Yes indeed ......about as useful as boobs on a bull.!
>Did any of the other states have any type of VC in the late 60's?
The Commonwealth Railways did, round about 1956.!
Thirteen years BEFORE Violet Town.
Quote from the manual (1956):
PNEUMATIC SAFETY CONTROL FEATURE
During normal operation the safety control pedal must
be kept depressed.
The light on the driver's panel indicates that the
driver's foot has been removed from the pedal.
If the driver's foot is removed from the pedal,
After time delay:-
1 Light appears on driver's panel and alarm bell rings.
2 BRAKES will apply on Locomotive and Train.
3 Engine will return to idle.
4 Power will be cut off from traction motors.
Of course the "dead man" pedal could be defeated by a
well placed stick to hold it down, which is why the
push button Vigilance Control came in, once again the
CR was leading the way.
No prizes for guessing what the STATE Railways fitted
after Violet Town. Well, some of them did.
---- Tell
Alice Springs NT
CR-ANR-AN ...Gone but not forgotten.
Australian Pioneers of the Long Heavy Haul.