Shunting

Question 1

What is a Shunter?

Answer 1

A Shunter is a person competent to control specific shunting movements in and out of a depot, a yard, or sidings.

Question 2

What must you do when given instructions by a Shunter?

Answer 2

You must work to the instructions you are given.

Question 3

What happens when you are signalled from the main line?

Answer 3

The controlling signaller will clear the appropriate signal to take you onto the reception road or direct to a siding.

Question 4

What should you do at a stop board?

Answer 4

At a stop board, you must stop and wait for instruction.

Question 5

What should you do at a position light signal?

Answer 5

At a position light, you must obey the aspect.

Question 6

How does a panel operator communicate with your cab?

Answer 6

The panel operator will have radio contact with your cab and will give details of the move before clearing the signal.

Question 7

What are facing points?

Answer 7

Facing points are where you face a diverging route.

Question 8

What are trailing points?

Answer 8

Trailing points are where you face a converging route.

Question 9

What are motorised points?

Answer 9

Motorised points allow for points to be controlled remotely.

Question 10

What are trap points?

Answer 10

Trap points prevent wrong direction movement onto a running line thus derailing the train instead.

Question 11

What are catch points?

Answer 11

Catch points prevent the rolling back of a unit into a section, i.e. if they become uncoupled.

Question 12

What are spring points?

Answer 12

Spring points allow trains arriving on the curved ‘branch’ line to join the ‘main’ line. The points may be briefly opened by the train’s wheels, but ‘spring back’ as the train passes.

Question 13

What are some risks found in a depot?

Answer 13

Some risks that can be found in a depot include: connections to the train, points that are not flush, derailers activated, scotches still present, trains standing foul of your movement, movements taking place within a building have the warning alarms activated, any signals for your movement are cleared, people working on or too close to the train, doors not fully open on sheds, and not to be moved boards present with tags.

Question 15

What must be clearly received and understood before any move takes place?

Answer 15

The authority to move.

Question 16

What should be checked to ensure safe movement of the train?

Answer 16

That the train can be moved safely.

Question 17

What must be clearly understood regarding the move?

Answer 17

Where the move can be made to (the limits of the move).

Question 18

What should you identify to ensure safety during a move?

Answer 18

All potential risks to avoid them.

Question 19

What are some signalling methods for shunting?

Answer 19

Hand signals, shunting signals, fixed aspect signals, position light signals, semaphore shunt signals, disc shunting signals, limit of shunt signals.

Question 21

What is used for communication on the railway during shunting?

Answer 21

Radio is used for a lot of communication on the railway.

Question 22

What should be adopted to identify radio users during shunting?

Answer 22

Call signs should be adopted to identify the correct radio users involved in each shunting movement.

Question 23

What must be maintained during shunting?

Answer 23

Constant communication must be maintained throughout the whole time that the movement is in progress.

Question 24

What should you do if there is a break in transmission during shunting?

Answer 24

You need to stop your train and only restart when communication is re-established.

Question 25

What should the shunter confirm before the train can continue after a break in communication?

Answer 25

The shunter must confirm that you may continue.

Question 26

Where might the shunter need to be during a shunting movement?

Answer 26

The shunter may need to walk or ride on a different part of the train other than the driving cab.

Question 27

What must the driver confirm regarding signals from the shunter?

Answer 27

The driver will need to confirm that all signals provided by the shunter can always be seen or heard during the shunt.

Question 28

What must be done if the driver cannot see or hear the shunter's signals?

Answer 28

The move must be stopped.

Question 30

What is a propelling movement?

Answer 30

A propelling movement occurs when a train needs to be moved along a line with the engine at the 'wrong end' or when a vehicle cannot self-propel and is pushed by another unit.

Question 31

Who should ride in the leading cab during a propelling movement?

Answer 31

The shunter should ride in the leading cab to control the movement and apply the automatic brake.

Question 32

How can a train's movement be controlled during a propelling movement?

Answer 32

Movement can be controlled from the leading cab or from a safe place on the ground using hand signals or radio.

Question 33

What methods can be used to secure a train to prevent movement?

Answer 33

A train can be secured by applying the parking brake, attaching to another vehicle with a parking brake, or using scotches.

Question 34

What must you do if a train is left foul?

Answer 34

You must inform the shunter that you have left the train foul.

Question 36

What are the limits of train movements?

Answer 36

The limits of train movements include: - Limit of shunt boards - Stop boards - Shunting signals - Other vehicles present ## Footnote An overrun at a limit of shunt board or stop board is considered a SPAD.

Question 37

What are the methods of communication for signaling a shunting move?

Answer 37

The methods of communication for signaling a shunting move are: 1. Verbal communication 2. Hand signals 3. Radio communications 4. Audio indication 5. Infrastructure signals (i.e. subsidiary)