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Train Driver > Low Adhesion > Flashcards

Low Adhesion Flashcards

1
Q

When can low adhesion occur?

A

Any time of year but prevalent in autumn

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2
Q

What can cause low adhesion?

A

Leaves
Damp conditions
Factories/industrial sites/coal dust
Sea salt
Light rain following dry periods
Vehicles at level crossings

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3
Q

What is wheel slip?

A

Where train wheels cannot grip when trying to start moving

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4
Q

What is wheel slide?

A

Where wheels lock up completely, preventing you from stopping

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5
Q

What is there an increased risk of with wheel slip/slide?

A

SPAD/station overrun/track circuit failures (due to contamination)

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6
Q

What type of trains have an increased risk of slip/slide and why?

A

Disc brake trains as there is no direct contact between the brake block and wheel to clear contaminants

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7
Q

When is official Network Rail leaf fall season?

A

1st October to 24th December

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8
Q

What do sandite applicators do?

A

Apply paste to the railhead at areas of known low adhesion

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9
Q

What is the purpose of railhead treatment circuits?

A

High pressure water blasted at railhead

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10
Q

What must your actions be if passing a railhead treatment train on opposite line?

A

Conduct additional running brake tests as the water could dampen contaminants on your line without fully clearing them.

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11
Q

If you experience low adhesion whilst driving, how can you inform your colleagues at depot?

A

During hand overs or on whiteboards

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12
Q

If you experience seriously poor low adhesion and want to let your colleagues know urgently, how would you do this?

A

Ask the conductor to call ahead

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12
Q

What should whiteboard entries include?

A

Exact location, conditions, time and remarks. Network Rail then provide feedback.

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13
Q

How regularly do MetDesk meet in the autumn?

A

2x per day

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14
Q

What is the purpose of MetDesk meetings?

A

Discuss railhead conditions across the network to form an adhesion warning that is published in notice cases.

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15
Q

How are MetDesk warnings categorised?

A

Good to very poor (colour coded)

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16
Q

Which notice case are MetDesk warnings posted in?

A

Late Notice Case

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17
Q

Which MetDesk warnings are the most severe?

A

Red and Black

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18
Q

What does a red MetDesk warning mean?

A

Poor adhesion and high risk. Low adhesion in most areas and deteriorating

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19
Q

What does a black MetDesk warning mean?

A

Very poor adhesion (very high risk). Low adhesion in all areas- extreme caution required

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20
Q

How long are MetDesk warnings effective for?

A

Until withdrawn or superseded.

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21
Q

What are your actions if there are no MetDesk warnings posted?

A

Remain vigilant and conduct extra running brake tests

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22
Q

Where can historic low adhesion areas be found?

A

Sectional Appendix or Permanent Notice Case

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23
Q

What questions can help you judge the conditions?

A

Are you the first train of the day over the route?
What class/unit are you driving?
Has the railhead treatment train passed over the route recently?
Has the line been closed for a period of time?
Are there long gaps between trains passing?
Weather conditions?
Railhead appearance- black/silver?
Time of day- dusk or dawn?
Passenger loadings/brake impact?
Whiteboard information?
Late Notice Case/MetDesk notices?
Other drivers’ reports/handovers?

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24
Q

How is contamination categorised?

A

Level 1- lots of silver
Level 2- some silver
Level 3- no silver

25
Q

When you are aware of low adhesion conditions, what must you carry out?

A

Additional running brake tests

26
Q

When must you carry out additional running brake tests?

A

When required but more than usual.

27
Q

When should you not carry out additional running brake tests in leaf fall season?

A

When approaching cautionary signals

28
Q

When does the automatic sander operate, if fitted?

A

When WSP activity is detected and the minimum brake step that applies sand is selected.

29
Q

What type of sander does the 150/1 have?

A

Manual sander, no WSP- auto sand in emergency only

30
Q

What type of sander does the 150/2 have?

A

Manual sander and WSP fitted- auto sand in emergency only

31
Q

What type of sander does the 155 have?

A

Manual sander and no WSP- auto sand in emergency only

32
Q

What type of sander does the 158 have?

