South Central Railway Block Working Procedures PDF

CHAPTER XIV BLOCK WORKING A. General Provisions 14.01. Means of granting or obtaining Line Clear.— The running of every train shall, in its progress from one block station to another, be regulated by means of any one of or a c...

CHAPTER XIV BLOCK WORKING A. General Provisions 14.01. Means of granting or obtaining Line Clear.— The running of every train shall, in its progress from one block station to another, be regulated by means of any one of or a combination of the following –– (a) electrical block instruments of token or tokenless type, (b) track circuits, (c) axle counters, or (d) electrical communication instruments. SR 14.01. The following electrical communication instruments are the authorised alternative means of communication to be used in the order of priority indicated below:- (i) Telephone attached to Block Instrument. (ii) Station to station fixed telephones where available. (iii) Fixed telephone such as railway autophone and BSNL telephone. (iv) Control telephone. (v) VHF set. 14.02. Provision of instruments.— (1) Electrical communication instruments shall be provided at every station, except at class ‘D’ stations, where they may be provided under special instructions. (2)(a) The electrical block instruments, where provided, and electrical communication instruments at any station shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner of Railway Safety and shall not be brought into use in the first instance unless they have been passed by him. (b) The person incharge of the maintenance of electrical block instruments or electrical communication instruments shall not without the approval of the Commissioner of Railway Safety, permit the substitution, for the instruments and installation brought into use in the first instance, of any instruments or installation which do or does not satisfy the conditions prescribed in clause (a). S.R.14.02. The sections of the line provided with different types of block instruments shall be notified in the Working Time Table for passenger trains. 14.03. Consent required before interfering with Block working equipment.— No railway servant shall interfere with the block working equipment, or their fittings for the purpose of effecting repairs, or for any other purpose, except with the previous consent of the Station Master. 238  B. Block Station at which Electrical Block Instruments Track Circuits or Axle Counters are provided 14.04. Certificate of competency.— (1) No person shall operate the electrical block instruments until he has passed a test in the operation of block instruments and unless he holds a certificate of competency granted by a railway servant appointed in this behalf by the Railway Administration. (2) The certificate of competency referred to in sub-rule (1) shall only be valid for a period of three years or such longer period as may be laid down by special instructions. S.R.14.04. The Principal, Zonal Railway Training Institute, Moula-ali is the authorised official to issue the Competency Certificate, which shall be valid for a period of three years. 14.05. Bell code.— For the signalling of trains, the prescribed code of bell signals as detailed below, shall be used, and a copy thereof shall be exhibited in each block station near the place of operation of the block working equipment –– Ref. Indication Code How How No. signalled acknowledged 1 Call attention or 0 One stroke One stroke or attend telephone or beat beat 2 Is line clear or 00 Two Two line clear enquiry 3 Train entering 000 Three Three block section 4 (A)Train out of 0000 Four Four block section (B) Obstruction removed 5 (A) Cancel last 00000 Five Five signal (B) Signal given in error 6 (A) Obstruction 000000 Six Six danger signal (general) (B) Stop and 000000 – 0 Six pause Six pause one examine train one 239  (C )Train passed 000000 – 00 Six pause Six pause two without tail lamp two or tail board (D) Train divided 000000 – 000 Six pause Six pause three three (E) Vehicles 000000 – 0000 Six pause Six pause four running away in four wrong direction on double line or into the block section on single line (F)Vehicles 000000 – 00000 Six pause Six pause five running away in five right direction on double line 7 Testing 0000000000000000 Sixteen Sixteen Note:- (1) ‘0’ indicates a stroke or a beat and ‘–‘ indicates a pause (2) Exchange of bell codes under reference numbers 3 and 4 are not required in a section provided with block proving axle counters or track circuit having complete track circuiting of station yard excluding non-running lines on either end. 14.06. Acknowledgement of signals.