24/01/2012 - School trip!!

Today we had the opportunity to have a day out in Clapham Yard just to have a look around. Now as someone who has passed through Clapham  many times I've seen the depot from the train. Despite this, I really didn't know just how big the place is. Now that were PTS trained we can go for a walk in the yard (safely of course!) and so we were taking on a tour by our trainers.

While we were there we walked alongside  a stabled train and it is about then that you really notice just how big a train is!! Stood at track level a class 444 desiro towers over me and I'm tall!
We were shown how hand points are moved and as a personal interest to me we also got to visit the panel operator at Clapham. He is the man who operates some of the mechanical points and position light signals around the depot and a picture of his panel is below.

Another nice surprise in the shed was an old slamdoor train that is stabled at the yard. We even got to climb in and have a look at the cab, see what conditions were like for old hand drivers!!

All in all an interesting day and to end we had a bit of a revision session for tomorrow as we have our next assessment on all the rail knowledge we have accumulated up until now!! Better go and revise and remember what colour the late notice case in the depot and other such things!!

the cab of the slamdoor. How things have changed since this train was built!!

The slamdoor sitting in the shed at Clapham yard

The shunters panel at Clapham Yard, the red lights you can see towards the left is a train that is leaving the shed