On the footplate of USA Tank No 65

Today's turn at Wittersham Road started with the pleasure of a footplate trip as pilotman on the first train down from Tenterden. A problem overnight was compounded by an issue opening the signalbox which meant the block system between Wittersham and Rovenden was not working so we could not signal trains through using the tokens.

In these cases a human being has to act as the token by being a pilotman, giving the driver authority to pass the section signal at danger to enter the section. So that was my job on the first train of the day.

There was a further fault with a treadle near Wittersham that still showed a train was on a section of track circuited line, even though there was no train. The treadle had failed, so it went to the default, which is to show there's a train. This treadle protects the signal behind it, locking it until the train has left that particular track circuit. This means while you can put the signal back to danger, the lever will not go back into the frame so preventing any movement in the opposite direction.

There is a way to resolve this problem, if you're sure that there is no train there. It involved a backlock key and waiting 2 minutes for it to unlock the signal. Which is what we did.

The Signals and Telecommunications Manager was able to rectify both faults so after this interesting start to the day, things settled down and we were able to complete the day without any further mishap. Good learning experience for both me and the trainee who was largely working the box today.

I left Maidstone today in torrential rain and galeforce winds, winter had definitely returned, as bad as yesterday but with driving rain. Fortunately it cleared a little while we were at the box but it was cold and drizzly most of the day. Saw a buzzard flying low across the track being mobbed by a crow. Very interesting.