WORKING OF EX-G.W.R. DIESEL CARS

In connection with the running of ex-G.W.R. diesel cars, the instructions for Auto-Car Services must be observed except as varied below :—

CLAUSE 1. (Fifth paragraph)

Guards must in all cases give the signal to the Driver to start by means of the electric bell communication provided for the purpose, and not by hand signal. In case of failure of the bell communication, the Guard must give a verbal message and must report to his Station Master that the bell communication has failed; the Station Master to notify the person who normally attends to the Bell communication on Auto Trains, Dining Cars, etc., in the district. (Guard should not ride with Driver.)

CLAUSE 4

A Guard or other man to act as Guard must always be provided for diesel cars.

CLAUSE 16. Exchange of Electric Token

As the Driver is unable to exchange the train token whilst the car is in motion, it must be brought to a stand at the Signal Box, or other convenient point, and the Signalman must go to the car and exchange the token with the Driver.

The loop carrier must not be used.

CLAUSE 21

When any movement with passengers in the car is required, the Driver must always be at the leading end.

When there are no passengers in the car and bell signals can be given in the rear driving compartment by the Guard or Shunter from the leading end, the shunting movement may be performed with the Driver at the rear end, but the Guard or Shunter must ride at the leading end, keep a sharp look-out and be prepared to signal to the Driver by means of the bell push provided for the purpose.

The bell codes to be used are:—

Plates shewing the codes will be fixed in all Drivers' and Guards' compartments.

In the event of the bell communication failing the Driver must ride at the leading end.

DRIVING COMPARTMENTS

No one is allowed to ride with the Driver in the leading driving compartment of a diesel car unless he is in possession of an engine pass.

No one but an official of the Commission holding an engine pass or a guard in the performance of his duty is allowed to travel in the rear driving compartment.

When it is necessary for anyone to travel in this compartment, care must be taken not to interfere with any of the controls.

In addition to the crew, not more than TWO persons are permitted to ride in the driving compartment.

RULE 55 (c)

The duty of going to the Signal Box must be performed by the Guard or Shunter and to enable this to be done a Guard or Shunter must always accompany the car.

INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGNALMEN

Diesel cars must be brought within the protection of the Home signal as soon as possible. At Signal Boxes where an additional Home signal is provided, the Signalman must not acknowledge the " Is Line Clear? " signal for the diesel car until permission can be given for the car to proceed to the Inner Home signal. Diesel cars must not be detained at the outermost Home signal except in case of emergency.

Where Intermediate Block signals controlled from the Signal Box in rear are provided, the car must not be allowed to leave the Signal Box in rear until the " Is Line Clear? " signal has been accepted by the Signalman at the Box in advance, nor must any train be allowed to follow the car towards the Intermediate Block signal until the " Train out of Section " signal has been received for it. " The Train Entering Section " signal for the Diesel Car must be sent when the car leaves the signal box controlling the Intermediate Block Signal.

TRAINS STOPPED BY ACCIDENT, FAILURE OR OBSTRUCTION OR OTHER EXCEPTIONAL CAUSE.-RULES 179 to 181

The Guard must act in accordance with the Rule, and where necessary the protection usually performed by the Fireman must be carried out by the Driver. Clauses (g) and (h) of Rule 179 and (h) of Rule 181 will apply to diesel cars.

Should it be necessary for the Guard and Driver to leave the car unattended, the Driver, before leaving the car, must stop the engines and apply both hand brakes. On falling gradients he must place the engine in reverse, and select and engage bottom gear; on rising gradients bottom forward gear must be engaged. The gear selector lever must be locked up by the Driver in the tool box. All doors giving access to the Driver's compartment must be locked before the Driver leaves the car to carry out the provisions of these rules.

FAILURE OF CAR ON A SINGLE LINE.-ELECTRIC TOKEN REGULATION 14

In the event of a diesel car becoming disabled on a section of single line between two Token Stations the Driver must take the token to the nearer token station for the purpose of obtaining assistance and as he proceeds place detonators on the rail as laid down in Rule 179: the Guard must proceed in the opposite direction, protecting his train as directed in this Rule.

TAIL TRAFFIC

Tail traffic may only be hauled by Diesel Cars numbered 19 upwards.

The maximum tail tonnage in all circumstances, must not exceed 60 tons. In the case of the Twin Diesel Units formed with an intermediate coach, the maximum tail tonnage must not exceed 30 tons.

