LU 150

Re: LU 150 plans...

All the outward opening doors are locked on Ffestiniog Railway trains because of the tight clearences, so its not inconceivable.

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

The FfR is not underground though...

Tom

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

From watching the dispatch on Wednesday there's one steward per coach who checks all doors are locked and then boards the coach he / she is responsible for if this helps.

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

Each station will have had the isolations approved by the LFEPA and a safety case amendment approved. The usual method is to place covers over the smoke detectors for the duration of the isolation, which is also done when station works which are likely to create dust are planned.

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

ITV News - Clock goes back on the tube

I see Peter Hendy has the window wide open again...

Chris

 

LU 150 plans...

Correct, but if you are locked in a coach, then you are locked in a coach, does it make much of a difference where you are?

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

It's a risk assessment - is the greater risk someone opening a door when clearance is very limited, or being trapped in a train after a crash? I think the FfR, with its very limited clearances, is a special case - generally, the greater risk is being trapped where the passengers cannot get out of a compartment after a crash. In days past, when carriages were wooden and lighting generally by gas, the risk of carriage fires was much greater than now, and the results more devastating.

At Versailles, in the 1840s, an unknown number of people (but estimated to be between 50 and 200) were killed in a train fire that followed a crash. Although the fire didn't cause the accident, it made the consequences many times worse. Thereafter, the practice of locking carriage doors so that the passengers inside couldn't open them was outlawed in France and I believe was severely frowned upon here.

Tom

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

However it was common practice on Troop Trains up to WW1 and was probably a factor in the massive loss of life at Quintinshill in 1915.

 

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We will find out, but the instructions accompanying the tickets stress the importance of not opening the doors in several places, therefore I guess the doors will not be locked.

the instruction sheet also has a paragraph, with photographs, on how to operate the red emergency chain running through the coach.. I guess one can deduce the Victorian emergency chain connecting each coach through to the engine will be the emergency notification system..but it says the engine will only stop we're safe to do so when pulled.

 

LU 150 plans...

You've not interpreted that correctly, pulling the communication cord will cause the train to stop (it opens a valve in the vacuum pipe and causes the brakes to drag quite a lot), the notes ask for the cord to only be pulled out of stations in extreme emergencies.

 

Re: LU 150 plans...

Are you sure? My understanding was that if you pull the communication cord, it lets a small amount of air into the vacuum pipe which is sufficient to alert the driver that the cord has been pulled, but not so much as to stop the train on its own against the continued operation of the brake ejector which is sucking air back out of the vacuum pipe. Thus the driver is alerted to a problem, but the ultimate place the train stops is under the control of the driver by making a more extensive brake application.

If pulling the cord on its own stopped the train, there would be the potential for greater danger by virtue of the train coming to rest in a precarious position (on a high viaduct[sup]*[/sup] etc). Thus in nearly every case, the safest course of action is to allow the driver to choose a safe location to stop, which would often (but not necessarily) be at a station.


(*) In general I mean, not necessarily a likely occurrence on the underground!

Tom

 

LU 150 plans...

Correct, sorry I didn't use the best wording, it's not pulling the cord that causes the train to stop (but the dragging brakes will cause it to slow), it is these briefing instructions state that the train will be stopped if the cord is pulled.

 

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Are you allowed to use the toilet while standing in a station. Oh, hang on ...

Richard

 

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Depends on the type of carriage or valve fitted to the carriage as to whether the train stops or the brakes drag!

 

For those meeting for lunch on Sunday at the Baker St 'spoons, how are we going to recognise each other? A copy of Steam Railway on the table? Grease-top hat on the chair?

Richard

 

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Somehow I think we'd recognise each other just fine.................

I don't know whether I'll pop in or not, depends on how things pan out tomorrow.

 

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Maybe you could all browse the HR FaceBook page on your portable electronic devices and se if Robin Jones will join you...

OK, cheap shot I know.

Tom

 

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I suspect I'll be the only person 6' 4" tall wearing a 92 Squadron beanie hat. Feel free to introduce yourself and buy me an ale.

 

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I must say of all the steam tours I've done , not to say 23 yrs as a fireman , i'm quite exited by this!
Please can we have vids next week!