dukedog-GWR rule book-rules 227-239

227. (a) When it is necessary, during repairs or owing to an obstruction of any kind, to work the traffic in both directions over a Single Line, the following precautions must be adopted:-

(i) A competent person must be appointed as Pilotman, who must wear round his left arm, above the elbow, a distinctive Badge (see end of Rule). Until the regular Badge can be obtained the Pilotman must wear a Red Flag tied round his left arm. No engine must enter upon any portion of the single line without the Pilotman being PRESENT and riding upon the said engine, unless two or more trains are required to follow in the same direction, in which case the Pilotman must order all trains to proceed except the last, upon the engine of which he must ride. In the case of an engine assisting in the rear of the last train, the Pilotman must ride on the assisting engine. If a special engine is supplied for the use of the Pilotman he must, after personally starting the whole of the trains, follow or accompany the last train. When it is necessary for the Pilotman's engine to accompany the last train it must be attached to the front of that train, but the Pilotman must ride on the train-engine.

(ii) The Pilotman must show himself to the Signalman at each Box he passes.

(b) In addition to the foregoing precautions, three Detonators must be placed at both ends of the Line obstructed, a quarter of a mile from the point where Single Line Working commences, and a Red Flag by day, and a Red light by night, or in foggy weather or during falling snow, must be placed on the blocked line near to the Detonators.

The Detonators must be placed on each side of the obstruction as shown in the following diagram. When the distance from the obstruction to the Crossover road is less than a quarter of a mile, the detonators must be placed as far from the obstruction as circumstances permit. A Hand-signalman must also be placed outside the Distant Signal applicable to the Line upon which Single Line Working is in operation, and he must place three Detonators on the rail for each approaching train.

228. Single Line working should be confined to points at which there are Fixed Signals with a Crossover road, and at all times to the shortest length possible; but in the event of a Crossover road not protected by Fixed Signals being used for Single Line Working, a competent man, with the necessary Signals, must be placed at least three-quarters of a mile beyond the Crossover road to signal in place of the Distant Signal, and another man (similarly provided) at the Points to signal in place of the Home Signal. Should the distance of three-quarters of a mile fall within a Tunnel, or close to the mouth of a Tunnel nearest to the obstruction, or in any other position where, owing to the formation of the Line, or to some other circumstance, the Engine-driver of an approaching train would be unable to obtain a good and distant view of the Signal, then the Signal must be exhibited at the end of the Tunnel farthest from the Crossover road, or at such a distance over and above the prescribed distance of three-quarters of a mile as may be necessary to ensure the Engine-driver obtaining a good and distant view of such Signal.

229. (a) If the speaking Telegraph or Telephone communication is available, the Station-masters or other responsible officials at both ends of the obstructed Section must communicate with each other by telegraph or telephone, and agree as to who should arrange for Pilot-working.

(b) It will generally be found most expeditious for the Station-master or other responsible official in advance of the obstruction to undertake the arrangements, as he will have the proper Running Line clear on which the Pilotman with the Forms can make his first journey by train or lorry if either is available. Under no circumstances must a train or lorry be allowed to run over the Single Line IN THE WRONG DIRECTION until the Pilotman holds upon his Form the signatures of the Signalman at each end of the Single Line Section, and also at any intermediate signal-box.

229. (c) A sufficient number of Forms provided for the purpose of establishing Single Line Working must be filled up and signed by the Station-master or person arranging the Single Line Working. One of these, signed by the Pilotman, he must deliver, in the presence of the Pilotman, to the Signalman in charge of the Crossover road at which the Single Line Working commences; one signed by the Signalman must be handed to the Pilotman, who must also sign it, and the remainder must be conveyed by the Pilotman to the other end of the Section which has to be worked as a Single Line. On his way the Pilotman must verbally inform the persons in charge of Level Crossings, Platelayers, and any other men at work on the Line, that Single Line Working is about to be commenced and which Line will be used; he must also leave a copy of the form (signed by himself) with the person in charge of any intermediate Signal-box or Station then open between the points between which Single Line Working is about to be put into operation, and each of such persons must sign the Form held by the Pilotman. On his arrival at the other end of the Single Line Section the Pilotman must deliver a copy (signed by himself) to the Station-master or person in charge, and another (also signed by himself) to the Signalman on duty, each of whom must also sign the Form held by the Pilotman. Trains may then be allowed to pass to and fro on the Single Line by the permission and under the control of the Pilotman.

(d) When a Station-master himself acts as Pilotman he must also address and give a copy of the Form to the person he leaves in charge of his Station.

(e) Should any intermediate Signal-box or Station be opened after Single Line Working has commenced, the Pilotman must, as soon as practicable, advise the person in charge of such Signal-box or Station that Single Line Working is in operation, and obtain his signature on the Form in the usual way. He must also hand to the Signalman or Station-master a copy of the Single Line Working Form.

(f) All telegraph or telephone messages sent or received in connection with the arrangements for working Single Line must be written on the usual message forms, and telephone messages must be repeated back by the receiving Station, copies of the messages being afterwards forwarded to the Superintendent.

