Misplaced Pages

#993006

38-409: On arrival at a "token exchange point", the driver reports their position to the signaller by radio and requests the "token" for the next section of line ahead. If the signaller is in a position to do so, they will issue the electronic token applicable to the section ahead. Simultaneously, the driver must operate a button on an apparatus in the cab to receive the token. The token is then transmitted to

76-656: A driver starts as a diesel assistant (or electrical assistant for electric locomotives). They then get promoted on a scale: goods, passenger, mail express, and the Rajdhani , Shatabdi , and Duronto express services. The British transport historian Christian Wolmar wrote in October 2013 that train operators employed by the Rio Tinto Group to transport iron ore across the Australian outback were likely to be

114-644: A point where the RETB could not have handled it. RETB was phased out on the East Suffolk Line after the last Ipswich-Lowestoft service arrived at Oulton Broad South on Friday 19 October 2012. From 2014, RETB Next Generation was developed and installed. Due to the loss of the Band III Sub Band 2 radio frequencies used by the NRN radio system from the digital TV spectrum reallocation the need arose for

152-609: A system to replace RETB on two lines in Scotland - the West Highland Line and the Far North Line. The rugged terrain and light line traffic made it cost-prohibitive to install GSM-R for these areas and so a new radio system, with new base station and on-train equipment, was developed. This allows RETB to continue to operate on Band III Sub Band 1. RETB NG. A number of upgrades to RETB NG have been integrated since

190-425: A warning in the cab regardless of the signal box instruction and has to be cancelled when passed. Points at the entrance to a crossing loop are spring-loaded for the correct track for facing movements, and are pushed across by the wheels for trailing movements; they too require no power or interlocking , other than for points heating purposes. In the facing direction, a 'points indicator' is provided to indicate to

228-587: Is a single regular freight operation on the line, consisting of alumina services from North Blyth to a smelter near Fort William. Since improvements to Scottish trunk roads in the 1980s, a train journey can take significantly longer than the equivalent road journey. There are several reasons for this. The line is entirely single track once it leaves the North Clyde suburban network at Craigendoran and trains must wait at stations with crossing loops for opposite direction trains to pass. Even when no crossing

266-417: Is being gradually replaced with the new European in-cab signalling system, ERTMS . The Cambrian line was due to be changed over to the new system by spring 2010 but was delayed, being commissioned on 11 March 2011. The East Suffolk Line's system underwent life extension works in 2006, but was converted to conventional Track Circuit Block with axle counters in connection with increasing the service frequency to

304-616: Is the same railway line as that referred to as the West Highland Railway . The route was built in several sections: There is an additional section from Fort William (or a junction near Fort William) to Mallaig, built as the Mallaig Extension Railway . The West Highland Railway approved the construction of the line at their annual meeting in January 1895. The line faced potential closure as part of

342-406: Is timetabled, each train must pause at the various token exchange points whilst the driver contacts the main signalling centre at Banavie to swap tokens electronically and obtain permission to proceed. Up to 15 minutes have to be allocated for trains to divide or combine at the junction station at Crianlarich , whilst trains heading to/from Mallaig also have to reverse at Fort William & traverse

380-548: Is typical: assistant conductor ( brakeman ), train conductor , and finally the engineer. For many years the fireman was next in line to be an engineer, but that classification has been eliminated. In the US, engineers are required to be certified and must then be re-certified every two to three years. The traditional career progression in the United Kingdom (for steam locomotives) was engine cleaner, passed engine cleaner (i.e.

418-459: The Beeching cuts in 1963 and again in 1995 due to reduced revenues. Shortly after leaving Glasgow Queen Street station , and beyond Queen Street Tunnel, the line diverges from the main trunk route to Edinburgh Waverley and Perth at Cowlairs and follows a northwesterly course through the suburbs of Maryhill and Kelvindale . Between Westerton and Dumbarton , the route is shared with

SECTION 10

#1732772571994

456-654: The North Clyde Line to Helensburgh Central before branching northward at Craigendoran Junction towards Garelochhead , the section where the West Highland Line itself is generally accepted to begin. It gives high-level views of the Gare Loch and Loch Long before emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond , then climbs Glen Falloch to Crianlarich . The branch to Oban diverges at Crianlarich, an important Highland junction of both road and rail, and runs through Glen Lochy to Dalmally and through

