254. (a) When it is necessary to obstruct the Line, as described in Rules 250, 251, and 253, between the Up and Down Distant Signals of any Station, Junction, or intermediate Signal-box, the permission of the Signalman must be first obtained by the Foreman or Ganger, and the Fixed Signals applicable to the Line about to be obstructed must not, except as provided in Rule 253, be lowered for a train to pass until the signalman has been informed by the same Foreman or Ganger that the Line is again clear and safe for the passage of trains.
(b) The Platelayers must, in addition, protect their operations in accordance with Rules 250, 251, or 253.
255. The times for effecting repairs which involve the stopping of trains must, as far as practicable, be so selected as to interfere as little as possible with the passage of the traffic. Unless absolutely necessary a rail must not be displaced, nor must any other work be performed by which an obstruction may be caused to the passage of the trains in a fog or during falling snow.
256. Persons in charge of Ballast trains must obey the orders of the Station-masters, Inspectors, and Signalmen, so far as relates to the time of their running on the Line.
257. Ballast trains and men employed with such trains and all extra gangs must not work on the running Lines during a fog or falling snow, except when authorised under special circumstances, and no Ballast train, waggon, truck, or lorry must be used, if possible to avoid it, except during daylight and when the weather is sufficiently clear for a Signal to be distinctly seen at a distance of half a mile.
258. (a) Any accident to a train, or failure of any part of the Works affecting the safety of the Line, must be reported as soon as possible to the nearest Inspector of Permanent-way and to the station-masters on both sides of the point at which the accident or failure has occurred; and, inthe event of a signal-box intervening between the point of accident or failure and the nearest Station in either direction, the occurrence must also be reported to the Signalman on duty.
(b) To convey intelligence of, or to summon assistance to, any accident or failure, a Platelayer must be sent, as quickly as possible, to the next Gang in each direction, from which a platelayer must, in like manner, be sent to the next more distant gang, until information of the accident has, by this means, reached the nearest Station in each direction, and the necessary assistance has been obtained; the Platelayers of each Gang proceeding without loss of time to the place at which their services are required.
259. Each, Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man, when examining his length of Line, must have with him a Keying Hammer, six Detonators and a Red Flag, a few Key Packings, a Permanent-way gauge, and a Spanner, and when passing through a Tunnel he must also carry a Lighted Hand Signal Lamp.
260. (a) Each, Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man must walk over his length of Line every morning and evening on week-days, and where Passenger trains are run, once on Sundays, and tighten up all Keys and other Fastenings that may be loose; and he must examine the Line, Level, and Gauge of the road, and the state of the Joints, marking, and, if necessary, repairing, such are as defective.
NOTE.- On the Great Western Railway the length may be walked once daily by the Ganger and once by the Leading Packer; and on certain Branch Lines the length may be walked once only, by the Ganger; the special authority of the divisional Engineer being required in each case.
(b) All points and crossings must be carefully examined, and, if necessary, adjusted.
(c) Gangers must oil and keep clean the working parts of Poins and Signals, unless the duty is otherwise specially provided for, and the points must be kept clear of snow, ice, or other obstruction.
(d) They must also take care to maintain proper Scotch Blocks on all Sidings requiring them, and must see that Level Crossings, ballast, stones, snow, ice, or other obstructions are not allowed to accumulate so as to interfere with the running of the trains.
(e) Any obstruction to the proper working of the Signals or Signal Wires must be removed, and broken Signal Wires must be temporarily repaired until the regular Signal-repairer can attend to them.
261. Each, Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man must report to the Inspector of Permanent-way every case in which any Signal is disregarded by an Engine-driver. If any Telegraph Pole is in an unsafe state, or any of the Wires are broken, slack, entangled, or touching each other or any building, they must be made safe and the circumstances reported to the Inspector of Permanent-way. The Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man must also see that all grass, boughs of trees, ballast and rubbish are removed from the Telegraph and Signal Wires, and from Point Rods.
262. (a) An additional Tail Lamp or a Red Board or a Red Flag by day, or an additional Tail Light by night, carried on the last vehicle of a train or on an engine, indicates that a special train or engine is to follow; and Platelayers are required to look for such Signals on the last vehicle of the train. As, however, Special trains or engines have frequently to be run without previous notice of any kind, it is necessary at all times to be prepared for such extra trains or engines.
(b) The additional Tail Signal will not be carried by preceding trains for Special trains of which previous printed or written notice has been given.
263. In lifting the Permanent-way no lift must be greater than three inches at once, and then it must be effected in a length of at least twenty yards, in such a manner as not to occasion any sudden change of gradient. When both rails have to be lifted they must be raised equally and at the same time, and the ascent must be made in the direction in which the trains run, great care being taken, where there is a curve, to preserve the super-elevation of the outer rail.
264. Ballast must not be thrown up in the four-foot space more than three inches above rail level, and it must be thrown as much as possible on the outside of each Line, or between the two Lines. The rails must be kept clear of gravel, ballast or any other material.
265. Ballasting must not be allowed on any slopes or elsewhere on or near to the Railway without the authority of the Engineer.