A

Auto sand in minimum step 2 and WSP fitted

33
Q

When can manual sand be applied on 158?

A

With power still on and in wheel slip when engine revolutions drop

34
Q

What type of sander does the 170 have?

A

Auto sander in minimum step 2 and WSP fitted

35
Q

When can manual sand be applied on the 170?

A

When engine reverts to idle during wheel slip

36
Q

If you are using step 1 when stopping at a station on 170/158 for comfort, what must you bear in mind and be prepared to do?

A

Sand does not auto apply in step 1- must be prepared to apply step 2 to obtain sand if required.

37
Q

How many sanders are there per vehicle, which vehicle and which wheel?

A

1 per vehicle- only on vehicle you are driving from and applied to third wheel from free end (first driven wheel)

38
Q

What are your actions if you require sand but the sand button doesn’t illuminate?

A

Press anyway as bulb may be flat

39
Q

Which classes of train automatically apply sand when taking power?

A

None of the classes automatically apply power when taking sand- must manually apply if required.

40
Q

Where should you avoid applying sand?

A

Over points, switch diamonds or swing noses

41
Q

What will happen if you apply sand whilst in a higher brake step?

A

Sand will apply longer if in a higher brake step

42
Q

How should you usually try to prevent wheel slip from occurring when leaving a station?

A

Use lower power notches and build power more gradually than usual

43
Q

If there is no WSP fitted and you can feel the train slipping when trying to take power, what are your actions?

A

Apply a lower power notch and apply sand

44
Q

If WSP is fitted and you feel the train slipping when trying to take power, what are your actions?

A

Leave power notch where it is and allow train to regain rotation on its own - apply sand when engine revs drop/engine idles

45
Q

What indications might you get of wheel slip?

A

Speedo may bounce as driven wheels rotate quicker than free wheels, gearbox lights, WSP light and sand button might illuminate

46
Q

What causes wheel slide?

A

Reduced friction between wheels and railhead (wheels quickly slow and lock up without slowing train)

47
Q

What indications may you get of wheel slide?

A

Speedo may drop to zero when in a full slide as all wheels are locked, gearbox lights, WSP light, sand light may illuminate, sensation of being pushed.

48
Q

What are your actions if you experience wheel slide and have no WSP?

A

Immediately release brake and apply sand

49
Q

What are your actions if you experience wheel slide and have WSP fitted?

A

Leave brake alone and allow WSP to regain rotation on its own- if rotation is not being regained, apply higher brake steps. If not going to stop, apply emergency brake.

50
Q

How should you report low adhesion to the signaller?

A

TIGER- Track is Good Expected Reportable

51
Q

What are ‘good’ railhead conditions?

A

Conditions are good and there is nothing to report

52
Q

What are ‘Expected’ railhead conditions?

A

Conditions no worse than expected for the location, poor adhesion may be present but nothing to report

53
Q

What are ‘Reportable’ railhead conditions?

A

Conditions that are worse than expected for the location- poor adhesion has come as a surprise and you needed to take action. Inform signaller immediately

54
Q

If you are unsure whether conditions are expected or reportable, what should you do?

A

Report them anyway

55
Q

When the signaller has received a report of reportable railhead adhesion, what might the signaller ask the following train to do?

A

Conduct a controlled test stop

56
Q

If the signaller asks you to perform a controlled test stop, what must you do?

A

Brake the train normally for the environmental and railhead conditions at that location (do not brake how you would for reportable conditions)

57
Q

After you have carried out a controlled test stop, what must you do?

A

Report your findings to the signaller and confirm if conditions are reportable

58
Q

What must the signaller do if you confirm that conditions are reportable?

A

Arrange for upcoming signals to be cleared to prevent SPAD risk

59
Q

If asked to perform a controlled test stop in a platform, buffer stop or at any other location, what must you confirm with the signaller before doing so?

A

That the location has been railhead treated. The signaller must ensure this is done before arranging a test stop at any location.

60
Q

Can you enter service with empty or faulty sanders?

A

Yes unless you believe that you may have difficulty stopping

61
Q

What time of year must WSP be working?

A

Leaf fall season.

Train Driver (31 decks)

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