RUSPER MODEL RAILWAY CLUB

The importance of our Timetables

Rusper MRC timetables are written in such a way as to provide operational interest and variation for the membership. In the main they are clear and self-explanatory but there are some idiosyncrasies that require explanation.

One arose at a recent operating session, regarding Wrong Line Running.

Wrong Line Running during engineers’ line occupation in real life is handled by a pilotman, hand signalmen at each end of the occupation, possibly hand signalmen at intermediate locations and a Responsible officer.

We don’t have the luxury or the need for such procedures and so rely on the good sense of operators. The idiosyncracy we suffer arises from our use of green and red lamps to indicate line clear or blocked.

The Engineers Special having left Glovers Lane, took possession of the entry to Russ Hill on the Up Main. The red repeater in Glovers remained at red because the line was blocked.  However, both the sending and receiving signalman know the Up Main is blocked because it is clearly indicated on both timetables. We therefore suspend normal practise and cancel the red on the Up Main so that the signalman in the rear can send trains, Wrong Line, on the Down Main.

Back in Glovers Lane an Up train shunts forward to clear the emergency crossover before reversing on to the Down Main. This means that it becomes visible, on the Up Main, to the Russ Hill operator. It does not mean it will continue to Russ Hill.

Having completed the shunt, the signalman can now call attention and, when acknowledged, the ‘wrong line’ code 2-3-3 is given and must be repeated by the receiving box. The correct code for the train can then be given and accepted as normal under green and red lamps.

Clearly, with trains running wrong line, it is essential that all up and down trains are received and despatched in sequence and not necessarily at the time shown on the timetable.

Operators should please read and understand the timetable and ask another member for clarification of anything that isn’t clear.