266. Gangers must close and fasten any Gates they find open, and report the circumstances, in order that the persons who are required to keep such Gates closed and fastened may be charged with the penalties.
267. Each Foreman or Ganger is required, in the event of a flood, to examine carefully the action of the water through the culverts and bridges on his length of Line; and should he see any cause to apprehend danger to the Works, he must immediately exhibit the proper Signals for the trains to proceed cautiously or to stop, as necessity may require, and inform the Inspector thereof; and until the Inspector arrives, he must take all the precautionary measures necessary for securing the stability of the Line.
268. In the event of any fire occurring upon or near the Line, the men employed on the Line must take immediate measures for putting it out.
269. Each Foreman or Ganger must keep his portion of the Line clear and safe, and the fences in perfect repair, and in the event of any sheep, cattle, or other animals getting within the fences, he must immediately remove them, and report the circumstances to the Inspector of Permanent-way.
270. (a) Foreman or Gangers must see that broken chairs, rails, sleepers, or other defective materials are removed from the road with the least possible delay, and that sound materials are substituted.
(b) All cases of broken rails must be specially reported to the Inspector of Permanent-way.
(c) Tools, rails, sleepers, pieces of iron or wood, or other implement or material, must be carefully placed so as to be quite clear of the Line, and not within two feet of the rails, and the disused materials must be removed from the Line as soon as practicable.
271. Each Inspector of Permanent-way is held responsible for the security of rails, chairs, and sleepers, and other Permanent-way materials in his district, and for their being kept clear of both Lines, and properly stacked.
272. Tools and implements required for the repair of the Line must, when not in use, be kept locked up in a building, or in boxes, for the security of which each Foreman or Ganger on his own length of Line is responsible.
273. (a) When a train is approaching, Platelayers and other men at work on the Permanent-way must not remain on any Running Lines, nor between them if the spaces are less than eight feet, but must at once move clear of all Lines, unless they can distinctly see that they are in a position of safety, and in no danger from another train approaching them unobserved; the men must stop in the positions they have taken up until the train has cleared a sufficient distance to enable them to see that no train is approaching on the other Lines before they recross the rails.
(b) If circumstances compel Platelayers or other men to remain in the six-feet space between trains passing on adjoining Lines, they must lie down.
(c) In Tunnels or where the approach of a train cannot be observed or heard in time for the men to get out of the way, a Flagman or other competent person must be appointed by the Ganger to give the necessary warning. On Single Lines the working party must be protected in both directions.
(d) The men must also desist from work in cases of fog or falling snow when the Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man considers that they would not have sufficient warning of approach of a train, provided such discontinuance of work does not endanger the safety of the trains.
(e) Where the necessity of a Gang of men is working in a fog or during falling snow, the Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man in charge must send out a man in each direction to warn the Gang of the approach of a train, either by shouting or using a fog horn or loud whistle, and, if the occasion require it, the men sent out must place a Detonator on one rail of the Line on which the train is approaching.
(f) When men are working singly or in gangs on or near line in use for traffic for the purpose of relaying or repairing the Permanent-way of such lines, the Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man, must, in all cases where any danger is likely to arise, provide one or more persons, as may be necessary, to maintain a good Look-out, and to give warning of any train approaching. The "Look-out" man or men must be expressly instructed to act for such purpose, and must be provided with all appliances necessary to give effect to such "Look-out".
NOTE.- Where an authorised apparatus is provided for the purpose of giving warning, it will not be necessary to employ "Look-out" men.
274. When a ballst train has to be moved whilst men are in the tracks the Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man must warn the men, and the Engine-driver must sound his Whistle, before the waggons are moved. The Engine-driver must also sound his Whistle before reducing the speed preparatory to stopping.
275. (a) Men working in a Tunnel, when trains are approaching in both directions, must if unable to reach any recess in the walls, lie down either in the space between the two Running Lines, or between the line and the side of the Tunnel, until the trains have passed. The width of the space depends upon the construction of the Tunnel, with which every man must make himself aquainted, in order that he may select the place which affords the greatest safety.
(b) Engine-drivers have instructions that the Whistle must be sounded on entering a Tunnel to warn all men who are working inside, and that it must be repeated occasionally when passing through long tunnels, and they also have instructions not to throw out hot water, fire, or cinders whilst passing through a Tunnel; any omission to comply with these instructions must be reported by the Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man to his Inspector.
276. Each Foreman, Ganger, or Leading Man is responsible for collecting any coupling, chains, hooks, pins, iron, or other materials found on the Line, and for having them conveyed to the nearest Station as early as practicable.
277. Luggage, goods, or other articles, not referred to in the preceeding Rule, found on the line must immediately be taken to the nearest Station-master, and a report made containing the best information that can be obtained respecting the train from which they may have fallen.
278. Platelayers and other workmen of the Company holding third-class passes must ride in a third-class carriage, and, when possible, in a compartment by themselves separate from passengers. When a large number of workmen travel by the same train carriages will be provided for their use, and they must ride in these carriages only.
