First Great Western's safety stuff.

[py_megapixel]

I was recently reminded by some photos that for a while, FGW stock had white boxes at the end of the carriages containing some kind of system called an "emergency light stick". Presumably these were intended for use if the train lighting failed.

Were they uniquely a FGW thing or did they crop up anywhere else? How did they work? (I'm assuming basically a chemical glow stick but brighter). And why have they disappeared? Do they just assume everyone will have torches built into their smartphones now?

I also remember that there were "safety information cards" on the tables on the HSTs. That always came across to me as a bit strange, considering that every other TOC made do with just a poster above the door. Why did they bother?

The GWML was also the pilot for the testing of Automatic Train Protection (which was eventually not implemented, and TPWS was used instead as it was a more cost-effective solution) but I don't think that was a FGW initiative was it?

Finally, I think FirstGroup, and FGW in particular, piloted the idea of safety and security waffle in automated annnouncements. If you listen to some recordings of the PIS on the Adelante when it was first introduced, it was unbelievably waffly. Also, I think First North Western were among the first to have "Safety information is displayed on posters throughout the train" after every single station, and that persists today on the 175s despite them being leased to a different company!

Was any of this actually a thing, or am I making it all up?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The "emergency light sticks" were just glowsticks.

 

[221129]

They are on every train in the country. Or at least they should be

 

[43096]

I was recently reminded by some photos that for a while, FGW stock had white boxes at the end of the carriages containing some kind of system called an "emergency light stick". Presumably these were intended for use if the train lighting failed.

Were they uniquely a FGW thing or did they crop up anywhere else? How did they work? (I'm assuming basically a chemical glow stick but brighter). And why have they disappeared? Do they just assume everyone will have torches built into their smartphones now?

I also remember that there were "safety information cards" on the tables on the HSTs. That always came across to me as a bit strange, considering that every other TOC made do with just a poster above the door. Why did they bother?

The GWML was also the pilot for the testing of Automatic Train Protection (which was eventually not implemented, and TPWS was used instead as it was a more cost-effective solution) but I don't think that was a FGW initiative was it?

Finally, I think FirstGroup, and FGW in particular, piloted the idea of safety and security waffle in automated annnouncements. If you listen to some recordings of the PIS on the Adelante when it was first introduced, it was unbelievably waffly. Also, I think First North Western were among the first to have "Safety information is displayed on posters throughout the train" after every single station, and that persists today on the 175s despite them being leased to a different company!

Was any of this actually a thing, or am I making it all up?

It was all a thing. You've missed the stickers by every door way boasting about the HSTs being ATP fitted. Never wise crowing so publicly about safety.

 

[Non Multi]

The 387s have the glowsticks, they're less prominently placed than on the Turbos etc. I think the fleets all ended up with laminated windows too. It's all a legacy of the terrible fatal accidents that occured.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was all a thing. You've missed the stickers by every door way boasting about the HSTs being ATP fitted. Never wise crowing so publicly about safety.

That sort of thing has been done before. All the North West 142s at one point had a sticker on the cab end bulkhead stating "This train is fitted with Emergency Radio" (i.e. NRN) - I think this was done to reassure people after Cowden.

 

[jw]

The GWML was also the pilot for the testing of Automatic Train Protection (which was eventually not implemented, and TPWS was used instead as it was a more cost-effective solution) but I don't think that was a FGW initiative was it?

ATP *was* implemented (and is still present) on the GWML. It was deemed too expensive for a nationwide roll-out, with TPWS filling the gap.

 

[43096]

That sort of thing has been done before. All the North West 142s at one point had a sticker on the cab end bulkhead stating "This train is fitted with Emergency Radio" (i.e. NRN) - I think this was done to reassure people after Cowden.

That was presumably under NWT/FNW - all under the same management as Great Western.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That was presumably under NWT/FNW - all under the same management as Great Western.

No, this was much further back, either actual BR days or the NorthWest Regional Railways shadow franchise, I forget.

