GWR Service Time Table: Instructions

GWR Route: Hatton to Bearley and Alcester Branch

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

Appendix to No. 13 Section of the Service Time Tables

(Aynho Junction, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and North Warwickshire Line)

MARCH 1929, and until further notice

BEARLEY.

MILK TRAIN, SUNDAYS.

This trains may be propelled over the Main Lines between Bearley Station and Bearley West Signal Box.
The speed must not exceed 15 miles per hour.
Signalmen, Enginemen and Guards must keep a sharp look-out, and be prepared to pay instant attention to signals. (P.8402)

ADVICE OF TRAINS TO GREAT ALNE STATION AND SPENCER’S CROSSING.

The Signalman at Bearley North Junction Box must telephone Great Alne Station, and the Gate keeper at Spencer’s Crossing, when a train leaves Alcester Junction or Bearley North.

TELEPHONE BETWEEN NORTH JUNCTION BOX AND UP BRANCH HOME SIGNAL.

Telephone communication is provided between the Up Branch Home Signal and the North Junction Signal Box, and the Fireman of any Engine or Train stopped at the signal must at once advise the Signalman by this means that the Engine or Train is there.

ALCESTER BRANCH.

WORKING OF ALCESTER BRANCH WITH TYERS’ TRAIN TABLET APPARATUS.

The Alcester Single Line Branch is provided with Electrical Communication, and worked under Tyers’ Electric Train Tablet System, in accordance with the Regulations for Electric Train Tablet working.

The crossing places are Bearley East and North and Alcester. Telephone communication is provided between Bearley East and North Signal Boxes, Great Alne, Alcester Junction and Alcester Station, (G.W. Office).

When the Siding accommodation at Alcester becomes congested with traffic, the G.W. Station Master at Alcester must communicate with the Station Master at Bearley, advising him the number of wagons which can be dealt with, and the latter will arrange to limit the loading of the mixed Trains from Bearley to enable the wagons to be conveniently dealt with at Alcester. Care must be exercised in carrying out this order, so as to avoid undue detention at Bearley of wagons for the L.M. & S. at Alcester.

All Mixed Trains must be formed so as to leave Bearley and Alcester with the engine leading, and the engine must be run round the train at Bearley and Alcester to ensure this.

The practice of working Mixed Trains between these points with the Trailer leading is prohibited.

LOADING OF AUTO ENGINE 517 CLASS TO AND FROM GREAT ALNE.

MIXED TRAIN WORKING OF GENERAL APPENDIX TO APPLY.

1. Vehicles conveying passengers must be formed in front of all goods vehicles. The continuous brake must be capable of being applied to all vehicles containing passengers and there must be a hand brake vehicle in the rear of all, with a Guard in it. There is no obligation to apply the continuous brake from the Guard’s van or compartment, and although it will be generally convenient for the passenger brake to be formed next to the coaches, it may, if necessary, be placed in the rear of the goods vehicles, in which case the Guard must ride in it. Passengers must not be allowed to ride in the passenger brake vehicle when placed behind goods vehicles.

2. The provision of brake vans must be in the following proportions: On a brake van with a tare of not less than 10 tons for every 10 wagons, or one brake van with a tare of 13 or more tons for every 15 wagons, or one brake van with a tare of 16 or more tons for every 20 wagons, or fractional parts of 10, 15 or 20 wagons respectively. If the composition of the train necessitates a second or third goods brake van, these vans must be formed at suitable intervals amongst the goods vehicles and a Guard must ride in each brake van. A goods brake van employed as rear vehicle on mixed trains must carry side lamps. When, in addition to one goods brake van at the rear of a ‘Mixed’ train, a passenger brake vehicle is included as part of the continuously braked stock, it will not be necessary for a Guard to ride in the passenger brake vehicle.

3. The total number of vehicles on a Mixed train must not exceed 30. Each vehicle is to count as one and not on the basis shown for passenger trains. The engine and tender are not to be counted.

4. The maximum speed of a Mixed train throughout its journey between stations must not exceed 25 miles an hour. All Mixed trains must stop at stations to avoid a longer run than 10 miles without stopping; but in the case of stations more than 10 miles apart it will not be necessary for a stop to be made between such stations.

5. When trains are run for the conveyance of horses, cattle, or other stock, and vehicles are added for the conveyance of passengers, the vehicles conveying the passengers must be placed in front of all goods vehicles, be provided with the continuous brake worked from the engine, and the train must be run subject to the conditions applying to Mixed trains. Drovers, Grooms, or other persons travelling in charge of live-stock are not, for the purpose of this instruction, regarded as passengers, but when a separate passenger vehicle is provided for their accommodation, it must be formed next to the engine and provided with the continuous brake worked from the engine.

6. The regular train authorised to be run as ‘Mixed’ trains are headed ‘Mixed’ in the service Time Tables.

7. If the goods work entails more than one shunt at any station the vehicles containing the passengers must, if practicable, be placed on another line or siding and secured before shunting is commenced. At places where towing is authorised a goods vehicle must not be towed whilst vehicles containing passengers are attached to the engine.

8. When forming a Mixed train, if the next vehicle to the passenger coaches is fitted with a three link coupling, that coupling should be used, but when the leading non-vacuum vehicle is fitted with a screw coupling the proper emergency screw coupling must be used in accordance with the instructions.
Three types of loose screw couplings are in use, as follows:
       No.4 For connecting Carriage stock (2 foot, 11 inches maximum length extended).
       No.5 For connecting Carriage and Wagon stock and wagons if either or both are fitted with screw couplings (2 foot, 7.5 inches maximum length extended).
       No.6 For connecting Wagon stock when both are fitted with 3 link couplings (2 foot, 1.25 inches maximum length extended).
Proper couplings must be used for their various purposes, and the screw, shackle pins, etc., of the emergency couplings must be well lubricated. Station Masters, Inspectors and Foremen must satisfy themselves that the screw couplings are in good condition and work freely before they are put into use.

9. When the number of wheels on which the vacuum brake can be applied from the engine is less than one-fourth of the total wheels on the train – exclusive of van and engine brakes – Mixed trains must stop at stop boards for the purpose of applying as many wagon brakes as may be necessary in accordance with the Standard Incline Instructions.

10. Tank wagons can only be conveyed by Mixed trains, subject to the instructions.
When no freight train service is available, tank wagons for inflammable liquids and highly inflammable liquids (loaded or empty) may be conveyed by Mixed trains.
When such wagons are so conveyed by Mixed trains they must be marshalled next inside the rear brake van, and in all cases at least one ordinary goods wagon must be placed between any vehicle containing passengers and the tank wagons.
In no case must wagons conveying combustible traffic, such as hay or straw, be placed next to the tank wagons.
The foregoing instruction modifies clause 10 of Rule 240 in so far as the conveyance of these tank wagons is concerned.

11. These Regulations do not apply to troop trains.

FAILURE OF ELECTRIC TABLET APPARATUS.

In the event of a Tablet Failure on this Branch, and it being impossible to withdraw a Tablet, the velocipede Inspection Car may be treated as a Platelayers’ Trolley in regard to opening up Pilot working.

PUBLIC FOOTPATH LEVEL CROSSING, ASTON CANTLOW, NEAR GREAT ALNE.

Whistle boards are fixed at a distance of 600 yards on each side of the above Crossing. Engine Drivers must sound their whistles accordingly to warn pedestrians using the Crossing.

ENGINE HEAD LIGHTS ON BRANCH GOODS TRAINS.

All Engines working Goods Trains on the undermentioned Branches will carry one Head Light only, which will be placed on the centre of the Buffer Plank.

Bearley and Alcester.

Robert Ferris