The Border Reiver Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 A signal base failed following a simple signal head renewal (from a standard MAS head to a lighter LED signal – not sure when exactly the head replacement was done) and the signal started to lean towards the running line, when it was hit by a train doing 110MPH and ended up in this position. Fortunately only minor damage occurred to the HST but is now subject to an investigation by RAIB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 looks a bit rusty... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 The base of that signal looks rather rusty and old rust are they not supposed to be checked thoroughly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 And the signal is still red Don't go past it then... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 It sounds like it was very lucky it was a train on Up line (the far one in the pic) that hit the top of it and destroyed the junction indicator, rather than a train on the down line hitting it full on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Yes by our structure examiners - going to be a stewards inquiry into this one....................................... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading General Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 if the signal is still red, how come the train didn't stop? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 It sounds like it was very lucky it was a train on Up line (the far one in the pic) that hit the top of it and destroyed the junction indicator, rather than a train on the down line hitting it full on. I work with the driver that hit and to say he wasnt very impressed would be a bit of an understatement! He was quite glad that the signal was one of the new plastic ones rather than a proper steel one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 19, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 19, 2014 if the signal is still red, how come the train didn't stop? Because it was going the other way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 if the signal is still red, how come the train didn't stop? Because the train was on the up line (at the top) and it took the feathers off the top of the signal. If the train had been on the down line (which the signal is lying across) the signal wouldnt still be there would it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamperman36 Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 someone had better get an order into eckon for a new signal base and feather please Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted November 20, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 20, 2014 At least it was "only" a signal. Back in the good old days, BR managed to let a whole overline signalbox sag towards the track. http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1085 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 This happened to another signal on the South Wales Main Line a few years ago, although fortunately it was noticed before a train hit it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading General Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Because the train was on the up line (at the top) and it took the feathers off the top of the signal. If the train had been on the down line (which the signal is lying across) the signal wouldnt still be there would it! you think? :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMS2968 Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Probably it wouldn't. Exactly where the train might be is quite another matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 That's a whole new slant on "delayed due to signal failure"...Seriously, glad it ended up just a minor collision and not something nastier... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 And the signal is still red It doesn't look like the cables were severed, so power would be still getting to the signal head, just now the electricity's running horizontally, rather than vertically! Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 I work with the driver that hit and to say he wasnt very impressed would be a bit of an understatement! He was quite glad that the signal was one of the new plastic ones rather than a proper steel one. I don't blame him. I'm no structural engineer but I can't see any clean metal in the fracture and it looks like it was only the rust holding it together. I'd not be surprised if the process of changing the head hadn't finished it off. This does look like a lucky escape but relying on luck isn't a good approach to safety. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Depot Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 I was about to ask if the signal lying like that had dropped the TC, but then remembered they where out hat and its nearlly all treadles now! Going off topic but does make me wonder what will replace TC operating clips in the future. Anyway that post looks in a bad state, makes you wonder how many others on the network may be in the same state or worse..... Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 I was about to ask if the signal lying like that had dropped the TC, but then remembered they where out hat and its nearlly all treadles now! Going off topic but does make me wonder what will replace TC operating clips in the future. Anyway that post looks in a bad state, makes you wonder how many others on the network may be in the same state or worse..... Keith If I followed the OP correctly, the signal wasn't lying over the track until the train hit and then it fell over, therefore any track circuits wouldn't have been replaced. When you say treadles, I assume you mean Axle Counters, most of which don't use treadles, most use the disruption of a magnetic field by a passing train wheel to detect the presence of a train. It is unlikely that anything will replace the TC Clips in future. It's interesting that I assume the cables would need, at the very least, checking for compatibility and possibly replacing and seen as these go through the post and down to the base, the base would of been seen by the engineers. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Simon, IMO it's better to remove the info about how to mess up with axle counters. One never knows who's reading that You're quite right, info removed! Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stadman Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 If the train had been on the down line (which the signal is lying across) the signal wouldnt still be there would it! Would still needed to stop as it would have been a signal "Incorrectly or imperfectly" shown. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 20, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 20, 2014 Yes by our structure examiners - going to be a stewards inquiry into this one....................................... So it was up towards the Racecourse station then? I work with the driver that hit and to say he wasnt very impressed would be a bit of an understatement! He was quite glad that the signal was one of the new plastic ones rather than a proper steel one. Ah, the new 'traditional' version of plastic that can rust That signal is no more one of those 'plastic Mickeys' than it is a GWR timber post, and like all the original colour light in the vicinity of Newbury it would have been installed in the 1970s as it is to the BR 'standard' design which the WR were using by then with a welded base plate - I wonder if it's one of the ones being replaced (much work going on in the vicinity at present). And BTW as far as I know the axle counters in the Newbury area have not yet been commissioned, it's still all continuously track circuited. But a track circuitwouldn't have dropped if the signal wasn't bridging the rails would it, hence a train on the opposite line would have had no warning except good old fashioned handsignals and dets or a general 'Stop' on the radio if the 'box etc could be told in time. So next question - are the multitude of contractors at work down the B&H laying cable, putting in locs, and erecting signals actually qualified in protection Rules and if not why no if they happen to be working with things that can foul running lines - RAIB could have a field day with that but we won't know for a year or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 20, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 20, 2014 BTW the last time that happened in the Reading area the 'felling' was done by some Irish fellahs who were well out of the way by the time their little package went bang. And it was a pretty loud bang, I heard it clearly from the other end of Reading! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 ooops! think the reference to plastic was the signal head ? was it a feather that was hit? good job it did not fall whilst the technician replacing the head was up the post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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