What can stop a train driver?

[amcluesent]

The RAF could scramble an interceptor and strafe the train.

 

[GarethJohn]

Christmas Day?

Going over his hours or missing a Tea break?

 

[Lockwood]

Sniper?
Daring heroics from a helicopter to drop someone on to subdue the driver, or break continuity forcing the brakes to apply?
BTP constable in uniform stood ahead with his arm stretched outwards, palm facing the oncoming train?

 

[185]

Ok, so if

1) Proper psychological evaluation during interview

is unsuccessful...

Network Rail Rulebook Section M, Chapter 6, Verse III....

2) Denzel Washington

 

[EM2]

There would be the option of asking S&T to hand-wind a set of points, but not fully over, causing a runaway to derail (basically unofficial trap points). Very, very unlikely to be allowed, but maybe as a last resort?

 

[stuartl]

If any one has a long enough memory the the Moorgate tube crash comes to mind. Don't think they ever worked out why the train didn't stop. Driver showed no obvious signs of problems, nothing wrong with train.

 

[Kneedown]

It all depends on what type of train we're talking about. On a loco hauled or HST, ie something with a brake pipe running the length of the train, any breach of this pipe would result in the brakes being applied. This could be passenger communication apparatus, Guards emergency valve, Emergency brake plunger in rear cab.
On a DMU with EBS/TPWS isolated the pass-comm and other systems will be by-passed, but it would still be possible to stop the train, albeit not as quickly as desired.
If I were in the situation (On say a 2 car 156) I would apply the Parking Brake IC which would apply the parking brake and start to retard the train speed, although it would take a long time to bring the train to a stand. My next step would be to trip the Local Control CB in the rear cab which would shut an engine down along with it's associated compressor. It may help to "toggle" the Low Main Air Governor in the cab, which would fool the system into thinking there was insufficient air in the Main Res and apply the brakes. I think that should work even if the EBS was raised, but have never actually tried it funnily enough!

 

[Lockwood]

2) Denzel Washington

Turn up to work drunk and drive the train upside down, managing to reduce passenger fatalities?

 

[O L Leigh]

Say a train driver sets off from Wigan North Western (or wherever you prefer) with some grievance and decides to go on a bit of a 'joyride' to let steam off

Is this for real...?

How about instantly losing his job and potentially facing criminal charges? What sort of grievance is going to prompt a driver to do anything so monumentally stupid? Surely it's far more likely that a driver is going to storm off the job, jump in their car and just clear off home.

As for all the people who have very helpfully pointed out all the bypass switches and system isolations required to move a train without any of those pesky safety systems interfering, thanks a bunch.

O L Leigh

 

[Merseysider]

Is this for real...?

How about instantly losing his job and potentially facing criminal charges? What sort of grievance is going to prompt a driver to do anything so monumentally stupid? Surely it's far more likely that a driver is going to storm off the job, jump in their car and just clear off home.

As for all the people who have very helpfully pointed out all the bypass switches and system isolations required to move a train without any of those pesky safety systems interfering, thanks a bunch.

O L Leigh

There's nothing wrong with pondering 'what ifs'!

As for stopping the train, a crane with a really strong magnet should do the trick.

 

[TDK]

Is this for real...?

How about instantly losing his job and potentially facing criminal charges? What sort of grievance is going to prompt a driver to do anything so monumentally stupid? Surely it's far more likely that a driver is going to storm off the job, jump in their car and just clear off home.

As for all the people who have very helpfully pointed out all the bypass switches and system isolations required to move a train without any of those pesky safety systems interfering, thanks a bunch.

O L Leigh

Don't worry there are a couple that they have not mentioned Mr. Leigh so we can all be safe out there just in case the 1 billion to one risk comes true.

 

[GB]

As for stopping the train, a crane with a really strong magnet should do the trick.

Not really sure how thats gonna work with a moving train.

 

[Merseysider]

Not really sure how thats gonna work with a moving train.

