

You'd be surprised. A number of young fireman were left to drive AND fire tender locos whilst their mates slept off the excesses of imbibing. Can't really say anymore than that but it was in steam days prior to 1966.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Perhaps the need to go shopping at their destination. I know of one case where this sort of thing still goes on,although he now puts his bike in the train.

 

[Undiscovered]

Or more likely the nearest pub.

One of the least risque reasons!

 

[DerekC]

I've heard stories from a lot of old hands that when a locomotive was being held at a red, if it didn't clear after a few minutes, crews would leave the engine, usually to pop into the nearest village or town.

Whoever was left on the footplate would be told to give a couple of toots on the whistle when the signal cleared, for the rest of the crew to return. A bike would certainly speed this up!

A nice story - but for most signals in most places in the steam era the crew would be required to obey Rule 55, under which the fireman of a train held for more than a couple of minutes* was required to make his way to the signal box, ensure that the presence of his train had been correctly noted by the signalman in the train register and wait until the line was clear before going back to the engine. Since the trip to the box would be in the cess I doubt that a bike would help much!

*In fact my 1933 copy of the LMS Rulebook says:

When a train has been brought to a stand owing to a stop signal being at Danger, the Driver must sound the engine whistle and, if the signal is not immediately lowered the Guard, Shunter or Fireman must ... at once go to the signal box and remind the Signalman of the position of the train.

Doesn't say anything about bicycles, though!

 

[Ewan Campbell]

Many thanks to everyone for your thoughts! I was thinking I might try and represent a loco with a bike onboard in model form

Take care all

 

[randyrippley]

*In fact my 1933 copy of the LMS Rulebook says

When a train has been brought to a stand owing to a stop signal being at Danger, the Driver must sound the engine whistle and, if the signal is not immediately lowered the Guard, Shunter or Fireman must ... at once go to the signal box and remind the Signalman of the position of the train.

That is only going to work if the signal is close to the box. What if there is a long distance?

 

[Gloster]

That is only going to work if the signal is close to the box. What if there is a long distance?

A longer walk.

 

[edwin_m]

If the train was stopped on the approach to (in rear of) the box, the fireman could be picked up as the train started away. In later years track circuits, plungers or phones were provided at many of the further away stop signals to make the signalman aware by other means.

 

[DerekC]

Remember also that the distance a signal could be from a box was limited by the length of cable that could be pulled by a lever - a few hundred metres.

If the train was stopped on the approach to (in rear of) the box, the fireman could be picked up as the train started away. In later years track circuits, plungers or phones were provided at many of the further away stop signals to make the signalman aware by other means.

Both provided for within the seven pages of supplementary information on Rule 55 in the 1933 Rulebook!

 

[Taunton]

Regarding bicycles, I seem to recall they were pretty standard on French locos back in steam days, it was stereotypical to find one or two bicycles somewhere on the outside of the locomotive.

If the train was stopped on the approach to (in rear of) the box, the fireman could be picked up as the train started away. In later years track circuits, plungers or phones were provided at many of the further away stop signals to make the signalman aware by other means.

Always wondered what the purpose of the "plunger" was (D-shaped plate at the signal, if I recall correctly). You press it, something presumably shows up in the signalbox for a moment. So what, the signalman knew you were there. What protection did it provide that the signalman didn't forget you and signal another one in behind you.

 

[edwin_m]

Remember also that the distance a signal could be from a box was limited by the length of cable that could be pulled by a lever - a few hundred metres.

It could be over a thousand metres - that would most often be a distant but sometimes the section signal on the other line was nearly as far. A typical walking speed would be less than 100 metres per minute, probably less still on ballast, and if the signal in question is beyond (in advance of) the box then there's no option to pick the fireman up. However I expect a signalman would pull a train up nearer the box whenever possible (although he would probably want to see the tail lamp or other confirmation of train complete), and any remote starter signals would probably be first in line for Rule 55 exemption.

Always wondered what the purpose of the "plunger" was (D-shaped plate at the signal, if I recall correctly). You press it, something presumably shows up in the signalbox for a moment. So what, the signalman knew you were there. What protection did it provide that the signalman didn't forget you and signal another one in behind you.

It would be logical for the plunger to operate some kind of indication next to the lever, which remained visible until the signal was cleared or possibly could be manually reset if there was scope for the train to shunt back instead. But I don't know and I'd be interested to find out!

Regarding bicycles, I seem to recall they were pretty standard on French locos back in steam days, it was stereotypical to find one or two bicycles somewhere on the outside of the locomotive.

I recall a journey on one of those red and cream railcars (Auray to Vannes I think) in 1977 where we overtook someone cycling along the cess. With the condition of the cess in Britain I think that would soon have resulted in a twisted wheel or worse. I do remember sitting behind the driver in a DMU at Sheet Stores junction in 1988 when we saw a man pushing a motorbike along the cess towards Trent South - there were floods and the only nearby road bridge was probably under water. Driver wasn't impressed and phoned it on from the next signal.