Re: Collision at Ararat

[Stephen Molloy <c501@diesel.net.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

Went over to Ararat to have a look today.  G517 was on the up wheat, this
will almost certainly be a write off, about three quaters of the unit has
been demolished, from the number two end towards the front, about the only
recognisable part of 517's trailing cab is the anti climber.  The south
side engine room wall is bent way out of the loading gauge, so this will
probably mean a trip back to Melbourne by truck ( if they decide to assess
it ) even though it appears to have remained on the track.  Work crews were
removing bogie side frames and wheels from the engine compartment for some
time.  The underframe also appears badly bent at the no 1 end.

Five one eight might be repairable.  The frame doesn't appear to be bent,
even though the force of the impact has lifted it up into the air and
pushed it into the ballast hopper (which incidently are South Oz's, not
Vics).  The trailing cab on 518 has also been destroyed from being pushed
up into the ballast wagon.  There is obviously some intention to bring one
unit (probably 518) back to Melbourne by rail, as there is a set of
transfer bogies there.

The reports of the grain moving at 80 km/h at impact don't add up.  The
news reports stated that the crew of the stationary ballast jumped just
prior to impact, but the distance from the points to impact was only about
5 engine lengths, if the crew was in the cab they wouldn't have even gotten
half way out of the cab,the speed was more likely to be about 60 km/h (
thats assuming that the crew was in the cab ).

They were still removing wagons off the roof of 518 this afternoon.

Some of the wheat hoppers have been ripped right in half.

The clean up was temporarily halted at 1550 by the passage of 705-GM42 with
one ASR livery ALGX, and about 20 or 21 flat  wagons.  It spoke to Adelaide
control using train no. 7201 (presumably just using its south oz no.).  It
ran to Maroona and stabled there.  G528 was also there with the remaining
AN ballast hoppers, and also H3.

Hope you find this of interest

Stephen Molloy


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