Bodyside Marker Light - Flashing when Guard Present

[whhistle]

Can't remember if they have an official term, but I thought all train coaches (multiple units-wise anyway) had bodyside marker lights connetced to the CDL system.
When a guard was "keyed" into one of the doors, that coach would have it's marker light flashing on all types of train, but it appears not. To be honest, only really seen it on the 350's, which made it a million times easier to find the guard.

How come this isn't a nationwide feature?

 

[Lockwood]

The 450s and 444s have it as well. I thought the 377s did too?

 

[_toommm_]

Most do yeah. At least in my part of the country when the guard opens the panel that hazard light for that particular coach is the first to come on - but then again it's always a dispatch from the rear coach which makes it easier to find them

 

[Peter Mugridge]

707s do this as well.

 

[Domh245]

All passenger trains have bodyside indicator lamps which will illuminate if there isn't interlock on that car. As for the flashing when a Guard's Operating Panel is keyed on, I think that it is just a Desiro thing. Not sure why it isn't a nationwide feature, but I would think that it is as a result of the way in which the on board computers work, which would prevent 2 GOPs being on at the same time, so it's a quick and easy way to see if there is one still on somewhere in the consist. Other units may not be as fussy about how many panels are on, or this sort of ergonomic aspect wasn't considered.

 

[Fincra5]

The 450s and 444s have it as well. I thought the 377s did too?

No 377's (and alike) only flash to show you where the PASSCOM has been activated.

 

[Bletchleyite]

350/2 and newer also do a long flash when the doors are closing. Guard keyed in is 50% on/off.

 

[43096]

The common denominator being that they are Siemens built units.

 

[TEW]

800s do it also.

 

[GW43125]

Most do yeah. At least in my part of the country when the guard opens the panel that hazard light for that particular coach is the first to come on - but then again it's always a dispatch from the rear coach which makes it easier to find them

That's probably just to indicate where the interlock circuit is broken when they open the rear cab door

 

[ComUtoR]

Can't remember if they have an official term, but I thought all train coaches (multiple units-wise anyway) had bodyside marker lights connetced to the CDL system.

BIL - Bodyside/Body Interlock Light Not sure if they are all called that but ours are.

How come this isn't a nationwide feature?

Ours flash for other reasons and can indicate a unit fault. Having it indicate a Guards panel active would most likely cause confusion.

 

[Darkinsider]

deleted

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

185 and 333s also have it.

Also Siemens, I suppose. I find it quite handy!

 

[E_Reeves]

So that's why I've seen it when the train was moving. I always thought it was when the cab door was open.

 

[GW43125]

So that's why I've seen it when the train was moving. I always thought it was when the cab door was open.

I think-but this may not apply to all stock-but if an open cab door lights a BIL, it’s broken the interlock circuit, and you’ll be going nowhere

 

[dp21]

BIL - Bodyside/Body Interlock Light Not sure if they are all called that but ours are.

Same terminology used with ours too. I don't think any flashing occurs on any of our ex-BR stock.

 

[K.o.R]

Yes, certainly on 450 and 444 it means a guard panel is active in that coach, and can continue flashing even if the train is moving. It may cut off at a certain speed; I have noticed that an active guard panel's lights don't come on until the train has slowed almost to a stop, but it is definitely lights up before the train stops completely.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So that's why I've seen it when the train was moving. I always thought it was when the cab door was open.

On Desiros an open cab door is the same as an open saloon door - no interlock, so the hazard light is on solid unless the key is in in that vehicle in which case it flashes.

 

[185]

which made it a million times easier to find the guard.

I like it, it's idiot proofing the train for scatterbrains. Now... 27 minutes ago after the last stop, where did I key in? Hmmm....

...ok - try this one.... "BZZZZZ" ...oh not that one.... BZZZZZ..... no, not that one either... etc

 

[Crossover]

I think it is a Siemens thing as the 185's do it and I asked a similar question a while ago. I recall the 350's are kept keyed in as the unit departs causing the BIL to keep flashing for a little while after the unit sets off

 

[brel york]

BIL - Bodyside/Body Interlock Light Not sure if they are all called that but ours are.



Ours flash for other reasons and can indicate a unit fault. Having it indicate a Guards panel active would most likely cause confusion.

Bil is the correct term

 

[E_Reeves]

I think it is a Siemens thing as the 185's do it and I asked a similar question a while ago. I recall the 350's are kept keyed in as the unit departs causing the BIL to keep flashing for a little while after the unit sets off

Is that so the guard can do one on the buzzer if they need to stop for any reason?

 

[BestWestern]

All passenger trains have bodyside indicator lamps which will illuminate if there isn't interlock on that car. As for the flashing when a Guard's Operating Panel is keyed on, I think that it is just a Desiro thing. Not sure why it isn't a nationwide feature, but I would think that it is as a result of the way in which the on board computers work, which would prevent 2 GOPs being on at the same time, so it's a quick and easy way to see if there is one still on somewhere in the consist. Other units may not be as fussy about how many panels are on, or this sort of ergonomic aspect wasn't considered.

All units are fussy about panels, in most cases if you attempt to activate a second panel the buzzer will sound continuously (interestingly, in some cases it will stop as soon as you deactivate the second panel, but in others it continues until you locate and deactivate the first panel as well - Drivers love that! ). The flashing BIL idea is very useful and helps both staff and passengers identify the Guard, where present. Heathrow Connect Desiro stock runs DOO, and when the doors are active the leading coach flashes its BIL as the Driver is keyed in.

 

[TEW]

All units are fussy about panels, in most cases if you attempt to activate a second panel the buzzer will sound continuously (interestingly, in some cases it will stop as soon as you deactivate the second panel, but in others it continues until you locate and deactivate the first panel as well - Drivers love that! ).

That's nothing! Try to switch the DKS on in two places on a 456 and you will trip some MCBs and it often results in the train being taken out of service, empty to depot for fitters attention.

 

[BestWestern]

That's nothing! Try to switch the DKS on in two places on a 456 and you will trip some MCBs and it often results in the train being taken out of service, empty to depot for fitters attention.

Ouch!

 

[driver9000]

Is that so the guard can do one on the buzzer if they need to stop for any reason?

They would just plunge the emergency brake on a Desiro.

 

[pompeyfan]

They would just plunge the emergency brake on a Desiro.

Only if it’s dispatched from a cab, otherwise it’s one on the Bell (until 6mph)

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's nothing! Try to switch the DKS on in two places on a 456 and you will trip some MCBs and it often results in the train being taken out of service, empty to depot for fitters attention.

Amazing that something seemingly so simple could be designed in such a cack-handed manner.

 

[LowLevel]

Amazing that something seemingly so simple could be designed in such a cack-handed manner.

To be fair I think they were generally driver only operated for their entire existence until they went to SWT so the problem probably didn't arise much!

You'd be surprised how seemingly simple electrical operations can bugger a train up - I believe for example you have to be careful how 15x and 170 units run in multi as the wrong combo causes the buzzer to sound constantly or other faults despite them being theoretically compatible.

 

[Tractor37]

185 and 333s also have it.

Also Siemens, I suppose. I find it quite handy!

185's have it but 333's certainly don't have flashing body side hazard lights.