S-5 - Monkey Hill !
Seen in the image is Advanced Starter S-5 of Monkey Hill Cabin in Off Aspect for 11026 Pune Junction - Bhusawal Junction Express .
Working of S-5 :-
Monkey Hill Yard is on a gradient of 1 in 40 . Station Yards with gradient more than 1 in 100 are provided with the facility of Catch...
more... Siding . It is also the Customary Brake Testing Halt for trains descending down the Bhore Ghat towards Karjat . Brake Testing Halt helps in ensuring the Loco Pilot that he has complete control over his train . This also ensures that the brakes are working in a proper condition .
Regarding the Signal S-5 , it is interlocked with the condition of the point of the Catch Siding . The point is normally locked for the Catch Siding . Suppose a train is descending the ghat and if the Loco Pilot is not able to stop his train before the Home Signal of Monkey Hill Cabin , the train is directed towards the Catch Siding where it might derail by losing its Kinetic Energy .
If the Loco Pilot stops his train before the Home Signal , the track circuit is actuated which fires the timer circuit . A counter starts counting the time lapse for a total interval of 2 minutes . Had the train started moving even after coming to a standstill , the timer resets the Counter and the train is directed towards the Catch Siding. Only after an interval of 2 minutes or so has lapsed , the point of Catch Siding can be set in reverse for the train to descend downhill . This also simultaneously releases the slot for the Advanced Starter to be pulled off . Once Advanced Starter goes into Off position , the Home Signal can also be pulled off but it can't indicate an Aspect less restrictive than Caution . ( Mind it this can be done only after Line Clear has been granted to M.H.C. Cabin ) .
However on the Up ( Third Line ) , banker locomotives can Proceed without halting for a Brake Testing Halt if they approach the Home Signal at a speed less than 35 kmph . If the speed detector detects the speed to be around 35 kmph or less , the slot for Advanced Starter is released and both Advanced and the Home Signal can be pulled off . This is known as Approach Lightning . Distant Signal for both Middle and Up Line are in permanent Caution Aspect , which is quite evident from the operation happening at M.H.C.
In the distance one can see portals of Tunnel No. 44 / 46 , Behran Plateau with lovely Bougainvillae plantations and the Catch Siding climbing high . One can also see mountain of Rajmachi fort on the extreme right .
Date - 30 th December , 2017 .
Location - Monkey Hill .
