Continuing the stoppages rail trail, the cute one carriage train I’ve mentioned before has “intermittent stoppages” depending upon what mood the single track is in on any given day... Whilst out & about yesterday taking photos of the “road stoppage” I heard voices from the little station, the stationmaster & his mate were having a joke about me taking photos & asked if I was going to take some of them cos they wanted to be famous. As it turned out I went over for a chat, we put the world to rights, had a “reet good laugh” & I forgot to take their photo… But never mind, I took one of the train itself, just to prove it’s not a figment of my imagination cos:
a) I haven’t taken any photos of it till now
b) My imagination has many figments
So here’s the full length of the train sat at the station with no passengers onboard – just the driver himself in solitary confinement, ahhh…
While the train was approaching the stationmaster pressed a button (no cutbacks here), which opens & closes the level crossing that crosses the "stoppaged" road. Then he passed the “baton” to the driver, in exchange for the “key” from the driver. Seriously tho this is important, it’s so that the next station knows there’s only that train can come thru. You still with this...?
I also discovered that its speed limit is just 15mph around here, that's why we only ever see it crawling along, however it is capable of blasting along at up to 50mph --- but I wouldn't like to be on it at the time...
Hang on a mo, what am I saying? For all its quirks I'd prefer to travel on this slow train full of character & charm (if not passengers) through stunning scenery any day rather than a high speed train thru the suburbs... And you know what, it's a darn shame more people don't use this line - even if it's just for "a day out with a view."
To the jolly stationmaster at Rufford: Remember that weird woman who stopped by on Monday? Be prepared, with all this new publicity there'll be thousands of people queueing up tomorrow & you'll be cussing me... Nah, don't worry cos what that translates to in the real world is just one or two extra passengers, (tops) & they'd probably be members of my family feeling beholden...
So anyway, here’s the baton, but I didn’t like to ask if the driver sticks it out the window, waves it around & shouts “COMING THROUGH” or not…
And this is the key that the driver had to hand in here…
One day I might wander past & find out more details about this tradition…
Meanwhile across the road (the one with the stoppage) I noticed these:
Spot the white sheep of the family, ok then, it’s over there on the right & sorta blends in with the surroundings, altho rather strangely it’s got a black head which gives it away, what an anonamully anomaly. Oh & him sat in the middle there has MASSIVE curly wurly horns…
You might be spooked by an eerie photo tomorrow – we were both gobsmacked by it…
3 comments:
OK - the baton (or single line staff) is the authority for a train (however big or small) to be on the line between the two places - the important thing is that there is only ONE of them, so the Driver doesn't have to shout out!
The key is inserted into the locking mechanism to unlock the barriers and operate the signals.
Single line working on the railways is a system to stop two trains meeting head on on the same line.The principle is that only one key or token as it is known is available for the section of line.No token=no go.The driver must have the token to with him/her to enter the single line.
Thus two trains cannot be on the single line at the same time.
The tokens you show are called Electric Tokens.The problem would arise if two trains wanted to go in the same direction because the first train would end up taking the token to the other end of the line and hand it in.The second train would then not have the token at it's end to follow it.
The system was developed many years ago that there are several tokens at each end of the line.When one token is withdrawn from the machine the machine at that end and the other end are electronically locked so no more can be withdrawn.When the train arrives at the other end the token is put into the machine at that end and the system is unlocked at both ends giving the signaller the option of withdrawing another token for a second train from either end as required.
The signaller might have to recieve a token from an arriving train leaving the single line and then issue a different token for the next section.To avoid putting the tokens back into the wrong machine the ends are different shapes so can only fit into the machine for which they were designed.
If the system breaks down a man called a pilotman is brought into use.He wears an armband to identify him and various forms are filled out .He becomes the token and will ride with the driver of each train.one pilotman only so no pilotman=no go.If a second train needs to follow in the same direction then he will have to get in his car and drive back to the other end.
If a train breaks down in the middle of the single line and a rescue engine needs to go and get it there is a problem because the token is on the dead train and the driver can't enter without the token.Originally the driver of the broken down train would have to physically get the token to the end af the line and give it to the rescue engine but nowadays with modern radio etc this is sorted on the radio and the rescue engine can enter after a few formalities.The Wigan-Southport line is lovely. From New City Canal Transport-(Rail Dept.) Ken
Thanks for the info guys, fascinating stuff.
I've come to the conclusion that one track railway lines like this should be promoted more else we'll lose them...
Perhaps given a classification "leisure & recreation" similar to canal boats as a basis for advertising, but I guess it all costs...
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