Possession of a Line for Engineering Work

Question 1

How would you identify a PICOP by their armband? (2)

Answer 1

Red letters saying ‘PICOP’ on a yellow background; worn on left arm.

Question 2

Where would you find details of a published possession? T3-1.1 (2)

Answer 2

WON (Engineering Arrangements- planned maintenance).

Engineering notice.

Question 3

What ways would you be informed of changes to the limits of a possession, and where would you record these changes? T3-1.2 (3)

Answer 3

The details of the changed limits, including the planned time, are published in the WON or engineering notice.
If it’s in exceptional circumstances, it is agreed by Operations Control.
You must record the details in the TRB.

Question 4

Would it be Operations Control or the PICOP that informed you of any changes to the published details? T3-1.3 (1)

Answer 4

Operations Control.

Question 5

When confirming the details of a possession, which Signallers will the PICOP contact? T3-2.1 (1)

Answer 5

The PICOP will contact the Signaller who controls the signal leading to the section of line that is to be taken under possession.

Question 6

If the possession has been published, what will the PICOP state to the Signaller, to confirm the correct possession details are being discussed? T3-2.1 (1)

Answer 6

PICOP will state the published possession reference, if there is one.

Question 7

What must the Signaller and the PICOP agree when confirming the possession details? T3-2.1 (8)

Answer 7

The line that will be taken under possession.
Whether possession is to be taken around one or more trains.
The signals leading to the possession that will be kept at danger leading to the possession from which the route will be closed.
The details of any points or crossings that may be used for trains outside the possession.
The position that points within the possession must be placed in.
The arrangements to be applied for each level crossing within the possession.
The exact location of the detonator protection and whether this is less than the standard distance.
The time the possession is to be taken.

Question 8

If another Signaller is involved with the possession arrangements, what must you do?? T3-2.3 (2)

Answer 8

Tell them what the possession arrangements are.

Get their assurance that they will keep to these arrangements.

Question 9

What details must other Signallers within the possession record in the train register? T3-2.3 (5)

Answer 9

Which line is blocked.
The limits of the possession.
The signals you must keep at danger or the routes you must keep closed to protect the possession.
The points you must operate to protect the possession.
The position that the points within the possession must be placed in.

Question 10

Who is responsible for arranging any unworked points that need to be secured? T3-2.3 (1)

Answer 10

PICOP

Question 11

When you are satisfied that all details with the PICOP are correct and have been repeated back to you correctly, what must you do next? T3-2.3 (1)

Answer 11

You must tell the PICOP that possession protection can be placed.

Question 12

What is the distance associated with detonator protection at the standard distance, and how many detonators are placed? T3-2.4 and Diagram T3.1 (2)

Answer 12

400m or 440yds.

Three detonators placed twenty yards apart.

Question 13

Where must you record that standard detonator protection has been provided? T3-2.4 (1)

Answer 13

Train Register Book.

Question 14

If it is not possible to place detonators at the standard distance, where must it be placed and where must this information be recorded? T3-2.5 (2)

Answer 14

Detonator protection must be placed as close to the standard distance as possible.
Train Register Book.

Question 15

When the PICOP has confirmed that all detonator protection is in place and you are sure the line concerned is correctly protected, what may you do? T3-2.6 (2)

Answer 15

You may grant the possession to the PICOP and enter the details in the Train Register Book.

Question 16

What is the only train that can enter or pass through a possession? NOI18-2.1.1 (1)

Answer 16

An engineering train.

Question 17

What must the Signaller and PICOP do with regards to arrangements at level crossings within the possession? T3-3 (1)

Answer 17

They must come to a clear understanding about the arrangements that will apply at each level crossing.

Question 18

When may you clear the protecting signal leading to the possession? T3-4.1 (1)

Answer 18

Never; you must keep the route closed and not clear any signal leading to the possession.

Question 19

Describe how a train, which is at the protecting signal, must be signalled in the right direction towards the detonator? T3-4.1 (3)

Answer 19

You must get the PICOPs permission for the train to enter the possession as far as the detonator protection.
Instruct the Driver to proceed as far as detonator protection and await further instructions from the PICOP.
You must authorise the Driver to pass the protecting signal at danger.

Question 20

Before giving the Driver permission to proceed from the protecting signal towards the possession at an intermediate point, what must you make sure? T3-4.4 (3)

Answer 20

The PICOP has given you permission.
The PICOP has positioned someone at the intermediate point to give instructions to the Driver.
You have not authorised a conflicting movement to take place.

Question 21

Once you have instructed the Driver to stop and get instructions from the person at the intermediate point; who will tell you when the train is clear of the points and crossings and what must you then do with the points? T3-4.4 (2)

Answer 21

The PICOP will tell you when the engineering train has entered the possession and is clear of the points or crossing.
You must then return the points to the agreed position.

Question 22

What must you do if a train is entering the possession from a siding that is under possession, or leaving the possession directly into a siding under possession? T3-4.5 and T3-4.7 (1)

Answer 22

You must agree with the PICOP and the PICOS how this is to be done.

