Brake Regulations

Question 1

When might brakes need to be isolated?

Answer 1

Brake defects such as dragging brakes or gauge showing reading when brakes released or air leak

Question 2

How would you identify an affected wheel?

Answer 2

Apply the parking brake in every cab and leave the normal brake in release. Then check brake pressure in every cab or conduct a rotation test.

Question 3

How would you isolate the brakes?

Answer 3

Via brake isolation cock - fitter may need to manually retract brakes to fully isolate them

Question 4

If the brakes are isolated, which brakes does this affect?

Answer 4

All brakes on that vehicle- brakes on other vehicles operate normally.

Question 5

Can you leave a maintenance depot with isolated brakes or brake defects?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

Can you start in passenger service with isolated brakes? If so, what speed can you go

Answer 6

If all of below regulations are met:
- At least 5 vehicles
- Brakes only isolated on 1 vehicle
- Ratio not more than 1 in 5 or 2 in 10
- Brakes not isolated on front or rear vehicle unless coupled via rigid bar

If all regs met, can travel at 10mph below line speed (no need to go less than 35mph)

Question 7

Can you start in passenger service if not all regs are met?

Answer 7

No, you must not enter pax service.

Question 8

If brake faults occur in service and you meet all of previous regs, what speed can you travel?

Answer 8

10mph below line speed, no need to go less than 35mph

Question 9

If brake faults occur in service and you don’t meet all of previous regs but you are able to rely on the usual service brakes to stop the train in a division, what speed can you travel?

Answer 9

Safe Reduced Speed (driver’s discretion)

Question 10

When travelling at Safe Reduced Speed, what must the driver do?

Answer 10

Consider conditions and conduct extra running brake tests to test braking characteristics of train

Question 11

If brake faults occur in service and you don’t meet all of the previous regs and are relying upon the parking brake in the event of division on a falling or level gradient or if brakes are isolated in the leading vehicle, what speed can you travel at?

Answer 11

5mph (level, leading or falling 5 rule)

Question 12

If proceeding at 5mph, what must you do?

Answer 12

Move all pax out of affected vehicle and regularly check that train is complete

Question 13

If you are travelling on a rising gradient and the front vehicle is isolated with a BSI coupler, what speed can you travel at and why?

Answer 13

Safe Reduced speed as gradient helps to stop train and rest of train behind will apply brakes in division and stop the train if it rolls backwards.

If rising, likely to be falling so proceed at 5mph

Question 14

How much brake force is required to travel over a steep falling gradient?

Answer 14

51%

Question 15

Where are locations with steep falling gradients specified?

Answer 15

Sectional Appendix

Question 16

If you do not have 51% brake force, what must happen for you to travel over a steep falling gradient?

Answer 16

You must be assisted

Question 17

If the isolated brakes are on the leading vehicle and you need to travel over a steep falling gradient, what must happen? Why?

Answer 17

You must be assisted irrespective or whether you have 51% brake force or not. This is to remove tension from couplers (either rigid bar or BSI) as nothing to stop train from rolling away.

Question 18

Where are steep falling gradients located on the routes covered at Hull?

Answer 18

Bridlington to Hunmanby (up & down)