PERSONAL TRACK SAFETY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What do you need to know before going on or near the line? - ✔✔-Maximum line
speed.
-Direction of travel.
-Areas of limited clearance.
-Prohibited Areas.
*These will all be found in your sectional appendix*
✔✔What is the track circuit? - ✔✔This is within the signalling system when the track
carries a small electrical current. This current will detect if any train wheels are present
in the circuit/section of the track as the wheels will shorten the circuit in the track. This
will in turn cause the signal for this section to go to Danger as well as reflecting on the
signallers panel.
✔✔How can we ensure the track circuit system works in an emergency? - ✔✔In the
case of an emergency, such as derailment, we can use this system to help prevent
accidents. Track Circuit Operating clips (TCOCs) are designed to clip between the rails
and shorten the track circuit in the same manner a trains wheels would.
, ✔✔What are axel counters? - ✔✔Axel Counters are an alternative system to the track
circuit.
They are located on the tracks at the beginning and end of each section. They will count
the wheels going into the section as a train enters, and revert the signal to danger.
As the train leaves a section, it will count the wheels out and change the signal once all
wheels have been counted out of the section.
✔✔How far away from the track should tools and equipment be? - ✔✔2 metres away
from any running lines.
✔✔Name the components of overhead line equipment. - ✔✔Catenary Wire
Dropper
Contact Wire
Head span wire
Head span wire- neutral
Head span wire- live
Insulators
Mast/Structure Post
Structure number plate
Along track conductors
Bond
✔✔How many volts run through AC lines/overheads? - ✔✔25,000 volts
✔✔What is the minimum safe distance from AC lines/overheads? - ✔✔2.75 metres
✔✔Who are AC lines/overheads controlled by? - ✔✔The ECO. Electrical Control
Operator.
✔✔What must the OLE always be considered? - ✔✔Live.
✔✔What is a Structure Number Plate and what do the numbers/letters mean? - ✔✔A
structure number plate is located on the Structure post and helps to identify your
location to control or signallers.
BS- Route/area
08- Miles/kilometres from route source
44- Stanchion post number in that mile/kilometre
✔✔What is a AC Neutral Section? - ✔✔This is a stretch of the OLE (overhead line
equipment) this is unpowered. The overhead supply is split up into sections that are
about 15 miles long, these sections are electrically isolated from each other by the
neutral sections.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What do you need to know before going on or near the line? - ✔✔-Maximum line
speed.
-Direction of travel.
-Areas of limited clearance.
-Prohibited Areas.
*These will all be found in your sectional appendix*
✔✔What is the track circuit? - ✔✔This is within the signalling system when the track
carries a small electrical current. This current will detect if any train wheels are present
in the circuit/section of the track as the wheels will shorten the circuit in the track. This
will in turn cause the signal for this section to go to Danger as well as reflecting on the
signallers panel.
✔✔How can we ensure the track circuit system works in an emergency? - ✔✔In the
case of an emergency, such as derailment, we can use this system to help prevent
accidents. Track Circuit Operating clips (TCOCs) are designed to clip between the rails
and shorten the track circuit in the same manner a trains wheels would.
, ✔✔What are axel counters? - ✔✔Axel Counters are an alternative system to the track
circuit.
They are located on the tracks at the beginning and end of each section. They will count
the wheels going into the section as a train enters, and revert the signal to danger.
As the train leaves a section, it will count the wheels out and change the signal once all
wheels have been counted out of the section.
✔✔How far away from the track should tools and equipment be? - ✔✔2 metres away
from any running lines.
✔✔Name the components of overhead line equipment. - ✔✔Catenary Wire
Dropper
Contact Wire
Head span wire
Head span wire- neutral
Head span wire- live
Insulators
Mast/Structure Post
Structure number plate
Along track conductors
Bond
✔✔How many volts run through AC lines/overheads? - ✔✔25,000 volts
✔✔What is the minimum safe distance from AC lines/overheads? - ✔✔2.75 metres
✔✔Who are AC lines/overheads controlled by? - ✔✔The ECO. Electrical Control
Operator.
✔✔What must the OLE always be considered? - ✔✔Live.
✔✔What is a Structure Number Plate and what do the numbers/letters mean? - ✔✔A
structure number plate is located on the Structure post and helps to identify your
location to control or signallers.
BS- Route/area
08- Miles/kilometres from route source
44- Stanchion post number in that mile/kilometre
✔✔What is a AC Neutral Section? - ✔✔This is a stretch of the OLE (overhead line
equipment) this is unpowered. The overhead supply is split up into sections that are
about 15 miles long, these sections are electrically isolated from each other by the
neutral sections.