494-475: The Banavie swing bridge at low speed. A further issue is finding suitable timetable paths for Oban & Mallaig trains on the busy North Clyde line, which carries an intensive local stopping service. As West Highland trains only stop at Dumbarton Central and Dalmuir on this stretch, it is not uncommon for them be delayed by a preceding local train and so recovery time has to be included in their schedules to reduce

532-604: The Class 156s. However, following investigation it was discovered that the line does not have sufficient gauge clearance for the class. As of August 2018 studies were still ongoing. The two branches of the line are described in detail by John Thomas in his two books (see Sources). Places served along the route from Glasgow Queen Street are listed below. Sleeper services to Fort William start, however, at London Euston, calling at Edinburgh Waverley and Queen Street Low Level (to pick up or set down depending on direction). There

570-741: The Isles") is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland . The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that

608-556: The Pass of Brander to reach salt water at Taynuilt and Connel Ferry before a final climb over a hill to Oban . About three miles (five kilometres) from Crianlarich, the Mallaig and Oban routes both pass through the village of Tyndrum , but they are served by separate stations, making it the smallest settlement in the UK to be served by more than one railway station. After Bridge of Orchy ,

646-532: The United States and Canada, and also as a locomotive handler , locomotive engineer , locomotive operator , train operator , or motorman. In American English, a hostler (also known as a switcher ) moves engines around rail yards , but does not take them out on the main line tracks; the British English equivalent is a shunter . For many American railroads, the following career progression

684-407: The driver that the points are correctly set. The points indicator is in the form of a yellow light, lit only while the points are electrically detected in the required position. The whole line can be operated by just one or two signallers and needs very little infrastructure other than the track itself, making it a very cost-effective method. The simplicity of the lineside infrastructure in RETB areas

722-470: The employee has passed the assessment for fireman), fireman, passed fireman (i.e. passed assessment for driver), and driver. Michael Reynolds, locomotive inspector of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway proposed a system of locomotive driving certificates, as a stimulus of improvement of service and competency. However, no such system was ever universally adopted by the railways of the UK. In India,

760-564: The end of August. Caledonian Sleeper operates a nightly service from Fort William to London Euston . Onward ferry connections operated by Caledonian MacBrayne are available from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye , to the small isles of Rùm , Eigg , Muck , and Canna , to South Uist , and to Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula . From Oban ferries sail to the islands of Lismore , Colonsay , Coll , Tiree , Mull and Barra . As of 2021, there

798-595: The highest-paid members of the occupation in the world at that time. The following examine the role of the railroad engineer from 1890 to 1919, discussing qualifications for becoming an engineer and typical experiences on the job: Wilson David C Forward! The Revolution in the Lives of the Footplatemen 1962–1996 Published by Suttons ISBN 0-7509-1144-1 West Highland Line The West Highland Line ( Scottish Gaelic : Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean – "Iron Road to

SECTION 20

#1732772571994

836-533: The line descends above the shores of Loch Treig and through the narrow Monessie Gorge. The final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge . The section between Fort William and Mallaig passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct , through Arisaig with its views of the Small Isles of Rùm , Eigg , Muck and Canna , and the white sands of Morar before coming to Mallaig itself. With the exception of

874-522: The line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running. The West Highland Line is one of two railway lines that access the remote and mountainous west coast of Scotland, the other being the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Inverness with Kyle of Lochalsh . The line is the westernmost railway line in Great Britain. At least in part, the West Highland Line

912-498: The line to Mallaig climbs onto Rannoch Moor , past the former crossing point at Gorton Crossing to Rannoch station. In winter, the moor is often covered with snow, and deer may be seen running from the approaching train. The station at Corrour on the moor is one of the most remote stations in Britain and is not accessible by any public road. This is the summit of the line at 1347 ft (410 m) above sea level. Carrying on northwards,

950-450: The old Highland Railway route from Dingwall westwards to Kyle of Lochalsh . The contract was placed with Westinghouse of Chippenham, Wiltshire, and the system was brought into use on 28 October 1984, with the control equipment situated at Dingwall. Over the next four years, control was transferred to Inverness and the Wick and Thurso line was included in the scheme. A new control centre

