Shunting Flashcards
What is a Shunter?
A Shunter is a person competent to control specific shunting movements in and out of a depot, a yard, or sidings.
What must you do when given instructions by a Shunter?
You must work to the instructions you are given.
What happens when you are signalled from the main line?
The controlling signaller will clear the appropriate signal to take you onto the reception road or direct to a siding.
What should you do at a stop board?
At a stop board, you must stop and wait for instruction.
What should you do at a position light signal?
At a position light, you must obey the aspect.
How does a panel operator communicate with your cab?
The panel operator will have radio contact with your cab and will give details of the move before clearing the signal.
What are facing points?
Facing points are where you face a diverging route.
What are trailing points?
Trailing points are where you face a converging route.
What are motorised points?
Motorised points allow for points to be controlled remotely.
What are trap points?
Trap points prevent wrong direction movement onto a running line thus derailing the train instead.
What are catch points?
Catch points prevent the rolling back of a unit into a section, i.e. if they become uncoupled.
What are spring points?
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.
What are some risks found in a depot?
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.
What must be clearly received and understood before any move takes place?
The authority to move.
What should be checked to ensure safe movement of the train?
That the train can be moved safely.
What must be clearly understood regarding the move?
Where the move can be made to (the limits of the move).
What should you identify to ensure safety during a move?
All potential risks to avoid them.
What are some signalling methods for shunting?
Hand signals, shunting signals, fixed aspect signals, position light signals, semaphore shunt signals, disc shunting signals, limit of shunt signals.
What is used for communication on the railway during shunting?
Radio is used for a lot of communication on the railway.
What should be adopted to identify radio users during shunting?
Call signs should be adopted to identify the correct radio users involved in each shunting movement.
What must be maintained during shunting?
Constant communication must be maintained throughout the whole time that the movement is in progress.
What should you do if there is a break in transmission during shunting?
You need to stop your train and only restart when communication is re-established.
What should the shunter confirm before the train can continue after a break in communication?
The shunter must confirm that you may continue.
Where might the shunter need to be during a shunting movement?
The shunter may need to walk or ride on a different part of the train other than the driving cab.
What must the driver confirm regarding signals from the shunter?
The driver will need to confirm that all signals provided by the shunter can always be seen or heard during the shunt.
What must be done if the driver cannot see or hear the shunter’s signals?
The move must be stopped.
What is a propelling movement?
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.
Who should ride in the leading cab during a propelling movement?
The shunter should ride in the leading cab to control the movement and apply the automatic brake.
How can a train’s movement be controlled during a propelling movement?
Movement can be controlled from the leading cab or from a safe place on the ground using hand signals or radio.
What methods can be used to secure a train to prevent movement?
A train can be secured by applying the parking brake, attaching to another vehicle with a parking brake, or using scotches.
What must you do if a train is left foul?
You must inform the shunter that you have left the train foul.
What are the limits of train movements?
The limits of train movements include:
- Limit of shunt boards
- Stop boards
- Shunting signals
- Other vehicles present
An overrun at a limit of shunt board or stop board is considered a SPAD.
What are the methods of communication for signaling a shunting move?
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)
