Further to Fatal Accident - Sandy Hollow.

["Steve Shotton" <rvrm@idl.net.au>]

More accurate details have come to hand:

Locomotives 8155/49 at the head of an empty coal consisting of NHKF coal
wagons, struck a Railway Services Authority (RSA) vehicle that was
travelling beside the perway in a narrow cutting.

A four man track maintenance crew (four men in two utes) was operating in
the area. One man was left behind approx. 300-400 metres from the accident
site, to open a gate.  He signalled to the driver of the coal train that
there were men working ahead. The train began to slow, however there wasn't
enough time to stop the train, (believed to have been moving at approx. 70 -
90k/ph) One man who was removing rocks from the 4-ft managed to jump clear
of the train, while two men, aged 25 and 51, were crushed in their vehicle.
The RSA ute was thrown against the side of the cutting, before bouncing
between the cutting wall and the train for over 200 metres.

The two drivers and two surviving RSA employees were airlifted to Newcastle
by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for counselling. On arrival at Newcastle,
they were still in a deep state of shock, and needed assistance in walking.

8155 suffered damage to the cab, with smashed windows and dents in the side,
as well as pilot and bogie damage.

-----------------------------


These are all the details I have at the moment, but it will probably be on
the news later in the afternoon.


Steve Shotton
rvrm@idl.net.au