988-525: The platform. Railroad engineer A train driver is a person who operates a train , railcar , or other rail transport vehicle. The driver is in charge of and is responsible for the mechanical operation of the train, train speed, and all of the train handling (also known as brake handling). Train drivers must follow certain guidelines for driving a train safely. A train driver is also called engine driver , engineman or locomotive driver , commonly known as an engineer or railroad engineer in

1026-626: The possibility of a late arrival in Glasgow. Over much of the Rannoch Moor section the speed limit is 60 mph (95 km/h) for the Sprinter and 70 mph (110 km/h) on the approach to Rannoch station. The Caledonian Sleeper travels at 40 mph (65 km/h) maximum, slowing down for a number of bridges on the route due to the heavy weight of the Class 67 locomotive which hauled

1064-493: The route between Glasgow Queen Street and Helensburgh Upper, and the short section between Fort William Junction and Fort William station , the railway is signalled using the Radio Electronic Token Block , controlled from the signal box at Banavie station . Passenger services on the line are operated by ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper . As of May 2021, the service pattern is as follows: All of

1102-513: The services from Glasgow Queen Street - Mallaig are combined with services to Oban, splitting at Crianlarich. Similarly, two of the return services combine at Crianlarich. During the summer season from May until October a steam locomotive -hauled daily return service between Fort William and Mallaig known as The Jacobite is operated by West Coast Railways . There is one train a day in May, September and October, and two trains per day from June until

1140-431: The signal telegraph pole route was brought down by bad weather over more than forty miles of track. The simplest, cheapest and quickest way of restoring the links between the instruments was found to be by radio: each machine was fitted with an external controller containing a unique microprocessor code so that the effect of a dedicated link to the machine at the other end of its section was maintained. The manual issue of

1178-417: The single line, and it cannot be removed from the train until the driver themself releases it. After confirming they have received the correct token, the driver is then given verbal permission to pass the "Stop Board" and enter that section; the stop board is used instead of signals and therefore needs no electrical supply. The fixed distance board on the approach has a single permanent AWS inductor which gives

Radio Electronic Token Block - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-609: The state of the TPWS is provided by a blue light mounted below the stop board. This shows a steady blue light when the TPWS is activated, and a flashing blue light when it is deactivated. The genesis of the system was on the Far North Line , a long, remote single-track line between Inverness , Wick and Thurso in Scotland . This line was controlled by traditional electric token instruments at each station, but in January 1978

1254-405: The system was renewed, to secure its future as an effective signalling and train control system for remote and rural lines around the world. These include improved train positioning technologies that allow train protection without the need for external lineside infrastructure. A 'Request to Stop' system has been installed on the Far North Line, using the RETB radio to alert the driver of passengers on

1292-435: The tokens continued as before. With the feasibility of using radio to effect the interlocking of single line token instruments demonstrated, and the additional benefit of voice communication between the signaller and the drivers noted, it was but a short step of invention to moving the instruments from staffed signal boxes to the cabs of trains. The line selected for the trial was another remote and lightly used Scottish line:

1330-402: The train by radio. The Solid State Interlocking controlling the system prevents the issue of any token permitting conflicting movements. In the same way as with the traditional system, when a physical token with the name of the section engraved on it would be carried in the cab, the electronic token is received and displayed by name on the train equipment. This token is the authority to occupy

1368-524: The train until the end of the old franchise in April 2015. The operator of the sleeper Serco has replaced these with refurbished Class 73 electro-diesels since it took over, which have a lighter axle load ; it is not yet clear whether the new locomotives will be cleared to run at higher speeds now they are in service. GB Railfreight Crewe Works (44871) 1945 In early 2018 it was widely reported that Class 158s would be used from Q3-Q4 2018 to replace

1406-610: Was brought into use at Banavie for the West Highland Line from Helensburgh Upper to Fort William and Mallaig , and from Crianlarich to Oban . The system was also used on two other British rural lines: the East Suffolk Line , where the control centre was at Saxmundham , and the Cambrian Line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli , where the control centre was at Machynlleth . RETB

1444-471: Was reduced by the installation of the Train Protection & Warning System . A train stop loop is provided at each stop board, and is normally activated (so that any train attempting to pass it will be immediately brought to a halt). When the signaller issues a token for a train to enter a section, the TPWS loop at the appropriate board is deactivated, so allowing the train to proceed. Indication of

#993006