GSR Rule Book - 1933

DETENTION OF TRAINS ON RUNNING LINES.

55. (a) When a train has been brought to a stand owing to a stop signal being at Danger, the Driver must sound the engine whistle, and, if still detained, the Guard, Shunter or Firemand must (except as shown in the following paragraph, or where printed instructions are given to the contrary) got to the signal box and remind the Signalman of the position of the train, and, except as provided in clause (f), remain in the box until permission is obtained for the train to proceed. In clear weather a train must not stand more than three minutes at a stop signal before the man goes to the signal box. During fog or falling snow, unles the stop signal is lowered immediately after the engine whistle has been sounded, the man must at one proceed to the signal box

Where track ciruits or electrical depression bars are provided, as indicated by a white diamond shaped notice plate thus :-- <_> on or near the signal posts, or in respect to which printed instructions are issued, and the train is standing on such track circuits or bars, it will not be necessary for the Guard, Shunter or Fireman to go to the signal box to remind the Signalman of the position of the train. Where other appliances are provided for the purpose of communicating with the Signalman, the Guard, Shunter or Fireman must immediately make use of such appliances, but if an acknowledgement is not received the provisions of the preceding paragraph must be carried out.

In the case of single lines, if the Driver is in possession of the train staff or electric token, it will not be necessary for the man to go to the signal box to remind the Signalman of the position of the train in connection with trains detained at home signals.

(b) When a train or vehicle has passed a stop signal for the purpose of being crossed to another line, or to be let into a siding, or has been shunted on to the opposite running line, or placed on either a main or branch line at a junction, or when a train or vehicle has been shunted from a siding on to a running line for the purpose of being crossed to another line, the Guard, Shunter or Fireman must (except where printed instructions are given to the contrary), when the train or vehicle comes to a stand, and is detained, proceed immediately to the signal box and remind the Signalman of the position of the train or vehicle, and, except as provided in clause (f), remain in the box until the Signalman can give permission for it to proceed or to be shunted clear of the running lines.

(c) The duty of going to the signal vox must (except in the case of rail motors, motor trains and electric trains) be performed by the Guard, Shunter or Fireman who is nearest the signal box.

In the case of rail motors and motor trains, the duty of going to the signal box must be perfored by the Guard or Shunter; when, however, there is not a Guard or Shunter the duty myust be performed by the Driver if he is in the opposite end of the train to the engine, and by the Fireman if both men are on the engine. In the case of electric trains the duty of going to the signal box must be perfomed by the Guard or Shunter.

(d) When a train or vehicle has been shunted from one running line to another, the Guard, Shunter or Fireman, as the case may be, must, before going to the signal box, satisfy himself that the line from which the train or vehicle is shunting is clear.

(e) Sufficient time must be allowed for the Guard, Shunter or Fireman to rejoin the train before the signal is lowered, and the Driver must not, when the signal is lowered, go forward until he has received a hand signal from the Guard or Shunter to intimate that he has rejoined the train. By day the hand signal must be given holding one arm in the horizontal position or the waving of a green flag above the head, and by night a green light held steadily above the head.

If the signal box is ahead of the signal, it will not be necessary for the Signalman, before lowering the signal, to wait until the man has returned to the train, but the Driver, when the signal is lowered, must proceed slowly to the box to enable the man to rejoin the train.

(f) Where appliances which require to be operated by Signalmen are provided to serve as a reminder that certain signals must not be lowered, the Signalman must make prompt use of such appliances, and the man who has gone to the signal box must return to the train after receiving an assurance that this has been done.

(g) When a Driver finds an automatic stop signal at Danger he must bring his train to a stand, and if a telephone is provided at the signal communicate at once with the Signalman and act in accordance with his instructions. Should he receive instruction to pas the signal at Danger he must give one long whistle and proceed cautiously as far as the line is clear or to the next stop signal in advance at such a speed as to enable him to stop short of any obstruction there may be. If the telephone is out of order, or a telephone is not provided at the signal, and the Danger indication is not changed, the Driver must wait one minute or other prescribed period, give one long whistle, and then proceed cautiously as above directed.

In such circumstances if the next stop signal in advance is also an automatic signal and is in the Caution or Clear position, the Driver must continue to proceed cautiously to the next stop signal behond.

Whenever a Driver has passed an automatic stop signal at Danger under the circumstances mentioned above he must so inform the Signalman at the next box in advance, unless he has been previously instructed by the Signalman to pass the signal at Danger.

(h) Stop signal designated "semi-automatic" must not be passed at Danger, except in accordance with Rules 47 (a) and 38 (a) and (b), or where specially authorised.