The tail load must be restricted to 30 tons where there is a rising gradient of 1 in 60 or steeper, except where the diesel car is used for Engineering Department tunnel inspections when the restriction applies on rising gradients of 1 in 40 or steeper.

When steam heating is in use not more than one passenger carrying vehicle may be attached to the Diesel Car or Twin Diesel Units.

HEAD AND TAIL LAMPS

The car will not carry the standard head code, but the standard tail lamp will be carried.

After sunset, or during fog or falling snow, or when proceeding through a tunnel, the tail lamp must be alight, and the two white lights (horizontally at platform level) must be exhibited at the leading end as Class 1 or 2 (" A "). When Class 2 (" B ") is required, one white light (at top centre) will be used.

The switching on of headlamps after sunset, during fog or falling snow, or before passing through tunnels, must be performed by the Driver.

The Guard or man acting as Guard will be responsible for seeing that the tail lamp is placed in position and lighted when necessary.

INSTRUCTIONS TO GUARDS

The " right-away " signal must be given by means of the vestibule bell and not until all doors are closed and securely fastened.

The doors next to the adjoining running line must not be used except under unavoidable circum- stances, and in such cases special care must be exercised to see that no other train is approaching.

The number of passengers in and out at each station must be recorded on the Guard's journal.

All passenger Diesel Cars may carry additional passengers up to a number not exceeding half the normal seating capacity, with the following exceptions;

(a) The loading of Diesel cars passing through the Severn Tunnel must not exceed the seating capacity.
(b) The maximum permissible loads in Luggage compartments of Diesel Cars must not exceed the maximum indicated on the Notice exhibited in the Car.

WARNINGS OF THE APPROACH OF CAR

These cars are fitted with two pairs of horns at each end, the two horns of each pair sounding notes of different tones, which are operated alternately. The warning is distinctive and not liable to be mistaken for that given by a road vehicle.

All concerned must warn men employed under their supervision who may be required to work on the permanent way or to walk upon or cross running lines of the importance of observing the warning, and that they must be prepared for the car to approach quietly and at high speed. Upon hear-ing the warning the Driver should be given an acknowledgment whenever possible.

It is important that men engaged on permanent way work, etc., shall move promptly to a point of safety upon sighting or receiving audible warning of the approach of the car.

WORKING OVER PERMISSIVE LINES

Trains which are admitted to a permissive line immediately following a diesel car must be brought to a stand at the Signal Box in accordance with the Permissive Block Regulations and the Driver verbally told that a diesel car is in the section ahead. The Driver of a train which is so admitted must proceed with caution and must take care not to buffer up to the diesel car.

W.R. AUTOMATIC WARNING SYSTEM APPARATUS

Diesel cars are equipped with ex G.W.R. type A.W.S. apparatus at each end. Before leaving one end to drive from the other, the Driver must put the apparatus out of use by operating the lever provided. The movement of this lever isolates the apparatus from both the battery and the brake system, puts the vacuum gauge in that vestibule out of use, and brings the " Not in use " flag into view. Upon entering the vestibule at the other end, the Driver must bring the A.W.S. apparatus into use, and until this duty has been performed, no reading will be obtainable on the vacuum gauge in that vestibule.

GAS AND WATER

Gas will be required for the buffet car and a supply of water for lavatories and buffet where provided.

GENERAL

When a diesel car is required to work over a section of line where it is not normally scheduled to run, prior advice must be issued to all concerned, including the staff of other Departments, e.g., Permanent Way men, of the intention to make such movement.

When scheduled diesel car working has been suspended for a short period, i.e., not exceeding seven days, in connection with repairs, etc., a train or Auto service being substituted temporarily, it will not be necessary for a special advice of resumption of diesel car working to be issued to all concerned.

When scheduled diesel car working has been suspended for a period in excess of seven days, a notice to all concerned must be issued before diesel car working can be resumed.

If it is absolutely necessary for a diesel car to work over a section of line where it is not normally scheduled to run or if a Diesel Car is required to work in a service which is normally scheduled to be worked by a train or auto-car on a route over which Diesel Cars are authorised to be worked and a printed or stencilled notice cannot be issued in sufficient time to ensure that 48 hours' notice is given to all concerned, the Drivers of such diesel cars must be notified of the circumstances and must then sound the horns when entering and emerging from tunnels; also when approaching curves, level crossings, barrow crossings, overbridges, gangers' huts and other buildings adjacent to the line upon which the car is run.