Rail Delays - Broken (literally) down train at Battersea

[HawkTheSeagull]

For those who are delayed coming home this evening, and/or love a good railway related cock-up, here is the cause. (Picture from Twitter)



A coupling device between the coaches has (pretty obviously) failed, the train was luckily empty but is now stuck in 2 bits as the brakes have jammed on so disruption will last for a while.

I believe this emoji was made for things like this -

 

[AZ Gull]

Was this a conscious uncoupling?

 

[Norman Potting]

Southern are trialling slip coach working but didn't pick a good place or time to do it. The anoraks among you will know what I mean, commiserations to the commuters out there.

 

[Springal]

And surprise surprise Southern staff have all gone into hiding at Victora.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

And surprise surprise Southern staff have all gone into hiding at Victora.

That and the fact there isn't many staff there anyway.

 

[dazzer6666]

Some delays out of London Bridge as well...

 

[Beach Hut]

Added 30 minutes to my journey tonight

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Judging by the picture, the broken down train is on the slow lines, so I don't know why it should be affecting the Brighton line. Fortunately I am staying at my flat tonight. When I got off at Clapham Junction, Platform 13 was rammed and the indicator board said a train was nearly an hour late. Even if they send the slow stuff down the main line, it shouldn't cause that heavy a delay. Hawk - any ideas?

 

[perseus]

Southern are trialling slip coach working but didn't pick a good place or time to do it. The anoraks among you will know what I mean, commiserations to the commuters out there.

Older anoraks.

I think slipping coaches went out with the sixties moderniation plan to have all multiple units, not locomotive hauled. Push 'n pull.

 

[theboybilly]

They would have had to block the Down Slow line (nearest the camera) to allow maintenance staff to deal with re-attaching the two portions of train, so everything will have had to use the Fast Lines north of Clapham Junction at some point. The points from Fast to Slow and Slow to Fast (in either direction) use the same track (ie only one train can use that portion of track at a time - a single chord if you will) so that a train crossing from Down Fast to Down Slow (or even carrying on into Clapham on the Fast) may be held up by trains crossing in the other direction. This unfortunately takes time and just adds to the congestion.

 

[LamieRobertson]

They would have had to block the Down Slow line (nearest the camera) to allow maintenance staff to deal with re-attaching the two portions of train, so everything will have had to use the Fast Lines north of Clapham Junction at some point. The points from Fast to Slow and Slow to Fast (in either direction) use the same track (ie only one train can use that portion of track at a time - a single chord if you will) so that a train crossing from Down Fast to Down Slow (or even carrying on into Clapham on the Fast) may be held up by trains crossing in the other direction. This unfortunately takes time and just adds to the congestion.

Whatever he said

 

[8ace]

Southern are trialling slip coach working

Can you explain please Norman.

 

[theboybilly]

Whatever he said

I knew what I meant

 

[beorhthelm]

Can you explain please Norman.

basically one line out takes out 6 as they shuffle about. what i dont understand is the length this issues take to resolve, especially something apparently simply mechanical. i saw an alert this at 15:00 but rocking up at ~1845 it was still delaying everything to Clapham, with about one train leaving out of 10 in 10-15 min. and yes, the managment no where to be seen and no communication on what/when/where anything will run, just perpetual "the 18.. train to .. is delayed". they need to do their "meet the manangers" only on days when there is problems, not Friday mornings.

 

[surrey jim]

Southern are trialling slip coach working but didn't pick a good place or time to do it. The anoraks among you will know what I mean, commiserations to the commuters out there.

Older anoraks.

I think slipping coaches went out with the sixties moderniation plan to have all multiple units, not locomotive hauled. Push 'n pull.

or those with kids who watch Thomas the Tank Engine. Duck has slip coaches.

 

[jgmcdee]

View attachment 69041

The front fell off, which is the perfect excuse to post this (again)

 

[Ernest]

Can you explain please Norman.

They detached coaches as the train still moved back in the good old days

 

[smudge]

Was in the smoke for passport renewal yesterday & got caught in that. Crammed in trying to get out of Victoria.

 

[Norman Potting]

Can you explain please Norman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_coach

The old original Great Western Railway used to use them a lot. However the London Brighton and South Coast Railway were the first to use them at Haywards Heath in 1858.

 

[8ace]

basically one line out takes out 6 as they shuffle about. what i dont understand is the length this issues take to resolve, especially something apparently simply mechanical. i saw an alert this at 15:00 but rocking up at ~1845 it was still delaying everything to Clapham, with about one train leaving out of 10 in 10-15 min. and yes, the managment no where to be seen and no communication on what/when/where anything will run, just perpetual "the 18.. train to .. is delayed". they need to do their "meet the manangers" only on days when there is problems, not Friday mornings.