Re: SAW Suspended?

Krel (krel4203@netconnect.com.au)
20 Jul 97 12:05:34 GMT

Maurie Daly <mauried@commslab.gov.au> wrote in article
<mauried.296.33D16788@commslab.gov.au>...
> In article <33D1B452.3EE5@harnessnet.com.au> Craig Haber
<albatross@harnessnet.com.au> writes:
> >From: Craig Haber <albatross@harnessnet.com.au>
> >Subject: SAW Suspended?
> >Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 23:46:42 -0700
>
> >Hi,
>
> >I'm told that the SAW (formerly ASW) has been SUSPENDED on the SG beyond
> >Newport, due to conflicting authorities which could have led to a
> >cornfield meet between the Elders Block Point (near Lara) and Manor
> >Loop.
>
> >I don't have exact info at the moment, can anyone verify/provide more
> >details?
>
>
> If this is true, and it wouldnt surprise me in the slightest, lets hope
that
> some sanity prevails and that this idiotic system is ABANDONED and
replaced
> with something that
> A/ actually works and is FAILSAFE.
> B/ doesnt require every loco needing to run thru it to be modified.
>
As I understand it on Friday NP2 was in the hole at Manor waiting to cross
AM5 which was on its way from Elders Block Point to Manor when NP2 got an
Authority to proceed to Elders.

The current situation (Sunday night) is that a supervisor is monitoring all
transmissions on another workstation and all authorities have to be
verified with him via mobile phone as soon as they are received on the
locomotive.

Common sense would have been to suspend the system until it could be proved
to be safe but when you have invested millions in reinventing the wheel you
have to keep going. Safety comes second to not losing face.

Train driving really is becoming hours of sheer boredom punctuated by
moments of sheer terror :-)

-- 
Cheers Krel


The Law of Inverse Proportions - The chances of the signal clearing 
without having to get out of the cab and go to a lineside phone is
inversely proportional to the amount of rain falling at the time :-)