— (1) Each signal received shall be acknowledged by sending its authorised acknowledgement. (2) No signal shall be acknowledged until it is clearly understood. (3) A signal shall not be deemed to be complete until it is acknowledged. (4) If the station to which a signal is sent does not reply, the signal shall be repeated at intervals of not less than 20 seconds until reply is received. 14.07. Train Signal Register.–– (1) A Train Signal Register shall be kept by the Station Master or under his orders. (2) All signals received or sent on the electrical block instruments and the timings of receipt and despatch shall be entered therein, immediately after acknowledgement, by the person operating the block instruments. (3) The timings entered in the register shall be the actual timings, except that any fraction of a minute shall be counted as one. 240  (4) All entries in the register shall be made in ink. (5) No erasure shall be made in the register, but if any entry is found to be incorrect, a line shall be drawn through it, so that it may be read at any time and the correct entry shall be made above it. (6)The person who keeps the register for the time being shall be responsible for all entries made therein and for correctly filling in each column thereof. S.R. 14.07.1 The Station Master who makes an entry for a train in the TSR shall continue to be on duty till all entries pertaining to that train are completed. By this, it is meant that the Station Master who asked for Line Clear for a train to enter the block section shall remain on duty till the ‘Train out of block section’ signal is given and acknowledged and the Station Master who gives Line Clear for a train to enter a block section shall remain on duty till the train has arrived and the ‘Train out of block section’ signal is given and acknowledged. 2..A line shall be drawn across the TSR whenever Station Masters change duty. The Station Master who is going off duty shall sign his name legibly and enter the time above the line and the Station Master coming on duty shall sign legibly and enter the time below the line. 3. In the case of a train working on line, (clause 1) need not be observed but enter in the TSR, so far made, shall be initialed by both the Station Masters. An entry, as under, shall be made immediately below the entry for the train and above the line (clause2). “Block section still occupied by train (number and description)……………working on line”. Both the Station Masters shall sign this entry as required in clause 2. An entry to this effect shall also be made in the station diary and initialed by the both Station Masters. 4. The procedure detailed in clause 3 above shall also be applicable in case of accidents, engine failures, OHE failures etc, when there is a likelihood of trains getting abnormally delayed and it is not possible for the same persons to continue to remain on duty to complete all the transactions for which he/they had granted/obtained Line Clear. 14.08. Authority to proceed.— The Loco Pilot shall not take his train from a block station unless he has been given an authority to proceed –– (a) on the double line, by taking ‘off’ of the last Stop signal, and (b) on the single line, either- (i) by a token for the block section, taken from an electrical block instrument, or (ii) by a Line Clear Ticket duly signed by the Station Master, or (iii) by any document prescribed in this behalf by special instructions, or (iv) by taking ‘off’ of the last Stop signal in lieu of tangible authority as mentioned in sub-clauses (i) to (iii) on sections provided with electrical block instruments of tokenless type or track circuits or axle counters. 14.09. Loco Pilot to examine authority to proceed.— (1) The Loco Pilot shall ensure that the authority to proceed given to him is the proper authority under the system of working and 241  refers to the block section he is about to enter, and if the said authority is in writing that it is complete and duly signed in full and in ink. (2) If the conditions mentioned in sub-rule (1) are not complied with, the Loco Pilot shall not take his train past or start from the station until the mistake or the omission is rectified. 14.10. Conditions for closing the block section.