FNW refurbished the 142s, painting the orange end panels light blue and removing or painting over the sticker.

 

[pdeaves]

At least some of the stuff mentioned was a reaction to Ladbroke Grove and/or Southall accidents. Effectively to reassure the public that trains are OK really.

 

[swt_passenger]

FGW also had airliner style safety cards near most seats. (Already mentioned of course) I think their higher than average HST seat backs were also a reaction to an earlier accident?

 

[Mag_seven]

At least some of the stuff mentioned was a reaction to Ladbroke Grove and/or Southall accidents. Effectively to reassure the public that trains are OK really.

I think the "glow sticks" came about as a result of the Maidenhead HST fire. This was in the dark.

 

[warwickshire]

Don't forget on you tube with paul tyreman and the lady actor, the various first great Western staff and safety training videos. Featuring all off these safety realated issues on board and first great Westerns safety information on board posters also. However don't forget if it's onboard the adelante class 180 . Safety wise you'll be going nowhere.

 

[Puppetfinger]

I remember these both being introduced after rail incidents mentioned above, and absolutely so rightly so.

The light sticks would be a massive help if lighting and power were lost in a rural location at night.

Safety cards very good too, at the time they were introduced, I would not have done things in the way they described in an emergency.

Did they also introduce the window breaking hammers at the same time?

 

[takno]

I remember these both being introduced after rail incidents mentioned above, and absolutely so rightly so.

The light sticks would be a massive help if lighting and power were lost in a rural location at night.

Safety cards very good too, at the time they were introduced, I would not have done things in the way they described in an emergency.

Did they also introduce the window breaking hammers at the same time?

I think the safety cards were overkill, but there's certainly nothing wrong with providing some glowsticks. The hammers have been there since the carriages were built.

 

[FOH]

Didn't they also start the peelable glass in the vestibule door thing too?

 

[irish_rail]

The glow sticks are still there.

 

[43096]

Didn't they also start the peelable glass in the vestibule door thing too?

That was done across the Mark 3 fleets at around the same time, so more likely a ROSCO initiative than anything else.

 

[py_megapixel]

They are on every train in the country. Or at least they should be

On newer units they don't seem to be present, or at least they're not prominent. Which they need to be, if the aim is to provide emergency light. No good them being stuck in a cupboard somewhere if it will be necessary to be able to easily find them in the dark

Didn't they also start the peelable glass in the vestibule door thing too?

I thought you were supposed to smash the glass if the door failed and you couldn't slide it back?

Incidentally I've always found the design whereby you smash the glass to get the hammer to smash the other glass to be slightly comical, though I understand why it's necessary.

 

[fgwrich]

The 387s have the glowsticks, they're less prominently placed than on the Turbos etc. I think the fleets all ended up with laminated windows too. It's all a legacy of the terrible fatal accidents that occured.

Laminated Glass windows were fitted during the 2007 refurbishment following safety recommendations from the Ufton Nervett incident, where numerous injuries and deaths were sadly caused by ballast and debris entering the coaches through the windows.

 

[158747]

I think the safety cards were overkill, but there's certainly nothing wrong with providing some glowsticks. The hammers have been there since the carriages were built.

Safety hammers no longer provided as all carriage side windows are now laminated glass.

 

[northernbelle]

It's fair to say that FGW has been a particularly safety-aware TOC, presumably having had the spate of Southall, Ladbroke Grove and Ufton accidents.

Most of the modifications made to Mk3s described above were as a result of those crashes - I believe some evaluation work was facilitated by FGW and the ROSCOs with some stored trailers that were at Minehead.

A lot has moved on from the Mark 3 design with the benefit of horrible experience - you'll not find a new train where the interior vestibule-saloon doors slide in the same direction at both ends, for example (bi-parting is favoured now).

Similarly, plastic seat frames have been shown to be a problem in an accident - presumably why the IC70s were replaced where possible.