How is train parting dealt with?
If a train parts en route with a coupler failure, the guard uses his brakes to attempt to slow down his portion of the train to a safe halt. (If the train is being banked, the banker brings the train to a halt on seeing the guard’s signal, and also sounds a danger signal to attract the attention of the driver in front.) If the front portion of the train has not yet departed from view, the guard can also use a flag or lamp signal (green, waved strongly up and down) to attempt to indicate to the engine crew that the train has parted. Often the driver will notice the train has parted from the break in the continuous brakes (leading to a loss of brake pressure and also auto-regression of the master controller) and also the reduced load on the locomotive. Or, if lucky, the crew may happen to look out and spot the guard’s signal. (Under normal circumstances, the driver or his assistant always look back from the cab periodically to visually check that the rake is whole and has no obvious prob
If a train parts en route with a coupler failure, the guard uses his brakes to attempt to slow down his portion of the train to a safe halt. (If the train is being banked, the banker brings the train to a halt on seeing the guard’s signal, and also sounds a danger signal to attract the attention of the driver in front.) If the front portion of the train has not yet departed from view, the guard can also use a flag or lamp signal (green, waved strongly up and down) to attempt to indicate to the engine crew that the train has parted. Often the driver will notice the train has parted from the break in the continuous brakes (leading to a loss of brake pressure and also auto-regression of the master controller) and also the reduced load on the locomotive. Or, if lucky, the crew may happen to look out and spot the guard’s signal. (Under normal circumstances, the driver or his assistant always look back from the cab periodically to visually check that the rake is whole and has no obvious prob
