>Barry Campbell wrote in message <6hveeh$ho7$1@news.mel.aone.net.au>...
>>Train Orders
>>have been the norm in Nth America since safeworking was deemed to be
>>necessary. The poms and us went to token working. Prior to that, reliance
>>on the timetable was the general method.
>Any figures on accidents/deaths in Nth America?
Not enough to hand to draw conclusions.
US, 5 year average, deaths per passenger mile: 0.6/billion (US billion)
UK, single year (not clear which), same units, 0.5/billion (US billion)
Which is across ALL systems of train operation, so near impossible
to sort out "token (staff, etc) is/is not safer".
Its always been relatively uncommon in US, seems to have been given
a period of trials in the 1930s/1920s, typically retained on special
sections (Cascade Tunnel, one of the Detroit River Tunnels (OK, the
latter is half in Canada 8)>>). Canada had one that i know of, and
I suspect others. (Now that i think of it THAT one also extended to
the US end of the line. It used UK Pattern equipment. I'd have to
look up which...) staff/token systems were documented & discussed
in US signalling texts, so 'we' were aware of them.
thanks
dave pierson |the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation |the opinions, my own.
334 South St |
Shrewsbury, Mass USA pierson@gone.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing." A J Raffles
"....the net of a million lies...." Anon