Shunting Operations

A description of our shunting activities from Andy Th.

 

Shunting operations for C&W are the movement of rolling stock into and out of workshops, and the process of sorting items of rolling stock into complete trains, or the reverse, using a shunting engine (in our case an 03 diesel locomotive). Shunters are the personnel who give instructions to the engine driver and who couple/uncouple the rolling stock. 

Shunting operations are amongst the most dangerous activities undertaken on the railway and all volunteers involved have to undergo bi-annual written and practical examinations. 

Communications between the shunter and driver are by way of prescribed hand signals (a little like aircraft handlers) as verbal communication is impractical over distance. 

Shunting operations are physically demanding with a lot of walking, crawling in between vehicles, and lifting heavy steel couplings. This can be even more so if the weather changes for the worse - once started, in most instances the shunt must be completed as far as possible.

 

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Over two days in July last year we had to do a major shunt to create two rakes comprising coaches that were suitable for running under Covid restrictions. In effect this meant taking the corridor stock from our 3rd Rake, which is based at Winchcombe, and our Main (Chocolate & Cream) and Second (Maroon) rakes. This included an Open coach for each of the two rakes.

It all sounds relatively straightforward, but the reality is usually very different, and some shunts take a great deal of planning beforehand and are very time consuming. One of the main factors why this should be is simply space to move.

The following details the plan that was generated to do the shunt on the 2nd and 4th July 2020.

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Shunt Plan – 2nd and 4th July 2020

1. Move Maroon Rake to Station Limit (North)

2. Collect 3rd Rake from P’way sidings and move to Station Limit South – propel back to Platform 1.

3. Run round back to Maroon Rake, drop 5023/16195/13326

4. Return to Platform 2 – propel Maroon Rake to P’Way sidings – drop off 4787/1876

5. Return to Platform 2 – propel Maroon Rake to Stn. Limit (North) – drop off 35308 and couple to 5023/16195/13326

6. Return to Platform 2 – propel Maroon Rake to P’Way sidings – drop off 4614 and couple to 4787/1876

7. Return to Platform 2 – propel 25451 to Station Limit (North) and couple to 35308/5023/16195/13326

8. Leave ‘Maroon Rake’ at Station Limit (North)

9. Collect 13337 and 13329 from 3rd Rake – pull to C&W sidings and drop 13337 in back road.

10. Return to Platform 2 and couple 13329 to Rake

11. Run around and collect 25743 from South end – run around and propel 25743 to Station Limit (North) and couple to Maroon Rake

12. Pull ‘Maroon Rake’ out of P’Way sidings and drop at Station Limit (North)

13. Return to Platform 2 (North) and collect 1808 – pull to C&W sidings drop on Jack Road in front of Barn

14. Run around to Platform 2 (South) and collect 4987. Run around and propel 4798 to P’Way sidings – couple to 4614/4787/1876

15. Return to Platform 2 and propel ‘3rd Rake’ into P’Way sidings. Drop 3rd Rake - do not couple to 4798/4614/4787/1876

16. Return Platform 2 and collect ‘Maroon Rake’ – return to Platform 1, propel to P’Way sidings and couple 24949/21092. Leave 25341/13329 in P’Way sidings

17. Return ‘Maroon Rake’ and 24949/21092 to Platform 1.

18. Run around and return to C&W yard

19. Collect 4772/13329/LNWR Wagon/16221 – pull to Head Shunt

20. Return to collect 1808, pull to Head Shunt then propel into Paintshop

21. Pull 4772/13329/LNWR Wagon/16221 out and drop off 4772 in Barn Jack Road

22. Propel 13329/LNWR Wagon/16221 back into original positions in Workshop/Barn.

23. Collect 13337 from back road and put on Jack Road in front of Barn.

 

Thank you Andy for a very informative article on a very essential aspect of our life at Carriage and Wagon.