Emergency Hand Signals

[HuggyB87]

I can't find a "signalling" thread so thought this would be the right place; feel free to move

On the railway, AFAIK, the hand signal for STOP/Danger is 2 hands above your head in a V shape (if you do not own/possess a R/Y/G lamp).

Is there a specified hand signal for emergency stop? For example if somebody has fell on to the track and you need to stop an approaching train.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I can't find a "signalling" thread so thought this would be the right place; feel free to move

On the railway, AFAIK, the hand signal for STOP/Danger is 2 hands above your head in a V shape (if you do not own/possess a R/Y/G lamp).

Is there a specified hand signal for emergency stop? For example if somebody has fell on to the track and you need to stop an approaching train.

As you say, 2 hands above your head. Or you can use a red hand lamp or any colour lamp waived vigorously is how the rule book describes it I believe.

 

[HuggyB87]

As you say, 2 hands above your head. Or you can use a red hand lamp or any colour lamp waived vigorously is how the rule book describes it I believe.

Thank you.

So in the absence of a red lamp, waving your arms vigorously above your head would be suffice?

(I'm not planning on doing it "for fun" - more out of interest and understanding)

 

[baz962]

Thank you.

So in the absence of a red lamp, waving your arms vigorously above your head would be suffice?

(I'm not planning on doing it "for fun" - more out of interest and understanding)

No . The two hands are just straight up in the air . You don't wave , we will just wave back.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

No . The two hands are just straight up in the air . You don't wave , we will just wave back.

As has happened at Stafford not that long ago. Station staff put arms up but waved them, conductor waved back and off the train went. Station staff called signaller to stop train at next signal though.

Hand signals in particular need to be clear.

Thank you.

So in the absence of a red lamp, waving your arms vigorously above your head would be suffice?

(I'm not planning on doing it "for fun" - more out of interest and understanding)

Lamp other than red to be waived vigorously only.

 

[HuggyB87]

No . The two hands are just straight up in the air . You don't wave , we will just wave back.

Ah understood.

Many thanks

 

[43066]

No . The two hands are just straight up in the air . You don't wave , we will just wave back.

Well we might not wave back. But we certainly won’t stop .

 

[Dstock7080]

On LU a ‘normal stop’ hand signal is both hands held steady above head; an acceptable emergency hand signal is both arms waved above head.

 

[L401CJF]

By day both hands held clearly above head, or a red flag displayed clearly.

By night a red torch, or any other light waved vigorously.

 

[baz962]

Well we might not wave back. But we certainly won’t stop .

I'm not as grumpy as you. Also depends if I have a cuppa on the go

 

[Surreytraveller]

On LU a ‘normal stop’ hand signal is both hands held steady above head; an acceptable emergency hand signal is both arms waved above head.

But presumably when operating on NR you'd adhere to their handsignals?

 

[Efini92]

We’re not allowed to wave a white light vigorously anymore, it has to be violently now.

 

[Surreytraveller]

We’re not allowed to wave a white light vigorously anymore, it has to be violently now.

Violently? As in hitting someone on the head with it?

 

[BrummieBobby]

Perhaps the RSSB have seen the physique of some of the station staff and ground staff on the network and have decided that they are incapable of anything too vigorous?

 

[Taunton]

Gerry Fiennes tells a great story from long ago of a freight train which managed to set off with no crew on the footplate. Station ahead was advised, and all assembled on the platform to wave and shout at the guard in the traditional brake van to apply the brakes. They did so, and the guard thought they were wishing him happy significant birthday. Which it was.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Gerry Fiennes tells a great story from long ago of a freight train which managed to set off with no crew on the footplate. Station ahead was advised, and all assembled on the platform to wave and shout at the guard in the traditional brake van to apply the brakes. They did so, and the guard thought they were wishing him happy significant birthday. Which it was.

Yes - a good tale - and the train piled up (after the guard had self-evacuated) .......

 

[Efini92]

Violently? As in hitting someone on the head with it?

I’m not sure, maybe a stabbing motion.
I don’t know why they felt the need to change the wording.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I’m not sure, maybe a stabbing motion.
I don’t know why they felt the need to change the wording.

They have to change the wording of something every 6 months otherwise there'd be no rule changes.....

Bit like when the Cess was no longer called the Cess, then was later renamed the Cess.

 

[Bald Rick]

after the guard had self-evacuated

in both senses, presumably.


the hand signal - basically signalling a six at cricket.

 

[Efini92]

They have to change the wording of something every 6 months otherwise there'd be no rule changes.....

Bit like when the Cess was no longer called the Cess, then was later renamed the Cess.

Good point. The other one that springs to mind is not being able to pass an IB on your own authority, then the next update you can again.

 

[martin2345uk]

Good point. The other one that springs to mind is not being able to pass an IB on your own authority, then the next update you can again.

What’s that now? We can again?

 

[Gloster]

I was taught over forty years ago that when you raised your arms above your head, you might wave your hands about a bit to draw attention to the fact that your arms were raised (a lot of you in that sentence). Don’t do it violently (or vigorously), and limit it to the forearms and hands. And only when necessary, such as in a dark uniform against a dark background. (What I was told took less time to say than it does to write it.)

 

[Efini92]

What’s that now? We can again?

Yeah, the very next update it came back in. It’s now under passing a controlled signal rather than its own heading.

 

[martin2345uk]

Yeah, the very next update it came back in. It’s now under passing a controlled signal rather than its own heading.

Can you say which section? I can’t see it in my version of the RSSB rulebook app…

 

[Tomnick]

Good point. The other one that springs to mind is not being able to pass an IB on your own authority, then the next update you can again.

I don't think it was ever the case that you couldn't. The principle was that you could still do so, only if you'd confirmed that the controlling signal box was closed, but the wording and definitions didn't really make that clear. Now it does.

 

[Efini92]

Can you say which section? I can’t see it in my version of the RSSB rulebook app…

It’s the last part of passing a controlled signal on your own authority.

I don't think it was ever the case that you couldn't. The principle was that you could still do so, only if you'd confirmed that the controlling signal box was closed, but the wording and definitions didn't really make that clear. Now it does.

Between December 2022 and June 2021 you couldn’t. I think the wording in the amendments was something along the lines of “with GSMR there should be no reason not to be able to contact the signaller”.
I actually preferred the old wording. What if you pass the signal box and it’s open then 40 miles later at an IB you can’t contact the signaller?

 

[martin2345uk]

It’s the last part of passing a controlled signal on your own authority

Do you mean this part? This is the last part of that section as it stands currently?

 

[Efini92]

Do you mean this part? This is the last part of that section as it stands currently?

It says December 2020 at the top

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It says December 2020 at the top

Not all sections are updated each time the amendments come out. Some 'current' sections are years old as there have been no issues to update them.

 

[Efini92]

Not all sections are updated each time the amendments come out. Some 'current' sections are years old as there have been no issues to update them.

S5 has been updated since December 2020