>On Mon, 09 Feb 1998 05:26:29 GMT, ajg@REMOVEchariot.net.au (Ashley G)
>wrote:
>>On Sunday morning of the 8th both ST1(Syd to Melb Night XPT) and ST2
>>(Melb to Syd night XPT) were delayed considerably. A car carrier semi
>>trailer failed to take the corner at the notorius Bells Rd crossing
>>between Albury and Gerogery at around 10:00 to 10:30pm (Sat 7th) and
>>rolled hitting the track and spilling its contents.
>Not quite right!
>It blocked the line and 2 cars that were on the top deck were thrown
>off.
>> At 4:30 the drver was
>>informed that the track was clear but wouldn't be open untill 6:30am.
>I was at the scene of the accident at 3:30. The truck was cleared from
>the line at 4:10 but a section of rail (about 3 metres) was badly
>twisted.
>At 4:30 the S.R.A. gang advised that the line would not be avaiable
>for 2hrs (6:30) at best.
>>REMEMBER, ST1 HAD BEEN SITTNG AT CULCAIRN SINCE 3.30 AND ST2 AT ALBURY
>>SINCE 11PM.
>>
snip
>>
>>ST2 arrived Sydney around 9 hours late
>>ST1 arrived Melb (via bus) at 12:30- 4 1/2 hours late
>>Countrylink, please explain.
>> Oh and I did my plane due to leave melb at 11:20am
>>
>The S.R.A. gang did the best they could, however Countrylink certainly
>has some explaining to do.
>You may ask , "Why was I there?"
>I was running MB4, a National Rail train that was stabled at Albury
>account no relief crew available. I travelled by taxi to Junee and was
>delayed at the crossing while the car carrier was pulled off the
>track.
>Ron Howship
>N.R.C Driver.
I have no gripe with the state rail crew or the drivers. The info on i
received was what the driver of ST1 told me and what I heard on the
scanner from the Police and from my Dad who is a local SES controller.
Thanks for letting me know a bit more detail though.
By the way, you weren't the only crew driven by Taxi. St 1 picked up a
driver at Junee and bought him to Culcairn. He then caught a taxi to
Albury to drive ST2 as the drivers hours had expired sitting at
Albury.