— (1) When the block section has been cleared by the arrival of the train or by the removal of the cause of blocking, the block section shall be closed by the block station in advance by giving the prescribed bell code signal. (2) Before such signal is given, the Station Master shall satisfy himself as per the prescribed special instructions –– (a) that the train has arrived complete or the cause of blocking the section has been removed, and (b) that the conditions under which Line Clear can be given, are complied with. (3) The provision of clause (b) of sub-rule (2) may be relaxed at class ‘A’ single line crossing stations. In such cases, the Station Master shall satisfy himself that the train is standing at its Starter clear of the line on which the second train is to run. (4) Where in a section, a block proving axle counter or continuous track circuiting between block stations and complete track circuiting of station section excluding non-running lines of the receiving station is installed and is functioning and there is a clear indication of clearance of block section as well as complete arrival of the train as per indication given, it would be taken as assurance for complete arrival of the train to the Station Master. (AS No.4, dated 11.10.2010 – item No.14) Modified (AS No.5, dated 31.08.10 – item No.1) Replaced as under S.R.14.10.1- Except where the block proving axle counter or continuous track circuiting between block sections and complete track circuiting of station section, excluding non-running lines of the receiving station, is provided and functioning; and there is a clear indication of clearance of block section as well as complete arrival of the train, for all run through trains and for other trains which usually come to a stop at a place from which the tail lamp/tail board can conveniently be observed, the responsibility for ensuring that the train is complete devolves on the Station Master. S.R. 14.10.2.- At all other stations or yards where BPACs are not provided/not functioning, the guard of the train after ensuring that his train has arrived complete and standing within the fouling mark, shall call the SM on duty of that station on Walkie-Talkie. After clearly mentioning the identity of the guard and Station Master along with station name/train No. to each other, the guard shall give private number to SM on duty, in support of having ensured complete arrival of train within fouling mark. The SM will receive the PN in turn issue a PN to the guard that the relevant block section will be cleared. The Station Master on duty shall record the PN given by the guard and name of the guard in the remarks column of the Train Signal Register against the entry of the train. The guard shall record the PN received from SM on duty in his rough journal. The SM shall not give ‘Train out of block section’ signal to the Station Master in rear until he receives the private number from the guard. S.R. 14.10.3. - During failure of Walkie-Talkie/VHF sets when SM is not in a position to communicate with the guard of the incoming train, he shall send the ‘Train intact Arrival register’ (T.1410) to the guard through pointsman, duly entering the date and train No and his PN. The guard after ensuring that the train has arrived complete within fouling mark shall record the PN, arrival time with his full signature in the relevant columns of the ‘Train intact Arrival register’ and arrange to return the register to the station master on duty. The guard shall record the PN of the SM in his rough journal. The Station Master on duty shall record the PN received from the guard in the remarks column of the Train Signal Register against the entry of the train and shall not give ‘Train out of block section’ signal to the Station Master in rear until he receives the register(T.1410) back with guard’s PN and signature. 242 S.R. 14.10.4. – At stations or yards where en cabins are provided, the Cabin Station Master or the Cabin ASM/Cabinman/leverman of the cabin nearest to which the last vehicle stands, shall ensure complete arrival of train within the fouling mark, by seeing the tail lamp/tail board, and give a PN to the SM on duty to that effect. S.R.14.10.5. – When a stopping goods train is running without brake van or without guard, the Station Master shall depute a pointsman in advance towards the fouling mark in rear. The Pointsman shall ensure the complete arrival of train within the fouling mark and inform SM on duty on Walkie-Talkie or record the same in ‘Train intact register’ as the case may be, with a PN to that effect. S. R. 14.10.6. – Exchange of private numbers between the guard and the Station Master is not required in the following circumstances. (a) Where BPACs are provided and functioning. (b) Where end cabins are provided (c) In case of run through trains, where SM from platform side/Pointsman from off side of the station can see the LV board during day/Tail lamp during night. S. R. 14.10.7. – The instructions detailing the procedure of exchanging private numbers as above to ensure complete arrival of train, where BPACs or continuous track circuiting are not functioning; and also the instructions as per G.R. 14.10(4) and G.R.4.17(3) where BPACs/continuous track circuiting are provide, shall be incorporated in the respective Station Working rules. 14.11. Responsibility of Station Master as to authority to proceed.