In message
,
upinthesky writes

But after passing the wrongly-set points, the train departing from
Plaistow was travelling west on the eastbound track, and would not have
any signals to see. I'm not sure if it would have been back-tripped, but
the train that ran backwards downhill on the Northern some years ago
because the driver was asleep wasn't tripped for several stations IIRC.

Which is exactly why trains now have run back protection, which applies
the emergency brakes if the train runs more than six feet in the
reverse direction.

Except that the train in question would have been going in a forward
direction so everything you allude to is void.
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)