New IRSE Blank formats for Control Tables

[SARVESH KUMAR]

Attached are draft versions of the CT that the examiners have produced supplied to me by Mr A.

thanks for attachement of draft control table and point

from
sarvesh kumar

[mlupton]

Is there any further feedback on the control table blanks or the revised formatnow people have actually sat the exam?

The committee is always pleased to get feedback and does try to act on feedback received. The committee is however made up of volunteers who have day jobs to do which can at times make it appear that feedback isn't acted on, this isn't the case and all feedback is considered but it sometimes takes a while to be acted on.

[PJW]

There is some discussion already in Module 3 Control Tables and also of course the main comments made earlier within this thread (which I do hope did reach the exam committee- I sent to IRSE HQ for them to pass on in order to keep things completely "above board").

I have given some advise to certain individuals re how they could utilise. It would be best if those who actually used the CTs in the exam give their comments, but the things from memory that I remember were likely to be problematic were:
1. Nowhere obvious to put stick disengagement, last wheel replacement etc
2. Very small narrow column if there is a route which needs comprehensive Approach Locking- barely room for a couple of tracks and certainly impossible to use for any point condition or if multiple sections in rear conditional on intermediate signals ARAFOAL.
3. Not obvious whether ought to put the signal ahead nomenclature from which aspect sequence derived (no obvious space for it, whether or not it could be inferred from the route exit is arguable)
4. Not really sure why (given the space premium re columns) there is one devoted to when approach locking is applied and quite how to relate this to the Comprehensive A/L column; i.e. does one still put "when cleared" when there is comprehensive provided, if so when will it ever be any different......OK I know in real life occasionally one locks when route set, signal ready-to-clear etc in connection with things such as Conditional Double Red, but this level of detail and complexity generally isn't what the exam CTs are about- the time available forces concentration on getting the basic locking right rather than thinking about such nuances.....

These comments relate to the use of the blanks for NR standard locking; there are obviously more issues when attempting to use for other practices. For example, as I understand it, Indian railways (or at least one regional variant) does not have Point CTs as such but record the route holding at least on the relevant signal sheets. Very difficult for a candidate to know how to answer the question to their practices, but this is a slightly wider question I think than the one you asked, although obviously related to it.

So, before the struggles to fill up the CTs fades too much, please will anyone who used the CTs tell us what they thought of the design and anyone who decided to use their own explain why they thought this best.

Also what did you think of the CTs just being one question this year?

Did you like the change in practice re not having to draw out the blank from memory within the examination time?

Lets have some feedback from candidates!

I hope then in January the Exam Committee will be giving their feedback, because "the proof is in the eating" and by then the exam results will be known.

Is there any further feedback on the control table blanks or the revised formatnow people have actually sat the exam?

The committee is always pleased to get feedback and does try to act on feedback received. The committee is however made up of volunteers who have day jobs to do which can at times make it appear that feedback isn't acted on, this isn't the case and all feedback is considered but it sometimes takes a while to be acted on.

[Zaphod]

Is there any further feedback on the control table blanks or the revised formatnow people have actually sat the exam?

The committee is always pleased to get feedback and does try to act on feedback received. The committee is however made up of volunteers who have day jobs to do which can at times make it appear that feedback isn't acted on, this isn't the case and all feedback is considered but it sometimes takes a while to be acted on.

I would suggest that columns are needed for "signal ahead alight" and "stick control". Unless of course these controls are not required and/or assumed.

[PJW]

I have now actually tried to use the Route CT myself for some routes from 2003 and my main complaints are re relative column widths.

See under 2003 CT

I'd remind you that I am not in a position either to commit to change nor otherwise.
It is indeed reallly nothing to do with me, so therefore I have nothing to defend. This website is not run by the IRSE and whilst I am a member and can express my views appropriately just like everyone else, I cannot speak for it. This website clearly states that it is independent from the IRSE and the Exam committee; we were just trying to be helpful to those mod 3 candidates who may be interested in what will confront them in October by using our best efforts to give that preview.

Any comments you may have would be best addressed to the IRSE using their email address hq@irse.org

However I have let the examiners know and they have responded:
yes we would like feedback and (as people guessed) it is a bit late for this year. We will however look at what people choose to use and see if we can improve for next year.

[Peter]

I have been looking at the notes for invigilators this year and it contains the following information on the allowable control table material:

Module 3 control tables
A signal control table and a point control table will be available to Module 3 candidates. Candidates wishing to answer the control table question in Module 3 may either use the new blank control tables suppled by the Institution or bring sufficient blank sheets for their use. In this case they must not include company names and the invigilators/facilitators must ask to see all candidates' tables for a visual check.
(Note: Although last year these notes stated that the new control tables would eliminate the need for a photocopier, the Exam Committee has agreed that from 2013 photocopying of control table templates will not be allowed. On that basis a photocopier should be available for 2012 candidates.)

I am not sure what the rationale is for saying no photocopying from 2013 and I assume that candidate notes make it clear about the "clean" nature of the candidate supplied templates.

Peter