–– (1) An authority to proceed shall not be given to the Loco Pilot until the procedure prescribed for the purpose, so far as it is applicable in the particular case, has been followed. (2) An authority to proceed shall not be given to the Loco Pilot except by the Station Master or by some railway servant appointed in this behalf by special instructions. (3)The Station Master shall see that the authority to proceed given to a Loco Pilot is accurate and that, when it is in writing, it is complete and is signed in full and in ink. (4) If the train stops at the station and is waiting to cross another train, the authority to proceed shall not be given to the Loco Pilot until the whole of the latter train has arrived and is clear of the running line for the former train. (5) If two engines are coupled together or if one engine is in front and another in rear of the train, the authority to proceed shall be given to the Loco Pilot of the leading engine. 14.12. Special responsibility as to electrical token instruments and to the token.–– (1) The Station Master shall be responsible to ensure that – (a) no one but himself operates the electrical block instruments, (b)the procedure regarding bell signals and, in addition any communication made by electrical communication instruments including the use of a private number, as laid down under special instructions, is correctly carried out, (c) in the case of stopping trains, the incoming token is surrendered by the Loco Pilot before an outgoing token is delivered to him, (d) when he receives the token of an incoming train, it is put in the electrical block instrument immediately, and (e) no one except the person authorized by special instructions opens the electrical block instruments. 243  (2) (a) A token shall not be taken out of an electrical block instrument earlier than necessary and when taken out, its number shall be recorded in the Train Signal Register, and it shall be kept in the personal custody of the Station Master till issued to a Loco Pilot or returned to the instrument. (b) On arrival of the train at the block station in advance, the Loco Pilot shall give up the token in accordance with special instructions, and this token shall then be placed in the electrical block instrument at that station. (c) If the train has to return to the block station from which it started, the token shall, on such return, be replaced in the electrical block instrument from which it was extracted. 14.13. Failure of electrical block instruments or track circuits or axle counters.— (1) If the electrical block instruments, track circuits or axle counters or their electric connections fail, Line Clear shall be obtained through the electrical communication instruments. (2) When Line Clear has been so obtained, an entry to that effect shall be made in the Train Signal Register, and the train may be allowed to proceed on the issue of a written authority to proceed, which shall also bear a remark to that effect. S.R.14.13.1. Resetting buttons for failure of Analog Axle Counter in IB section. PB.1. To reset the axle counter whenever the IB Home is passed at 'on'. PB.2. To reset the axle counter due to failure or improper counting. PB.3. To give co-operation to the station in rear. 14.13.2. PB 1 or PB 2 is used only with the co-operation of the station ahead. This co- operation is given by pressing PB 3 and indicated by a white light near PB 1 or PB 2 button. 2.1. Resetting buttons for failure of Digital Axle Counter in IB section. PB.1. To permit LSS of the rear station to be taken 'off' whenever the IB Home is passed at 'on'. PB.3. To give co-operation to the station in rear. Reset Button: To reset the axle counter of rear section due to failure or improper counting. 2.2. PB 1 is used only with the co-operation of the station ahead. This co-operation is given by pressing PB 3 and indicated by a white light near PB 1 button. 2.3. (a) When reset is initiated, Digital Axle Counter of rear section enters into preparatory reset mode. The first train shall be dealt on authority to pass station LSS at 'on'. (b) On clearing the section by first train on preparatory reset, if the axle counter shows clear indication at both stations, all subsequent trains can be dealt normally. However, if again the axle counter does not show clear indication, but 'occupied' indication continuously, the Digital Axle Counter shall be treated as failed. 14.14. Closing of Intermediate Block Post.