67015 sets off the detonators

[dannyboy17able]

When I was a kid, me & a few mates got hold of some of these detonators. Terrible when I look back, we must have scared a few drivers to death!

[bbgunsrule324]

i dont understand why the little bombs were exploding

[weeardguy]

@bbgunsrule324 They act as warning signals: if there is a problem up the line, these can be placed: if personnel is on the tracks near the (for example) defective train, and they hear these things go off quickly (not as slow as in this video), they know they have to get to safety fast. We do have them in Holland, but as far as I know not in regular use anymore (only when drivers retire some of them will be placed on the tracks) Shorting the opposite track is our safety-measure.

[fyadcorp]

These used to be used in the US, we called them torpedoes, but they've been mostly supplanted by fusees (flares).

[stillbashingmetal]

Are the detonatoes kept in every train cab? Does/can the driver sets them on the track?

[Hornbylad200]

what are detonators

[TractorSnarl]

They are placed 300 metres from the train, 22 yards (20 metres) apart. The driver must wait by the detonators ready to pilot the rescue loco to the failure. They are also used at the ends of possessions. AWS and TPWS have eliminated the need for fog detonators, along with colour light signals.

[StonehengeASC]

Dets are placed to stop a train in the UK. In this case the class 67 driver has already picked up the failed trains driver and now approaches the failed train. They are required by the rules to leave the dets in place and run over them to enforce the caution.

The third det isn't a full 20 metres but the driver who placed them doesn't carry a tape measure ;)

[willygrant1971]

My understanding is that track detonators are to notify a crew working on a line that a train has passed a red signal and is bearing down, quicker the bangs, faster the train is approaching and of course if you are the driver it tells you that you are on track that should be closed and to stop immediately.

[megatwingo]

Very interesting. Thumbs up! :)

[TheMrFoofey]

I LOVE DETONATORS!!!

[angeltransportpjects]

GNER's White Rose services did use Class 373 Eurostar Units London K X - Leeds Central on the ECML. '3 Dets' Measure seen here made mandatory after a rear-ender in the late 1970s involving a train with air-conditioned Mk2D stock in use failing on a single track line. Rescue locomotive 40111 rear-ended this train although one 'Det' was heard to explode seconds before impact. Might have happened in Scotland - definitely in Arthur Trevenna's 'Trains in Trouble' Collection - Volume 2 :o)

[EMDSD14R]

i thought they were just used to notify crews if there was fog around or if something was on the tracks..cool very cool

[acelafan123]

was this a test or something? what do the detonators do? im so confused

[TDRrevenge]

when i was a kid oh so many decades ago a guy from Brittish Rail came to the school i was in to teach us about the dangers of these divices, he said about people being taken to hospital after taking them off the rails to hit them with hammers and the explosion causing serious injury, obviously he couldnt go into detail but the case is if you see these dont think about using them on fireworks night, by taking them your putting lives at risk or potential charge of attempted (and/or) manslaughter.

[BR75069]

aren't detonators designed to derail a train if it can't stop?

[dasy2k1]

@BR75069 No you are thinking of a Scotch block (called a Derail in US parlance)

what you heard there are detonators (called torpedoes in the USA) also known as fog signals.

In this case they are being used to warn of an obstruction ahead (the failed train)

Basically unless you know they are there and why then they mean stop!

[itgamer100]

So they places these dets down when doing this sort of driving?

[EWS60008]

Sounds like a shotgun going off!

[huskylad125]

backfire :p lol



[Drunkguyodp]

I live near stevo :D

[mrgrahamhearn]

im told they can blow heavy oak doors off their hinges :)

[SianUBigNerd]

i would love to do that just for fun

[jnisb29]

i want some of those for next years fireworks night

[HornseaFilms]

Well that was stupid, the detonators weren't 20 metres apart.

[SmashBangCrash]

What are they for

[stuartpatto1976]

@SmashBangCrash To warn Railway engineers of approaching trains..

[TractorSnarl]

If the unit/loco fails in a tunnel, the dets need to be placed at the far end.

[colinjuk]

place 3 dets down 20 yards apart, 300 yards from the faild train, funny if you fail in a tunnel :) BOOM

[Hornbylad200]

why was it doing that?

[railnet]

@Hornbylad200 - Rescuing a failed Eurostar. The detonators were protecting the unit by acting as a warning to oncoming traffic as per safety regulations.

[THAMESLINK319]

A Eurostar?

On the ECML?

[railnet]

@THAMESLINK319 - Yes, but quite a while ago now. They GNER hired in units to run Leeds services.

[SmashBangCrash]

What are the detonators

[1madaboutguitar]

@SmashBangCrash You can see them on the track. They stick out from the inside of the track

[andrewnthl]

@ATW150253 They are used to protect trains. Usually when a train goes over detonators it is required to stop immediately and contact the signaller, but in this case the train was authorised to pass.

[tgm9991]

@andrewnthl Not quite the rule book says in modual TW1 section 19.2 to stop train as quickly as possible then proceed at extreme caution towards the obstruction, or any signal or handsignal instructing you on the action you must take.

[M3UEX]

cool track booms us them on line near us york to selby line they stop it dont know why

[Class37Thrash]

i do like handing dets :P