230. (a) When Single Line has to be worked, and it is necessary to suspend Block Telegraph Working, this must be done only by the person who arranges the Single Line Working, by an order in writing on the Single Line Working Form, but in foggy weather or during falling snow, or when a Tunnel intervenes, or the graients are heavy on the Section of the Line where the traffic has to be worked on a Single Line, Block Telegraph Working must be maintained on such Section, the Up trains being signalled on the Up Line Block Telegraph Circuit, and the Down trains on the Down Line Block Telegraph Circuit, or the Pilotman must accompany every train passing over the Single Line.

(b) When Block Telegraph Working has to be maintained, and the Block Indicator is at the "Train on Line" position for the train which has caused the obstruction, the Signalman at the Box in advance of the obstruction must, in order that the Block Signalling of trains in both directions on the Single Line may be carried on as laid down in the foregoing paragraph, liberate the Block Indicator in accordance with the following instructions:-

(i.) When the Station-master in advance of the obstruction arranges Single Line Working, and the necessary Form has been conveyed to the Signalman in the rear, the Signalman in the rear must, provided the train, if the Pilotman has been conveyed by train, has arrived complete, give the "Train out of Section" Signal, and the Signalman in advance of the obstruction, after acknowledging suck Signal, must release the Block Indicator for the Line which is Obstructed.

(ii.) If the Pilotman is not conveyed through the Section by train, he must, when the arrangements for commencing working Single Line have been completed, instruct the Signalman at the Box in the rear of the obstruction to so inform the Signalman at the Box in advance; the latter Signalman must then release the Block Indicator for the obstructed Line.

(iii.) When the Station-master in the rear of the obstruction arranges Single Line Working, and the necessary Form is conveyed to the Signalman in advance of the obstruction, the Pilotman, when handing the Signalman the Form, must request him to release the Block Indicator for the train which caused the obstruction.

NOTE.- Clause (b) is not applicable to Lines worked on the Lock and Block System or with Block Indicators showing two positions only.

231. (a) When both Lines are blocked and it becomes necessary to work trains up to the obstruction on both sides, for the transfer of passengers or any other purpose, Single Line Working must be arranged on both sides, between the nearest Crossover road and the obstruction, a Pilotman being appointed to act on each side in accordance with these Regulations.

(b) Two competent men, provided with the necessary Hand Signals and Detonators, must be appointed to protect the obstruction, one on each side.

(c) After making the necessary arrangements for the safety of the passengers and trains, it will be the duty of the Guards and Engine-drivers (if no superior officer be present) to arrange for the passengers being forwarded as soon as possible, acting in strict accordance with these Regulations.

(d) When one Line is cleared arrangements must be made for the Single Line Working between the Crossover roads on each side of the obstruction. Both Pilotmen must proceed with the first train over the Line which has been cleared, and the person who is appointed Pilotman for that Line must withdraw all the Single Line Forms previously in use, at the same time that he delivers the new forms.

234. Trains when working over the Single Line must run cautiously and at reduced speed, and Engine-drivers must make frequent use of the Engine-whistle. When passing through a Tunnel, or after sunset or in foggy weather or during falling snow, they must carry a Red Head Light.

235. All points which become Facing Points to trains running over the Single line, must either be held by a competent man appointed to the duty, or so secured as to enable the trains to pass safely over them.

236. (a) Where there are Catch Points, Station-masters, Signalmen, and others must take care, before Single Line Working is put in operation over such Catch Points, that a man, provided with proper Signals, is placed at them,with special orders to remain there, and to hold them properly closed or see that they are firmly secured for the safe passage of each facing train, until the order for Single Line Working has been withdrawn, and Double Line Working resumed.

(b) When a train is approaching Catch Points in the facing direction, the man at the points must, when they are right for the train to pass over them, give the Engine-driver a Green All Right Signal held steadily in the hand.

(c) The Pilotman must satisfy himself that the Engine-driver is aware of the position of the Catch Points.

237. Engine-drivers must not when working Single Line, as above, pass any Catch Points in the facing direction until they have assured themselves that they are in the proper position for their trains to run over; nor, where a man is employed at the Catch Points, until they have received a Signal to do so from the man at the Points.

238. (a) Should the Pilotman give up the working to another, fresh Forms must be issued on which the name of the new Pilotman must be inserted. The fresh Forms must be delivered by the new Pilotman and substituted for the old Forms, and the necessary signatures obtained on the fresh Forms. He must at the same time withdraw the old Forms.

The issue of the new Forms must only be done by the person who arranged the Single Line Working, to whom the new Pilotman must afterwards deliver the old Forms.

(b) After one Pilotman has been relieved by another, the Piloman who has been relieved must not ride upon any engine until he resumes duty as Pilotman.

(c) Should the Signalmen be changed during the time Single Line Working is in operation, the man coming on duty must be made acquainted, by the man going off duty, with the arrangement in force and with the person acting as Pilotman, and he must, before taking charge of the Signal-box, countersign the Form held by the Pilotman.

239. (a) When the Line is clear all the Forms issued for the Single Line Working must be collected by the Pilotman, and afterwards sent to the Superintendent.

For the purpose of collecting the Forms the Pilotman may use, in the proper direction, the Line which had been obstructed. He must, however, before taking a train over that Line, have a clear understanding with all concerned.

(b) The Pilotman must accompany the first train passing over the Line on which the obstruction existed.