Question 23

When the PICOP tells you that a train is ready to leave the possession, what must you personally authorise the Driver to pass, and what must you make sure of before you authorise it? T3-4.6 (2)

Answer 23

Beyond the protecting detonators out of the possession, or through points or crossings that are protecting the possession at an intermediate point.
You must make sure that the line is clear and safe for the movement to proceed before you authorise the driver to pass beyond the detonators.

Question 24

If you can, how should the train be signalled once it’s beyond the protecting detonators when leaving a possession? T3-4.6 (1)

Answer 24

Normally.

Question 25

What must the PICOP do if there is any train movement towards detonator protection that is not at the standard distance? T3-4.8 (1)

Answer 25

The PICOP will not allow a movement to approach the detonator protection from within the possession without your permission.

Question 26

What must the PICOP do if a train that is entering or leaving a possession is to pass over an AHBC that is not being locally controlled? T3-5.1 (1)

Answer 26

The PICOP will get your permission to allow a train to pass over an AHBC.

Question 27

What must the PICOP do if a train that is entering or leaving a possession, is to pass over the following crossings that are not being locally controlled; CCTV, OD or RC? T3-5.1 (2)

Answer 27

The PICOP will get confirmation from you that the barriers have been lowered and the crossing is clear before they authorise the movement to pass over the level crossing.

Question 28

Can OTP that is entering or leaving a possession, pass over an AHBC if it is not locally controlled? T3-5.1 (1)

Answer 28

No.

Question 29

What must you tell the Driver if the train is to pass over an AHBC which is locally controlled? T3-5.3 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 29

You must tell the Driver that the movement must not pass over the level crossing unless the crossing attendant is displaying a green handsignal.

Question 30

In what direction can a train pass normally over an AHBC if it is not locally controlled (slight trick question)? T3-5.4 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 30

In a direction that has controls for the AHBC to work correctly.

Question 31

What must you tell the Driver if the train is to pass over an AHBC which is not locally controlled? T3-5.4 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 31

You must tell the Driver not to stop specially before passing over the crossing.

Question 32

What must you tell the Driver if the train is to pass over a CCTV, OD or RC which is locally controlled? (When a train is entering or leaving a possession) T3-5.5 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 32

You must tell the Driver that the movement must not pass over the level crossing unless the crossing attendant is displaying a green handsignal.

Question 33

What must you do before you ca authorise Driver’s past the signal protecting the following level crossings which are not locally controlled; CCTV, OD or RC? T3-5.6 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (2)

Answer 33

You must not authorise the Driver to pass the signal protecting the crossing until the barriers have been lowered for the movement.

Question 34

When can you allow a movement to pass over a CCTV crossing in the wrong direction when it not locally controlled? T3-5.6 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 34

You must not allow any movement in the wrong direction to pass over the level crossing.

Question 35

When can you allow a Driver to pass over a manned level crossing? T3-5.9 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 35

You must instruct the Driver to pass over the level crossing only if the level crossing barriers or gates are closed to road traffic.

Question 36

What do you instruct the Driver to do when passing over a crossing with red and green warning lights? (When authorising a train to enter or leave a possession.) T3-5.10 (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) (1)

Answer 36

You must instruct the Driver to stop at the level crossing, sound the horn and then pass over the level crossing only when it is safe to do so.

Question 37

What do you instruct the Driver to do when passing over a barrow or foot crossing with white light indicators? (When authorising a movement to enter or leave a possession) T3-5.11 (1)

Answer 37

You must instruct the Driver to pass over the level crossing only when it is safe to do so.

Question 38

If there is a change of PICOP, will the new PICOP or old PICOP inform you of the change, and where do you record this change? T3-6.1 (2)

Answer 38

The old PICOP will tell you the name of the new PICOP if there is a change.
Record the change in the TRB.

Question 39

What must you do, as a new Signaller taking duty during a possession? T3-6.2 (1)

Answer 39

You must countersign the entries in the TRB.

Question 40

What will the PICOP do when the possession is no longer needed, before contacting the Signaller? T3-7.2 (3)

Answer 40

If SLW is still in operation, tell the Pilotman that the possession has been given up.
Arrange to release any unworked points or train-operated points that have been secured.
Arrange for the detonator protection to be removed.

Question 41

What will the PICOP tell the Signaller when the possession is no longer needed? T3-7.3 (1)

Answer 41

The line is clear and safe for trains to run on.

Question 42

What must happen when confirming that the possession is given up, and when is the possession classed as being given up? T3-7.4 (2)

Answer 42

You must record the details in the TRB and read the entry back to the PICOP.
When the PICOP agrees with the entry, this is confirmation that the possession has been given up.

Question 43

If you have to tell another Signaller that the possession has been given up, where will they record the details? T3-8.2 (1)

Answer 43

They will write the details in the TRB.

Question 44

What must you do with the track circuits for the first train over the affected portion of line after a possession? T3-8.5 (1)

Answer 44

You must specially watch the operation of the track circuits during the passage of the first train over the line that was affected by the possession.