Re: SRA Detonators

[Bill <billguest@the.net.nz>]

IMO, dets are dangerous and outmoded. They are too easily stolen by children and
vandals. The original intention of dets was to warn a locomotive engineer that he
was entering a "block of line" when he shouldn't be! If the dets went off, then it
was time for emergency braking. They were not intended to warn any workers who were
in the block area that a train was approaching, although often such workers would
hear them explode.

I have been told that dets may not always be heard from the cab of a modern diesel
loco cab, although I have seen this assertion disputed by others. However, I would
rather that protection for MW workers were provided by (1) a decent train control
system, and (2) the use of a modern radio system connecting control, the locomotive
engineer, and the MW staff, as a backup.

Bill

David & Julie Donald wrote:

> Despite the comments made by other posters, I am aware that the Dept of
> Transport in NSw are opposed to their use, and are trying to encourage all rail
> operators to find alternatives to the use of detonators.  I am not fully aware
> of the reasons for their opposition, but I suspect that it has something to do
> with the safety/risk factor, and the fact that the devices, if in the wrong
> hands, are perceived as being dangerous.
>
> --
>
> Regards
>
> David Donald
> Springwood, NSW
>
> dsjmd@hermes.net.au