Training - trip with the Guard, and two Ground Frames

Training is progressing at pace this week, Today I am on the railway again taking a round trip with the guard, on a day with Holt signal box closed. This means I should be able to see both the Holt and the Sheringham ground frames in action.

We sign on at 09:00, and Guard Veronica shows me to the office:

There's actually two brake coaches on this train so in theory you can use a different one in each direction. The guards compartment has the guards desk and chair, a heater, the handbrake, the vacuum brake release and the vacuum gauge. This one, in the Suburban set, also has two periscopes for looking up and down the train, for overhead cables. Each of the compartments is equipped with a set of loose equipment: a first aid kit, point scotches, emergency coupling, fire beaters and track circuit clips.

The first job is to walk the length of the train on both sides and perform an external inspection. We look at all the springs, the brake blocks, the couplings and hoses and the PAS-COM flags which are operated by the emergency chains inside and which release the brake vacuum. The brake blocks have a neat little cast 'thumb print' which lets you see when they are worn enough to need replacement.

If we had been connected to a Western Region locomotive (as we might at a gala, for example) we would also need to release the vacuum in the braking system using the pull cords connected to valves on the brake cylinders:

The position of the cords is indicated by these stars on the running board:

Next, we walk through the train checking internally for any damaged seats, luggage racks, Christmas presents etc. left by the passengers. We stop in the guards compartment to have a look at the periscope:

At the Holt end of the train, the lamp is still in place from last night. This goes on the platform facing red to the locomotive until we have completed our inspection and are ready for the loco to hook on; then, we turn the red aspect away from the loco and call the driver onto the train using the 'come towards' hand signals. As he hooks on, we take the lamp to the rear of the train and put it on the iron nearest to the platform we will be arriving at.

When the fireman has hooked on, we go up for a chat and to check the coupling is correctly in place and that the vacuum hose is connected - we would check the steam heat hoses as well in season. We confirm to the driver what stock he is pulling and tell him the total weight of the train.

Soon, the platform staff are ready to despatch the train; I keep out of the way as Guard Veronica blows her whistle and gives the green flag, the 'right away' to the loco crew. We are off, and as the train pulls out we are looking for doors opening, vehicles detached, people trying to get on and then for the signals and hazards such as the golf club crossing or any orange vests standing near the line.

The train slows through Weybourne station and again we are looking out for passengers attempting to disembark, but all is quiet and eventually we arrive at Holt. 

On the way in, you can't see very much since the curvature of the train blocks the platform from view and the first thing we see is the signal box with the token hanging on the catcher. We alight the train and walk back to the box to collect the token and operate the ground frame.

When the box is locked out the normal state of the ground frame is with the road set to all trains into platform 1 at the bottom of the diagram, and the inner home signal (5) cleared. Our first job is to set the platform 1 inner home (5) to danger to prevent any other trains coming in - this is part of the only track circuit at Holt. This lever also sets the platform 1 down starter (21) to danger. Next, we set the crossover (7) to reverse so that the loco can go onto the running line from the up loop at the top of the diagram. For this operation we use the lever and the manual release button.

The loco has used the run around permission box at the far end of the platform and we soon hear it coming down the loop, so we set the platform 2 down starter (22) to clear, and the loco passes the signal and the crossover to end up on the down side of the shunting signal (8). 

We set the platform 2 down home (22) to danger and return the crossover (7) to normal. We clear the shunting signal (8) to let the loco back onto the train, and reset the shunting signal (8) to danger when it is passed. The last job is to operate the first lever, which gives the train the road by clearing the platform 1 down starter (21) and also clears the platform 2 up inner home (5).

We push the button to release the token, and I bag it up and give it to the crew. With another green flag, we are off down to Kelling. At this point, the passengers may have made the TTI or the guard aware of a desire to stop at the Kelling Halt request stop, and we would be showing the yellow flag to the crew as we went down the bank, in time for them to stop. In these COVID restricted times however we are not stopping at Kelling at all.

Arriving into Sheringham heralds the end of my trip with Guard Veronica and the opportunity to look at the Sheringham Ground Frame.

This is a pretty simple device, solely used for control of the run-around loop at Sheringham East - which is out of site of the signalman. When a train arrives at the station, the crew prepare to run around their train almost immediately. The platform staff clear the board crossing and close the gates onto the two platforms to prevent passengers using the crossing.

Next, they use the bell push in the ground frame to request control from the signalman at Sheringham West Box. He provides control from the #1 lever in the East box, which gives control of the yard to the ground frame and the five LEDs in the ground frame are illuminated. The person in charge of the crossing, called the PIC-SE, gives the 'come towards' signal to the crew who draw the loco into the headshunt, and operate the hand points. Observing the operation of the points, the PIC-SE operates the switch to clear the ground signal, and the loco pulls forward into the empty platform.

When the loco draws into the platform the PIC-SE switches the ground signal back to danger and uses the bell push to confirm to the signalman that the movement is complete. The signalman, who can see the presence of vehicle in the platform from the track circuit lamps in the signal box takes back control of the yard, the LEDs in the ground frame go out and the PIC-SE opens the crossing to passengers once again. The signalman is then free to clear the relevant platform up starter signal to allow the locomotive to complete the run around movement. 

For me, that was the end of  very useful day. I was able to ask Platform Supervisor Michael to sign off Sheringham Ground Frame for me, and Guard Veronica kindly signed off Holt Ground Frame and my trip out with the guard.

Another good day on the railway.