ge_rik wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 3:17 pm
Peter Butler wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:39 pm
May I present exhibits 'A' and 'B' to the court?.......
trains cross 1.jpg
crossing2.jpg
Circumstantial at the very least ....
Rik
Who would have thought this topic would end up going down this particular rabbit hole!
Rule 16 of the dear old Railway Clearing-house Rules (used by almost every company from the turn of the 1900's up to 1972) clearly defines that the term 'train' includes a 'light engine'. the Rules and Regulations still require a light engine to carry a taillamp to confirm it is complete (!) and if the engine does not pass the box the fireman or secondman is charged with the duty of confirming to the signalman that the engine has arrived 'complete with tail lamp'. Pedantic insistence upon this has caused many arguments over the years, it becomes slightly more relevant when there are two or more engines in steam tied together though. (An engine hauling dead engines up to the authorised maximum of four IS considered to be a train and is signalled accordingly as a freight).
Just to make things interesting, for the purposes of examining the line to ascertain if it is safe (please note my best Rule Book English being given an airing!) an empty multiple unit train may be considered a light locomotive!
Please note that the foregoing is based upon the Rules and Regulations up to the early 1980's, goodness knows what the modern version says, the railway world is a very different place these days and I'm very thankful to be nearing the end of my daily involvement with this aspect of it.
Of course, light railways in general and narrow gauge railways in particular had a tendency to be laws unto themselves. Most fell into the category of 'items of plant' little different to the quarry crusher or the saw mill they serviced. Only a few were in the 'big boys league' of fully fledged railways, and whilst some, like the Lynton, did things 'properly', others were far freer in their interpretation of the Rules (yes Cambletown & Machrihanish, I'm looking at you!). Our own railways are what we want them to be and are operated in the way in which we choose to operate them. None of us are about to get a visit from the 'Man from the Min' - although watch out for Inspector Isles (where
has he got to by the way?). So, we can write our own Rule books if we choose, or dispense with such formalities altogether. Those who aim for some semblance of prototypical operation or are modelling a particular prototype may choose to follow practises from historical record, but even then, they don't
have to be slavish in following them. That's one of the real joys of this hobby of ours.
I shall now quietly remove my anorak and the bells from around my ankles, step down from my narrow boat roof and go and sit in the corner to read my Rule Book over a pint of beer!
CFLR Andrew