What is the "Guards Indicator" light for?
Bill Bolton
"James Young" <anti...@die.spam.bot> wrote:
> I suppose this is a pretty dumb question but it has been bugging me for a
> while. What does the Guards Indicator light at stations do?
You may notice that the guards indicator illuminates i,mmediately the
signal in advance of the train (usually at the end of the platform) is
showing any aspect which would allow the driver to enter the section
in advance.
In other words it shows the guard that the driver can actually move
the train if the guard closes the doors and give the "clear to
proceed" bell signal. There's not much point in closing the doors if
there's nowhere to go!
Cheers,
Bill
Bill Bolton billb...@onaustralia.com.au
Sydney, Australia
James Young
Krel
When illuminated it indicates to the (now almost non existant) guard that
the signal in advance of the standing train is showing a proceed aspect and
it is okay for the guard to give the right away to the driver. It is
supposed to prevent drivers getting a bell to proceed and then driving
through a red light. They are most common in the mero area (nsw) but can
also be found in the bush where signal sighting from the rear of a
stationary train is a problem. (there is one at The Rock for example.)
James Young <anti...@die.spam.bot> wrote in article
<01bc23b4$d64d3200$b0610ccb@mugsy>...
Geoff Lambert
"Krel" <krel...@netconnect.com.au> wrote:
>When illuminated it indicates to the (now almost non existant) guard that
>the signal in advance of the standing train is showing a proceed aspect and
>it is okay for the guard to give the right away to the driver. It is
>supposed to prevent drivers getting a bell to proceed and then driving
>through a red light. They are most common in the mero area (nsw) but can
>also be found in the bush where signal sighting from the rear of a
>stationary train is a problem. (there is one at The Rock for example.)
A very good description of the dangers involved in drivers starting
because of guard's bell signal, when the line signal is against them
is given by Stanley Hall in one of his books on railway accidents in
the U.K. ("Danger on the line"?), where the problem is euphemistically
referred to as "ding-ding and away". Hall traces a series of these
accidents, the psychology involved and the methods (including guards'
indicators) used to counteract them.
Incidentally, for other purposes, I have long been seeking an official
illustration for a guards indicator, such as might appear in a rule
book or appendix. Despite my feeling I've seen one in such a book, I
can no longer find one. Any ideas?
Geoff Lambert
C. Dewick
>In other words it shows the guard that the driver can actually move
>the train if the guard closes the doors and give the "clear to
>proceed" bell signal. There's not much point in closing the doors if
>there's nowhere to go!
But you would be surprised how many guards do their PA spiel, shut the
doors, then give the driver the right-away, even the road is not cleared
(and therefore the guard's indicator is not lit)!
If it's late at night, and we're trying to stay awake, it's equally easy to
forget the signal is at stop and take off after getting the right-away! 8-)
I've done it once... We're all human.
Regards,
Craig.
--
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Adrian Dunne
Guards indicator lights were installed on curved platforms, where the guard
could not see the signals. They do not have much use now on suburban lines
where guards no longer exist.