The golden light on the tracks
December 11, 2023 9:03 PM Subscribe
Travel from Southern Cross Station to Warrnambool terminus with Driver 667 [SLYT, 3hr20m] For railfans, lovers of slow media, and anyone else who needs some brain brillo for the upcoming festive season, this early Spring morning journey from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to the south-western coastal city of Warrnambool offers a unique perspective on the landscape of Australia, suffused with the glorious gold of the southern sun...
That's it That's the post.
That's it That's the post.
Can a local gunzel [or distant foamer or anorak] tell us whether whether this track uses Token Railway Signalling on these l o n g single track sections to avoid head-on collisions?
"Token" is a key is handed over by the driver of the Up train to the driver of the Down train while both vehicles are at, for e.g. my local, Bagenalstown station (where the track is briefly doubled). A couple of times a day you can see one driver crossing the tracks by the station bridge, carrying The Token attached to a 50+ cm diameter key-ring. This is the cause of the delay all-too-frequently experienced on the Galway-Dublin line where you may pause interminably in Ballinasloe waiting for the Down train to clear the line ahead.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:13 PM on December 11, 2023
"Token" is a key is handed over by the driver of the Up train to the driver of the Down train while both vehicles are at, for e.g. my local, Bagenalstown station (where the track is briefly doubled). A couple of times a day you can see one driver crossing the tracks by the station bridge, carrying The Token attached to a 50+ cm diameter key-ring. This is the cause of the delay all-too-frequently experienced on the Galway-Dublin line where you may pause interminably in Ballinasloe waiting for the Down train to clear the line ahead.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:13 PM on December 11, 2023
I’ve done this trip several times but obviously I have never seen it from this angle! Thank you for sharing.
posted by andraste at 12:35 AM on December 12, 2023
posted by andraste at 12:35 AM on December 12, 2023
I am not a gunzel but have certainly associated with a few. My other half, also not a gunzel but does work on the Melbourne metro railway, says token signaling has been used on the metro lines within the last 20 years, so it is possible it's still used regionally but she doesn't think so. I may have a proper gunzel over for dinner on Thursday should a better answer not be forthcoming by then.
posted by deadwax at 2:16 AM on December 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by deadwax at 2:16 AM on December 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
Actually he may come over even if a better answer is forthcoming. It's really not contingent on an answer one way or the other.
posted by deadwax at 2:21 AM on December 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by deadwax at 2:21 AM on December 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
Token Railway Signalling
I saw this happen once on the single-track section that you get somewhere between Middlesbrough and Whitby in the UK. As a train nerd, I got really excited to see an actual token handover.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 4:06 AM on December 12, 2023
I saw this happen once on the single-track section that you get somewhere between Middlesbrough and Whitby in the UK. As a train nerd, I got really excited to see an actual token handover.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 4:06 AM on December 12, 2023
For a section of through track protected by a token, does the use of a token presume that successive trains must always alternate direction?
Otherwise how does the token get back to it's place of origin for the next train to pick it up again? Does this mean no additional trains going in the same direction can pass that section until the next return train brings the token back?
Having multiple tokens or radioing the token location kind of defeats the purpose of using a physical token.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:59 AM on December 12, 2023
Otherwise how does the token get back to it's place of origin for the next train to pick it up again? Does this mean no additional trains going in the same direction can pass that section until the next return train brings the token back?
Having multiple tokens or radioing the token location kind of defeats the purpose of using a physical token.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:59 AM on December 12, 2023
I looked at this trajectory on a map.
Where I live, 4 hours in any direction takes you into a different country!
In Australia, 4 hours and you've barely left the neighborhood.
posted by chavenet at 7:09 AM on December 12, 2023
Where I live, 4 hours in any direction takes you into a different country!
In Australia, 4 hours and you've barely left the neighborhood.
posted by chavenet at 7:09 AM on December 12, 2023
I was interested that in most of the first 3.5 minutes, the train was on dual-gauge tracks.
I don't think I've ever noticed that in a rail bed.
Looks like this train is broad gauge.
posted by MtDewd at 1:19 PM on December 12, 2023
I don't think I've ever noticed that in a rail bed.
Looks like this train is broad gauge.
posted by MtDewd at 1:19 PM on December 12, 2023
A train ride we always planned to do, but COVID got in the way. Thank you for this.
posted by rednikki at 1:44 PM on December 12, 2023
posted by rednikki at 1:44 PM on December 12, 2023
I was interested that in most of the first 3.5 minutes, the train was on dual-gauge tracks.
Pretty sure that's the line to South Australia/Adelaide, where they run standard (or narrow? I'm not 100% certain) gauge. Victoria is broad gauge.
posted by deadwax at 3:37 PM on December 12, 2023
Pretty sure that's the line to South Australia/Adelaide, where they run standard (or narrow? I'm not 100% certain) gauge. Victoria is broad gauge.
posted by deadwax at 3:37 PM on December 12, 2023
For a section of through track protected by a token, does the use of a token presume that successive trains must always alternate direction?
