Re: [NSW] - SMH reporting on Cityrail 15/9/2000

["Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au>]

"David Johnson" <trainman@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> antstig@my-deja.com wrote:
> >   "Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au> wrote:
> > > Once the signal has been passed, procedure is fairly irrelevant. Once
> > the signal has been passed, not following procedure will usually just
keep
> > > things moving, as most SPADS are not serious, which is why procedure
> > is often ignored and the SPAD is not reported.
> >
> > re you really serious? I don't think that is very safe. Are you
> > telling me that the driver once he's passed a signal at danger just
> > merrilly drives along irrespective that there might be a train ahead,
> > or some other obstruction etc.
> >
> > You're having me on. It's certainly not what I've read in the SPAD
> > journal, the name of which I can't remember.
>
> I wouldn't be surprised if some drivers did that in automatic sections
under the
> old rules.  The old rules did not require any authority to pass an
automatic
> signal at stop.  With the new rules, there would be less drivers tempted
to do
> it, but I wouldn't say it would not happen.  It would be easier to say
they
> attempted to contact the signaller to no avail and continued than it would
be to
> say they just SPADed.   There would be no excuse for doing this at a
controlled
> signal (except maybe an Accept or Outer Home with no plate)   It basically
comes
> down to what you can get away with.   Between Emu Plains and Springwood,
they
> have installed a remote SPAD alarm in the signal boxes at each end of the
> automatic section.  You can't get away with it any more up there!


I was actually referring to controlled signals. Quite often, depending on
the mood and location of the signaller, there won't be a problem and he'll
just let the Driver know if it's OK to proceed. On freighters, the trick
sometimes is to jump off before the train stops, run to the phone and ring
quickly, so the signaller thinks you've only just passed the signal by a
couple of feet.

It's a bit harder when the signal phone's not working, you have to get the
signaller on the radio and just ask cryptically if there's gonna be a
problem or not.