— If the electrical block instruments provided at the stations on either side of an Intermediate Block Post or the track circuiting provided beyond the last Stop signal, or the axle counters provided at either end of block section 244 fail, the Intermediate Block Stop signal shall be treated as defective and the Intermediate Block Post shall be deemed to be closed and the section between the stations on either side of the Intermediate Block Post shall be treated as one block section. SR 14.14 The following indications are provided at the place, where IB signal is operated: 14.14.1 K1 INDICATOR 1.1 K1 indicator appears and audible alarm sounds, when a train passes IBS at ‘on’. The audible alarm can be stopped by pressing the acknowledgement button. Immediately Station Master on duty must alert Station Master at the station in advance and then he must notify the particulars of the train and time at which the train passed the IBS at ‘on’. 1.2 In case the train entered into the IB section, which is already occupied with a train, the Station Master shall -- 1.2.1 advise the Gateman, if any, in section to stop the train and inform Loco Pilot and Guard of the circumstances, 1.2.2 inform the TPC in case, the train is hauled by electric loco, to switch off OHE power supply and to advise the circumstances when Loco Pilot contacts on emergency phone, 1.2.3 advise the Station Master at the station in advance to issue Caution Order to the train which may enter block section on adjacent line from the other end to proceed cautiously and be prepared to stop short of any obstruction. 1.3 In case the train entered into the IB section, which is not occupied, Station Master shall act as per para 1.1 above. 1.4 On complete arrival of the said train in both the circumstances, at the station in advance, Station Master must inform the arrival of train and clearance of section under exchange of private numbers duly making all the entries in the TSR / Station Diary in RED INK at both the stations. 1.5 The indication disappears after normal restoration of circuits by using PB1 and co- operation from Station Master from other end of the block section. Till that time, no other train shall be allowed to enter into axle counter block section. 14.14.2 K2 INDICATOR K2 indicator appears and audible alarm sounds when train passes LSS and enters axle counter section. The indication disappears and the audible alarm stops as LSS knob is put back to normal. 14.14.3 K3 INDICATOR K3 indicator appears and audible alarm sounds as train passes IBS at ‘off’ position and enters block section. The indication disappears and audible alarm stops as IBS knob is normalised. 14.14.4 K4 INDICATOR K4 indicator appears and audible alarm sounds whenever the normal / clear aspect bulb of IBS / IB distant signal bulb fuses or power supply to IB signal fails. Pressing the acknowledgement button stops the alarm. The indication will disappear after the replacement of fused bulb or resumption of power supply as the case may be. 245  C. Block Stations at which Electrical Block Instruments are not provided. 14.15. Transmission of signals.— For the working of trains at such stations where electrical block instruments are not provided, signals as prescribed under special instructions shall be transmitted, as occasion may require, on the electrical communication instruments. S.R.14.15. For detailed instructions, see Chapter VIII of Part A (BWMS-T), Part B (BWMS- TL) and Part C (BWMD) of Block Working Manual 2005. 14.16. Train Signal Register.— The Train Signal Register referred to in Rule 14.07 shall also be maintained at block stations where block instruments are not provided. 14.17. Forms for messages and written authority to proceed.— (1) All messages despatched in connection with the working of trains, and all written authorities to proceed, shall be written on forms specially provided for the purpose by the Railway Administration. (2) Such forms shall be bound up in books and kept at each block station by the Station Master, or by some railway servant appointed in this behalf by special instructions. 14.18. Distinction of messages.–– (1) Every message despatched in connection with the working of a train shall distinctly describe the train to which it relates. (2) For every train a separate enquiry and reply shall be sent. 14.19. Writing and signing of messages and written authorities to proceed.– (1) All messages despatched in connection with the working of trains, and all written authorities to proceed, shall be written up in ink and signed by the person authorised to despatch or issue the same. (2) No message or written authority to proceed shall be written out, either in full or in part or signed, until necessary. 14.20. Completion of messages.— No part of any message shall be despatched or acted upon until the whole message has been written out except with a view to the prevention of an accident, or in some other case of emergency. 14.21. Preservation of messages and written authorities to proceed.