bj1888 wrote:
...One thing I could never figure out was how the cab door worked. I finally came to the conclusion that it is offset to the right from the middle of the cab and it can possibly open fully both ways. I really , really, really hope that's right.
Then there's that weird shaped door at the front of the cab. I'm guessing that there is actually some kind of double door on the outside. Would that be right?
Brendan
Hi Brendan; I'd like to offer a little advice for you using your pictures, if I may. The first bit of information, however, is that the door from the cab to the passenger compartment is centrally placed and it opens both ways, as you suspected; although opening the door outwards was frowned upon incase you clattered a passenger standing on the other side. In reality, this area was usually full of passengers and their luggage so opening the door outwards was impossible. It was a pure nightmare when you had to leave the Unit to use an SPT. You had to warn passengers to stand away from the doorway then open the door from inside the cab and hope that no one fell out (passengers can be extremely stupid and often fall over/out when least expected.)
This door can also be locked using a BR1 key. The reason why should become clearer as we progress.
The red circle in the first picture highlights a spring loaded catch for securing that "wierd shaped door at the front of the cab," when it is opened. It's very solid and secure.
There is also a hinged metal bar/pole hanging out of sight here. This attaches to the rear bulkhead during multiple working and acts as a support or strengthener.
In the picture below the red arrow is pointing to a very solid "U" bolt buried into that front door. This is the bolt that secures the door to the spring loaded catch in the above picture.
Although not visible in your pictures, these Units had 3 very poor and flimsy securing points somewhere near to the locations roughly pointed to on this bulkhead.
OK, so now let me go through the coupling procedure for multiple working and the bits I've pointed out should then make more sense.
Once physically coupled the driver does a pull-test (to ensure a firm and secure coupling.) This done he will then press the couple button (supposedly for 3 seconds but experience tells you to listen to what's happening.) When he's done that, he'll move the reverser to forward/reverse and make sure that the brakes release. Once satisfied that all is in order it is now time to ensure that the practice of ingress and egress between Units becomes available to passengers.
Step 1 involves unlocking the front central door on the cab you are currently in. This involves the use of a T- Key or Carriage Key (there is a difference.) The lock looks like a square hole just below the door handle (see picture 2) - and just above the "U" bolt (early versions had 3 locks to undo: top, middle and bottom.)
Step 2. Open the door, step aside and close it against the spring loaded catch (as seen in picture 1.) You are now faced with two big yellow doors covered in a trillion dead flies
Step 3. Begin scraping all the flies off...
No, that's not happening, is it?
Step 3. Secure the support bar/pole on the D/A side to the rear bulkhead. I honestly can't remember how we did this part though as it was a much later addition to the procedure. I think it just slotted into place but I'll stand correcting if anyone knows better.
Step 4. On the outside of these hefty central doors (and believe me, they are heavy) is a double hinged, double skinned clear perspex cover. A T-Key or Carriage Key unlocks this hinged cover and it opens out like two perspex doors to block off the cab space on the D/A side of the cab. The bar/pole mentioned in step 3 acts as a support incase anyone leans against the perspex screen. Not a good idea though because one of these skins
is actually covered in dead flies. Not a very well thought out design. This perspex cover is then secured with a T Key/Carriage Key at the 3 points alluded to in picture 3. That's step 4 complete.
You would then attempt to unlock the middle door of the newly coupled Unit from the outside or gangway you were standing in so as to gain entry to that said Unit. I say attempt because it was very often damn hard to say the least and nigh on impossible more times that I'd care to remember. It would certainly NOT be an exercise even attempted with a T-Key. A Carriage Key would be essential, and I've even twisted a few of those in the process. Anyway, assuming you got the door open without problem you would then repeat steps 1 to 4 again. Once this was done, you would then extinguish all front/tail lights and cab lights, close BOTH central cab doors and lock them with a BR1 key thus securing them out of harms way. The train is now ready to accept passengers and go on its way.
I hope that's of help, Brendan.
Cheers
Dave