Ooh! I'm a signaller on a steam railway in the south of England so let me answer this one!
In the UK that would be a Train Staff, which can still be found on the mainline on branch lines such as St Erth to St Ives in Cornwall where one train shuttles back and forth all day. There is only one staff so whoever has the staff has permission to be on the line - they are generally issued by a controlling signal box.
I've not had chance to watch the video yet but when you talk about tokens (again in the UK) these generally cover single line sections between stations where each end of the section has a signal box and give more flexibility than a staff system.
The tokens (or sometimes tablets) are kept in identical machines in each box and to send a train Station A needs to ask Station B if the line is clear. If the line is indeed clear then Station B gives Station A permission to remove the token, the machines show either Train Going To / Coming From and they are now locked and no more tokens can be removed.
The token is then put in a pouch and given to the driver of the train who must carry it with them. The release of the token also allows the Section signal to be cleared allowing the train to leave the station and carry on its way. On arrival at Station B, the token is surrendered to the box, put in the machine, Out of Section sent to Station A and the system returns to normal at which point a subsequent train can be sent in either direction.
How the boxes communicate is whole other topic as it's all done with a plunger on each machine which ring bells at the other end so there are codes for "Is Line Clear for X type of train", Entering Section, Out of Section, Train Cancelled etc etc. Permission is given to remove by repeating back the code and holding on the last plunge allowing the token to be rmoved at the other end.
Once you're dealing with double track you then move onto Absolute Block which involves permission and bell codes but no token.
posted by jontyjago at 3:44 PM on December 12, 2023 [3 favorites]
Ooh! I'm a signaller on a steam railway in the south of England so let me answer this one!
In the UK that would be a Train Staff, which can still be found on the mainline on branch lines such as St Erth to St Ives in Cornwall where one train shuttles back and forth all day. There is only one staff so whoever has the staff has permission to be on the line - they are generally issued by a controlling signal box.
I've not had chance to watch the video yet but when you talk about tokens (again in the UK) these generally cover single line sections between stations where each end of the section has a signal box and give more flexibility than a staff system.
The tokens (or sometimes tablets) are kept in identical machines in each box and to send a train Station A needs to ask Station B if the line is clear. If the line is indeed clear then Station B gives Station A permission to remove the token, the machines show either Train Going To / Coming From and they are now locked and no more tokens can be removed.
The token is then put in a pouch and given to the driver of the train who must carry it with them. The release of the token also allows the Section signal to be cleared allowing the train to leave the station and carry on its way. On arrival at Station B, the token is surrendered to the box, put in the machine, Out of Section sent to Station A and the system returns to normal at which point a subsequent train can be sent in either direction.
How the boxes communicate is whole other topic as it's all done with a plunger on each machine which ring bells at the other end so there are codes for "Is Line Clear for X type of train", Entering Section, Out of Section, Train Cancelled etc etc. Permission is given to remove by repeating back the code and holding on the last plunge allowing the token to be rmoved at the other end.
Once you're dealing with double track you then move onto Absolute Block which involves permission and bell codes but no token.
posted by jontyjago at 3:44 PM on December 12, 2023 [3 favorites]
Pretty sure that's the line to South Australia/Adelaide, where they run standard (or narrow? I'm not 100% certain) gauge. Victoria is broad gauge.
Standard. Eventually most of the continent will go that way but it hasn't happened yet.
posted by flabdablet at 5:43 PM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Standard. Eventually most of the continent will go that way but it hasn't happened yet.
posted by flabdablet at 5:43 PM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
At 1:40 and 3:25. you can see that this train is on the wider of the two widths, at about a ratio of 9 to 10.
From the 'most of the continent' link, it shows a ratio of 1435 (standard) to 1600 (broad), or ~.895, so it looks like broad.
Also, the map in that link looks like an orange line (broad) is the route the train is taking.
(Matches the purple line here)
posted by MtDewd at 10:55 AM on December 13, 2023
From the 'most of the continent' link, it shows a ratio of 1435 (standard) to 1600 (broad), or ~.895, so it looks like broad.
Also, the map in that link looks like an orange line (broad) is the route the train is taking.
(Matches the purple line here)
posted by MtDewd at 10:55 AM on December 13, 2023
[I'm in the United States.] A few years ago on Christmas Day I had our TV play a 10 hour train ride in Norway in the snow. We only had it on for 6 hours or so, but it was perfect. Will try do the same this Christmas (if the wife lets me, she's not nearly into interesting things as I am).
posted by neuron at 9:01 PM on December 14, 2023
posted by neuron at 9:01 PM on December 14, 2023
This is quite lovely! I really enjoy a good train video as background, and I'm currently under the weather at the moment so this is perfect. The scenery is quite nice once you get out of the urban area. (We are currently pulling into Winchelsea.)
posted by slogger at 7:47 PM on December 18, 2023
posted by slogger at 7:47 PM on December 18, 2023
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