— Messages and written authorities to proceed shall be destroyed at such time after issue as may be prescribed by special instructions: Provided that no message or written authority to proceed shall be destroyed before one month after issue. 246 14.22. Cancellation of Line Clear.— On a single line when a Line clear has been cancelled, no train shall be allowed to leave in the opposite direction until a message has been received acknowledging such cancellation and stating that the train for which the Line Clear has been given is and shall be detained. 14.23. Loco Pilot to have authority to proceed.— The Loco Pilot shall not take his train from a station unless he has in his possession as his authority to proceed, a Line Clear Ticket duly signed by the Station Master. 14.24. Authority to proceed: when to be given to Loco Pilot.— An authority to proceed shall not be given to the Loco Pilot until the procedure prescribed for the purpose, so far as it is applicable in the particular case, has been followed. S.R.14.24. For special instructions regarding the delivery of Line Clear Ticket, refer Annexure of Block Working Manuals 2005. D. Line Clear Tickets 14.25. Line Clear Tickets.–– (1) When owing to failure or non-provision of electrical block instruments the authority to proceed is a Line Clear Ticket, it shall, except under special instruction, be in the following form– 247  (Blue) Form No. T/C 1425 Sr. No._________ South Central Railway PAPER LINE CLEAR TICKET (Loco Pilot / Record) Up Number of Train________________________ UP (Description)__________ Date______________________ Time____________ hours_________ minutes. From Station Master____________________________ To The Loco Pilot of Train No._______________________ UP The line is clear and you are authorised to proceed to _____________ station Last train No.________________ cleared section at ____________ station. Private No.(in words) __________________ (in figures)________________ AUTHORITY TO PASS SIGNAL AT ‘ON’ POSITION *You are authorised to pass Last Stop Signal at danger, when the signal is interlocked with Block Instrument. _______________________ Signature of Station Master Station Master Stamp *Strike out whichever is not applicable. 248  (Blue) Form No. T/D 1425 Sr. No._________ South Central Railway PAPER LINES CLEAR TICKET (Loco Pilot / Record) Down Number of Train________________________Down (Description)__________ Date______________________ Time____________ hours_________ minutes. From Station Master____________________________ To The Loco Pilot of Train No._______________________ Down The line is clear and you are authorised to proceed to _____________ station Last train No.________________ cleared section at ____________ station. Private No. (in words) __________________ (in figures)________________ AUTHORITY TO PASS SIGNAL AT ‘ON’ POSITION *You are authorised to pass Last Stop Signal at danger, when the signal is interlocked with Block Instrument. _______________________ Signature of Station Master Station Master Stamp *Strike out whichever is not applicable. 249  (2) Each such ticket shall bear a serial number which shall be recorded in the Train Signal Register, the numbers for the Down direction being clearly distinguished from those for the Up direction. (3) The ticket referred in sub-rules (1) and (2) shall be printed on white paper with blue font. To distinguish Paper Line Clear Ticket for up and down directions, water mark arrow pointing “up” and “down” shall be printed on the ticket. SR.14.25 On double line and single line sections, when block instrument is interrupted or suspended, every train shall be stopped, run through trains being stopped out of course and the Station Master shall issue to the Loco Pilot of train a Paper Line Clear Ticket in the prescribed form which will be the Authority for the train to proceed. The prescribed Paper Line Clear form numbers are— (A) Line Clear Enquiry Message issued by train despatching station - T/A 1425 (B) Line Clear Reply Message issued by train receiving station T/B - 1425 (C) Paper Line Clear Ticket – UP T/C 1425 (D) Paper Line Clear Ticket – DN T/D 1425 Note : On double line section between ‘A’ and ‘B’ block stations, in case of partial failure of the Block Instruments, if the Block Instrument is working in, say UP direction (‘A’ to ‘B’) the train will be dispatched after taking Line Clear on the Block Instrument from ‘A’ to ‘B’. In the reverse direction (‘B’ to ‘A’) the train will be despatched on the authority of Paper Line Clear Ticket. E. Use and Operation of Block Working Equipment 14.26. Use and operation of block working equipment.— The use and operation of electrical block instruments shall be governed by special instructions to be issued with the prior approval of the Railway Board. 250