Re: Richmond derailment, 31/3

[Chris Gordon <cmgord@alphalink.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

>Now there is a loco involved I can post information without being accused of
>being off topic!!!!
>The train involved was the 15:45 down Sandringham.
>The lead axle of 173M (the 4th car on the train - a 6 car Hitachi) had the
>right hand wheel cracked.
>Consequently the wheel moved inwards about 2 - 3 inchs. The wheel therefore
>dropped down slightly, and ended up smashing a large amount of insulated
>rail joints, parts of points, etc. I saw damage to track between Flinders
>Street and Richmond, I have been told it also damaged track between Spencer
>Street and Flinders Street.
>At about 01:10 Y168 arrived. About 20 minutes later it coupled onto the rear
>of the train. Separating the rear two cars from the problem car proved to be
>very difficult. After much banging and thumping under the car, and much
>rocking backwards and forwards the cars finally seperated.
>As Chris said the right hand rail had rolled over, although the wheels of
>the rear two cars were actually riding on the bottom of the rail. So once
>seperated it was a simple matter to slowly pull the two rear cars away.
>Using large blocks of wood, the cars rerailed themselves once they reached a
>point where the rails returned to being upright.. I believe that a P class
>(number unknown) was called to pull out 173M as it was suspected the Y
>wouldn't have enough power to pull the car out of the dirt. However it was
>decided to use cranes instead. I think the P got as far as Flinders Street
>before it was turned back, but I am not sure. At about 03:00 the plan was to
>use the cranes to lift 173M on to the up Caulfield through, run Y168 with
>the other two cars up to Flinders Street and then wrong line on the Up
>Caulfield through to pick up 173M. The new bogie arrived by truck at about
>03:00. My 12 hours were up at this stage so my shift had come to an end, so
>I can't say what happened after this time. When I left at 03:00 they
>expected to get trains running by about 10:00 - 12:00 this morning.

Yep the Y class was ready to go with the 3 car Hitachi (113M - 1929T -
173M) around 8:00am the rear bogie on 173M was nice shiny black with white
chalk marks.   

Line reopened about 11:30am with the 11:46 up from Elsternwick being the
first train through, and the 12:0? Sandringham (Elsternwick time) being the
first down.



Regards,

Chris Gordon
e-mail for quick response - cmgord@ecr.mu.oz.au
e-mail for pictures - cmgord@alphalink.com.au
Mobile Number: 0409 255 620
ICQ number: 32989450



http://cmgord.alphalink.com.au


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