Middleton Railway Trust Ltd. (MRT) Policy Directive

Reference: TOP/4 (8/08)

Subject: Operation of Passenger Trains with Goods Locomotives

For the attention of: All Senior Engineers, All Council Members. This Directive forms part of the Safety Management System.

Revision History

Previous versions of this Directive were as follows. Reference 8/08/1 was the initial version.

This version implemented the revised numbering scheme for directives, but made no other changes to the content.

Content Summary

This Directive contains the following sections: Introduction

Classification of Locomotives Operation of Trains

Introduction

1. This Directive defines the circumstances under which it is permissible to operate passenger trains with goods locomotives, and the procedures for authorising such operations. Since these procedures place specific obligations only on particular individuals, it would not be appropriate for them to be specified in the company rulebook or in the train operating regulations.

Classification of Locomotives

• Locomotives are classified either as passenger locomotives or as goods locomotives. A locomotive is classified as a passenger locomotive if it meets the following two criteria.
  • It is capable of operating at the maximum permitted line speed (ie 10 mph).
  • It is fitted with all of the following vacuum brake equipment:
    • a train pipe with brake hoses and dollies at each end;
    • an ejector or exhauster with appropriate driver’s controls;
    • a train pipe vacuum gauge; and
    • a driver’s brake application valve.

• A locomotive that is either not capable of operating at the maximum permitted line speed, or is not fitted with all of the above vacuum brake equipment, is classified as a goods locomotive. A locomotive that would normally be classified as a passenger locomotive, but on which some of the vacuum brake equipment that is specified in clause 2 above is not operating correctly, must also be classified temporarily as a goods locomotive, since it is not in a fit condition for operating passenger trains.

• The Mechanical Engineer is responsible for determining the classification of each locomotive, and for notifying the Operating Superintendent of these classifications.

Policy Directive TOP/4 (8/08) continued

Operation of Trains

• Normal passenger trains (as these are defined in the train operating regulations, and in Policy Directive HS/3 on the Management of Safety-Critical Work) must only be operated with passenger locomotives, and the Operating Superintendent is responsible for ensuring that only passenger locomotives are rostered to operate such trains.

• If special passenger trains are to be operated in accordance with the procedures defined in Policy Directive HS/3 on the Management of Safety-Critical Work, then it is permissible to arrange for a goods locomotive to be used as part of their operation, subject to the following additional procedures.

• The Mechanical Engineer is responsible for notifying the Operating Superintendent of any special limitations on any goods locomotive that is to be used, such as limits on the speed at which it may operate.

• As a minimum, the goods locomotive must be fitted with all of the following vacuum brake equipment:
  • a train pipe with brake hose and dollies at either one end at least, or at both ends;
  • a train pipe vacuum gauge; and
  • a driver’s brake application valve.

If the locomotive is not normally fitted with any of these items of equipment, then the Mechanical Engineer is responsible for ensuring that they are specially fitted, and adequately tested.

• As well as the goods locomotive, the train must include a passenger locomotive, in order to ensure that the vacuum in the brake system can be adequately created and maintained. Thus, the goods locomotive must be used as a pilot locomotive, so that either:
  • it forms the leading locomotive, with the passenger locomotive marshalled immediately behind it; or
  • it forms the leading locomotive, with the passenger locomotive marshalled at the rear of the train; or
  • the passenger locomotive is marshalled at the front of the train and the goods locomotive at the rear of the train, as though it were a banking engine.

1. If the goods locomotive is not capable of operating at the maximum permitted line speed, then the timetable for those trains in which it is to be operated must be set so that the goods locomotive will not be required to exceed its maximum speed.

1. The Special Traffic Notice that is issued to authorise the operation of the special passenger trains must, in addition to the requirements specified in Policy Directive HS/3 on the Management of Safety-Critical Work, specify which trains the goods locomotive may operate, which passenger locomotive is to operate each such train with it, and how the trains are to be marshalled. The Special Traffic Notice must also specify the following requirements, and draw the attention of the crews of both passenger and goods locomotives to them.
   1. The requirements for the creation of vacuum for the trains that are being operated with a goods locomotive, which are that the driver of the passenger locomotive will be responsible for the creation of vacuum in the braking system, so that when the driver of the goods locomotive is the driver in charge of the train then the driver of the passenger locomotive must work to his instructions in operating his vacuum ejector or exhauster.
   1. Any special speed limits which must be applied to the trains that are being operated with a goods locomotive, in order to avoid the goods locomotive being required to exceed its maximum speed, and the requirement for all crews to ensure that these speed limits are adhered to.
   1. Any other special provisions for the trains that are being operated with a goods locomotive which may be necessary to take account of any other limitations of that goods locomotive, and the requirement for all crews to ensure that any such provisions are observed.

Drafted by A. J. Cowling, A. Hardy and S. J. Roberts, and approved on 27^th August 2008.