Stationary eddy current brakes are currently in use to stop/slow some HSTs - all you'd need to do is increase the power of the magnet several dozen fold.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

The shunter driver at our local chemical works frequently used to take his loco up the line to visit the corner shop...

 

[455driver]

1/ No hot water to make a cup of tea
2/ Diarrhea
3/ A new manager throwing their weight around and trying to reinvent the wheel
4/ A guard not sending ding ding

But the biggest is no1!

 

[WestRiding]

Apart from wondering the type of person who even thinks up such a question, (a 5 year old?) the Signalman would make the arrangements to derail the train where possible, upon multiple SPADS, divert it away from any other trains if possible, lower any level crossings, emergency calls, NRN/GSMR, blaa blaa blaa.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Apart from wondering the type of person who even thinks up such a question, (a 5 year old?) the Signalman would make the arrangements to derail the train where possible, upon multiple SPADS, divert it away from any other trains if possible, lower any level crossings, emergency calls, NRN/GSMR, blaa blaa blaa.

An author writing a book or screenplay where a driver goes postal/train goes runaway trope is invoked? There is no need to be rude...

 

[Merseysider]

An author writing a book or screenplay where a driver goes postal/train goes runaway trope is invoked? There is no need to be rude...

Considering terrorists have already shown themselves capable of taking control of planes, I'm sure they'd be capable of assuming control of a train, be they a driver gone rogue who passed background checks, or a simple hijacker. Thus the question posed by the OP is one the industry has probably already asked itself, and therefore, entirely reasonable.

 

[table38]

I watched a film where there was maniac driver and the only way they could stop it was to set it on fire!

Great if cheesy film, The Last Passenger

(If only because I'm the sort of person who likes to point out all of the plot holes, such as, err - setting the diesel fuel tanks in a 4-CIG alight )

 

[NotATrainspott]

What happens if GSM-R goes down on the current railway network? I've heard that under ETCS Level >2, a loss of GSM-R means a loss of signalling authority and thus the train has to assume the signal is at 'danger'. Coupled with the inherent ATP that ETCS delivers that should mean that turning off the GSM-R network would stop the trains.

 

[alex17595]

Great if cheesy film, The Last Passenger

(If only because I'm the sort of person who likes to point out all of the plot holes, such as, err - setting the diesel fuel tanks in a 4-CIG alight )

It could have been more realistic like this.

That is how you stop a train!

 

[Emyr]

Great if cheesy film, The Last Passenger

(If only because I'm the sort of person who likes to point out all of the plot holes, such as, err - setting the diesel fuel tanks in a 4-CIG alight )

From that IMDB entry:

Factual errors
The engine is supposedly a diesel/electric. Yet there is no engine compartment behind the driver's bay, just seats.

"0 of 3 found this interesting"

 

[table38]

Some of us are old enough to remember this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/5036530.stm

Two youths who took a 49-ton railway locomotive for a ride are being hunted by police.
The pair, aged between 18 and 20, climbed into the 350bhp heavy goods shunting engine at Tinsley marshalling yard in Sheffield and started it up.

They were captured by CCTV as they drove the engine around the yard. Police are studying the footage.

 

[TB93]

I remember the 08 joyriders after that event they had to chain and lock the cab doors.

 

[alex17595]

I remember the 08 joyriders after that event they had to chain and lock the cab doors.

This? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...s-take-49-ton-shunting-engine-for-a-spin.html

 

[table38]

There was a picture... does this look like anyone we know from 2006? Actually, it looks like a lot of people I know from 2006

 

[thebigcheese]

Possibly a police sniper taking out the driver although doubt there would be enough time to set this up

 

[TheEdge]

Well, this thread has clearly got a Standard Day Single on the 38:72 departure to the dark side of Neptune...

 

[Merseysider]

Instead of the driver in front laying down dets, how about proper explosives?
Or if the lines were quiet, the signallers could route the train onto an uphill gradient to slow it down which might make the job of stopping it easier?

 

[cf111]

Well, this thread has clearly got a Standard Day Single on the 38:72 departure to the dark side of Neptune...

Is there a trolley?