Safety Devices - Reminder appliances, AWS & TPWS

Question 1

When referring to a lever, what other signalling controls does this include? Glossary of Railway Terminology (1)

Answer 1

Includes a switch, button, or workstation control.

Question 2

On a signalling control (signal), when must you use a reminder appliance? TS1-3.5.1 (4)

Answer 2

The signal protecting a route over which the normal passage of trains (or certain trains) is stopped.
The signal protecting a route over which trains can pass only after the driver has been told to proceed at caution in connection with an incident, failure, or unusual occurrence.
Any signal or level crossing equipment that is disconnected or defective
The signal protecting a train or vehicles detained or left on a running line where track circuits are not provided.

Question 3

On signalling equipment or equipment at a controlled level crossing that must not be operated, when must you use a reminder appliance? TS1-3.5.3 (2)

Answer 3

When signalling equipment or level crossing equipment must not be worked, or
When signalling equipment or level crossing equipment is to be kept in a particular position, as shown in the rules regulations and instructions.

Question 4

When must you use a block instrument reminder appliance? TS1-3.5.4 (4)

Answer 4

When train or vehicles are detained or left at the home signal.
When train or vehicles are detained or left within the clearing point.
When train or vehicles have been left in the absolute block section.
If the block indicator has been placed to train on line to protect engineering work.

Question 5

What must you do with a reminder appliance if you need to signal a train to a route that is not affected, or for a movement to proceed after the driver has been told to proceed at caution? TS1-3.5.5 (3)

Answer 5

Remove the reminder appliance.
Operate the signalling control.
Immediately replace the reminder appliance after you have operated the signalling control.

Question 6

What does the acronym ‘AWS’ mean? RS/522-1.1.1 (1)

Answer 6

Automatic Warning System.

Question 7

What will happen if a Driver fails to respond to an AWS warning indication? RS/522-1.1.2 (1)

Answer 7

An emergency brake application will be initiated.

Question 8

What track equipment is provided for AWS, and how far from the signal is it situated? RS/522-1.1.3 (1)

Answer 8

The track equipment consists of an AWS magnet that is normally provided 180 metres (200 yards) on approach to a signal.

Question 9

Is an AWS magnet on ‘approach’ or ‘beyond’ the signal it is associated to? RS/522-1.1.3 (1)

Answer 9

Approach.

Question 10

Which type of stop signals do not have AWS? RS/522-1.1.3 (1)

Answer 10

AWS magnets are not provided at semaphore stop signals.

Question 11

Which document would tell you if a line was NOT an fitted with AWS? RS/522-1.1.3 (1)

Answer 11

Sectional Appendix.

Question 12

Regardless of what aspect the signal is showing, what two types of indication will a Driver receive while passing over the AWS equipment? RS/522-1.3 (1)

Answer 12

Audible and visual.

Question 13

If a Driver receives a warning indication on approach to a distant signal, what aspect/indication will the signal be showing? RS/522-1.4.1 (1)

Answer 13

Yellow/caution/on.

Question 14

If a Driver receives a clear indication on approach to a distant signal, what aspect/indication will the signal be showing? RS/522-1.4.2 (1)

Answer 14

Green/off.

Question 15

What sound will a Driver receive is they have a clear indication when passing over the AWS equipment? RS/522-1.3 (1)

Answer 15

Bell (or electronic equivalent).

Question 16

What sound will a Driver receive is they have a warning indication when passing over the AWS equipment? RS/522-1.3 (1)

Answer 16

Horn (or electronic equivalent).

Question 17

What will happen if an AWS audible warning is not acknowledged within two to three seconds? RS/522-1.3 (1)

Answer 17

An emergency brake application will occur.

Question 18

What does the acronym ‘TPWS’ mean? RS/522-2.1.1 (1)

Answer 18

Train Protection and Warning System

Question 19

If required, what will TPWS do to a train if it has been ‘activated’? RS/522-2.1.2(1)

Answer 19

TPWS will stop the train, by automatically initiating a brake demand.

Question 20

What situations will cause TPWS to ‘activate’? RS/522-2.1.2 (4)

Answer 20

If a train has passed a signal at danger without authority.
If a train has approached a signal at danger too fast.
If a train has approached a reduction in permissible speed too fast.
If a train has approached buffer stops too fast.

Question 21

What is TPWS not designed to prevent? RS/522-2.1.2 (1)

Answer 21

A SPAD.

Question 22

There are two types of TPWS. TSS and OSS. What do the acronyms TSS, and OSS mean? RS/522-2.2.1 (1)

Answer 22

Train Stop System.
Overspeed Sensor System.

Question 23

TSS: what happens to the equipment when the associated signal is at danger? RS/522-2.2.2 (1)

Answer 23

TSS is energised (will cause a brake demand if signal is passed at danger).

Question 24

TSS: what happens to the equipment when the associated signal is at proceed? RS/522-2.2.2 (1)

Answer 24

TSS is de-energised (it won’t affect the train at all…it’s basically switched off).

Question 25

OSS: What happens to the on-train equipment when the train passes over the ‘arming’ loop? RS/522-2.2.3 (1)

Answer 25

The on-train equipment detects passing over the arming loop and starts an internal timer.

Question 26

OSS: What will happen if a train passes over the ‘trigger’ loop quicker than the designated time allowed? RS/522-2.1.1 (1)

Answer 26

The on-train TPWS equipment will initiate a brake demand.

Question 27

If OSS is provided on approach to a stop signal, when is this energised? RS/522-2.2.3 (1)

Answer 27

When the signal is at danger.

Question 28

If OSS is provided on approach reductions in permissible speeds or buffer stops, when is this energised? RS/522-2.2.3 (1)

Answer 28

Always.

Question 29

If a signal fitted with TSS is required to be passed at danger, the Driver will use their override button for the TSS equipment. How long will this override last for on a passenger train? RS/522-2.3.4 (1)

Answer 29

(Approximately) Twenty seconds.

Question 30

If a signal fitted with TSS is required to be passed at danger, the Driver will use their override button for the TSS equipment. How long will this override last for on a freight train? RS/522-2.3.4 (1)

Answer 30

(Approximately) Sixty seconds.