Question: What is the 'metal' pole drivers have?

Mario922 · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:30 pm

Hi everybody,

This may seem like an extremely basic question, but what is the little metal pole drivers have when operating along single track lines. I know that if the pole is missing, it means that there is a train using the line, but what is it's offical purpose?

On the canberra Explorer, i notice that drivers get the metal poles from inside the UA station house. But at stations like Berry, which are staffed, drivers simply play 'tag' with the station maser.

Thanks in advance, to anyone who replies

Mat
year 12

daniel741231 · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:36 pm

The short answer is a staff, as in staff working.

Long answers are in the appendixes, but here is an extract I lifted from here for you

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~narrow.gauge/notes.htm#safe

Safe Working
Safe Working is the term given to the system used to operate a railway safely. A full description would include descriptions of every device, rule and form required by a railway. Here is a short description.
All Victorian Railways narrow gauge lines consisted of a single track. To avoid collisions the railways used a system known as the Train Staff and Ticket system. The line was divided into sections. Only one train could run in a section at a time. Possession of the staff (a metal bar, engraved with the names of the stations at the ends of the section) gave a driver permission to enter a section. Stations at the end of the section were termed staff stations. They were usually equipped with signals to control the entry of trains into the station. From this it is obvious that trains could only cross (pass) at staff stations.
Often it is convenient to open an additional (temporary) staff station in a section. This involves withdrawing the permanent staff for the section and issuing temporary staffs. These are identical in form to the permanent staffs. Puffing Billy has Emerald, Nobelius and Cockatoo as temporary staff stations. Nobelius is opened on the days when "Thomas the Tank Engine" specials run.
It is often desirable to run several trains over a section in the same direction. To avoid having to transport the staff from one staff station to the other a Staff Ticket is used. This is a form giving the driver permission to travel through the section. The driver must not accept the ticket unless he sees that the person (signalman) giving him the ticket has the staff for the section in his possession. The main difference to the driver is that he is only allowed to travel forward on a ticket, he may not reverse (set back).
When a train using a Staff Ticket reaches the staff station, the signalman at that station sends a message to the signalman at the first station that the (complete) train has arrived. The signalman at the first station may then issue another ticket, or the staff, as circumstances demand. On Puffing Billy in summer (when a fire patrol trolley follows each train) it is not uncommon to issue five tickets before the staff

Regards,

Daniel

CPH18 was good... FP1 was better...
What will I do next?
________________________________________
I play Flames of War, the WWII Minatures game.

albert3801 · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:33 pm

Daniel has posted a good reply.

Basiclly a token giving authority to be on that section of line. In it's simplest form - each single line section has one staff. So if you are the driver and you have the staff (metal pole) then you know no other train can have it so won't be on that same section of single line.

Daniel has explained how this system can be expanded.

Albert
<><

http://www.givemetruth.net/saved

Maikha · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:36 pm

Mat

Come along the next time I'm Railmotor Guard at Zig Zag and I'll show you practically. Daniel has made a good explanation for it.

Cheers
Maikha "V" Ly

Cheers
Maikha

Patron/Member No.003 - Secret Gunzel Inner Circle
(This doesn't exist, and I'm not a gunzel!)

Comments made are that of my own, and do not reflect those of organisations mentioned

Johnny_Walton · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:49 pm

[quote="Maikha"]Mat

Come along the next time I'm Railmotor Guard at Zig Zag and I'll show you practically. Daniel has made a good explanation for it.

Yeah Matt

Go with Maikha.

Staff working is VERY rarely used any more in the suburban area.
In fact it is SO reaely used now that Cityrail now have the simulators set up at Petersham to travel through a special staff section JUST so ETR drivers can expereience what happens.

There is some special staff working carried out when trains are required
to cross through worksites to balance trains say blacktown to penrith ready for the Monday morning peak period.

Inter-city, countrylink and freighters use the special staff somewhere almost every weekend where there is trackwork on.

cheers
Jono.