1112
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 31

and Gear are in good working-order, and when relieving another Signalman must ascertain from the man he relieves whether there are any special circumstances or Instructions requiring attention; whether the Trains which are due to pass have done so, and, if not, what are the exceptions; also, what Trains, if any, are in the Station, or are signalled; if any Special Trains are advised; and on all other matters necessary to enable him to properly discharge his duty. The Signalman relieved must give full information on these points before leaving, and must remain on duty until any Train for which he has given or obtained Line Clear has cleared the Section and the entries in the Train Signal-book are completed. Each Signalman must register in the Train-book the time of his arrival on duty and of his leaving, and sign the same. Signalmen must change duty only at the appointed hours.

143. (a.) Each Signalman must keep his Signal-box strictly private, and not allow any persons other than the authorised officers and members of the Department to enter it.

(b.) The Signal-boxes, Instruments, and other appliances therein must be kept perfectly clean and in proper order.

144. The greatest care must be exercised in the cleaning, trimming, and lighting of Signal-lamps, and Officers in Charge will be held responsible for this work being efficiently performed. The lamps must not be trimmed at the Signal-posts, but must be brought to the lamp-room each morning, cleaned and trimmed there, and not replaced in the Signal-lamps until required to be lighted.

Stationmasters and others having Signals under their care must frequently inspect the Fixed Signal-lamps, and satisfy themselves that they are in good order, and that the glasses in front and back of lamp and reflectors are well cleaned.

The lamps must be lighted in accordance with Rule No. 62, and extinguished when no longer required.

FIXING, REMOVING, OR REPAIRING SIGNALS OR APPARATUS FOR WORKING POINTS AND SIGNALS.

145. Before the erection or removal of Signals, or the prosecution of other work in connection with Points or Signals which may interfere with the safe working of the Line, the Signal-adjuster or Foreman who has charge of the work must (unless the work has been previously arranged for between the Maintenance and Traffic Branches, and the necessary notice issued by the District Traffic Manager) communicate with the District Traffic Manager or Officer-in-Charge, as the case may be, who will make any special arrangements that may be necessary in connection with the working of the traffic during the time such alterations or repairs are being effected. Where there is no Officer-in-Charge or no special arrangements have been made with the Traffic Branch, the Signal-adjuster must, before entering a Section to attend to any Interlocking or Signals at any unattended Siding, give written notice to the Officer-in-Charge of the Station which he passes on entering the Section stating exactly what Sidings he intends to be engaged at; and such Officer-in-Charge will be held responsible for immediately wiring the information to the Officer at the other end of the Section. During the time the Adjuster is engaged in the Section, the Engine-driver of each Train or Engine must be supplied with a written notice as to the Adjuster’s movements, so that he may approach such Sidings with the utmost caution, and be prepared to stop at once, or act on any Hand-signal that may be given by the Adjuster so employed. A copy of the form of notice to the Engine-driver is provided in the instructions regarding Tablet-working.

146. (a.) When the work involves the disarrangement of the Interlocking Apparatus, with the disconnection of Signals, Points, Facing-point Bars, or Locks, Fouling Bars, Detectors, Bridge Bolts, Turntable Bolts, or Level-crossing Gates or Bars, the Signal-adjuster must, before the work is commenced, give to the Signalman an exact description of the nature of the work, and the Signalman must enter in the Train Register, or Book provided for the purpose, the words “Locking disarranged,” with the numbers of the Levers which will be interfered with; both he and the Signal-adjuster must sign their names, and the time must be recorded.

(b.) When the work involves the disarrangement of the Interlocking, and when it is necessary to disconnect a Facing-point, Facing-point Bar or Lock, Bridge Bolt, or Turntable Bolt, the Signal-adjuster must, before the work is commenced, disconnect and fix at Danger the Distant Signals applicable to the Lines affected.

(c.) A Hand-signalman, to work under the Instructions of the Signalman, must be provided, and act in accordance with Rule No. 147.

(d.) Before interfering with the Locking connections, the Signal-adjuster must satisfy himself that the Hand-signalman is at his post.

(e.) During the time the Points are disconnected the Signalman must, on each occasion when he requires to pass a Train over the Points, communicate with the Hand-signalman and receive his assurance that each Point is in its proper position and secured.

(f.) In cases where, owing to a number of Points being disconnected from the Signal-box, it may be necessary to place a man at each pair of Points, or to attend to a number of Points, the Signalman must instruct each man as to the duties he has to perform. When a Train is required to be sent over Points which are being attended to by the men assisting the Hand-signalman, the Hand-signalman must so inform such men, and take care that they properly secure the Points for the Line on which the Train is to pass, and the Points must not again be altered in position until the Hand-signalman has advised them that the opera-