Safeworking and other matters in Tas.

["Notagunzel" <notagunzel@bigfoot.com>]

With the recent discussion about Train Orders vs Track Warrents, I might as
well tell you about recent observations made whilt in Tasmania recently.

The EBR - Burnie to Melba Flats, with the branch to Hellyer, is worked under
Track Warrents.  There are apparently the same as Tranzrail Track Warrents,
except the name of the company at the top of the form has been changed.  The
rest of Tasmainia is worked under Train Orders, unchanged from AN days.  The
word on the track was that Track Warrent working is to be extended to cover
the rest of the state.  The EBR is of course just another branch in the ATN
Tasrail network thesedays.

All Train Control appears to be run from Launceston, including the EBR.
Most if not all TO's & TW's are transmitted via radio.  There appears to be
one Control Board covering the entire state.  Train to Base frequencies are:

Base Input    Base Output    Base Site(s)
157.7750 Mhz  162.3750 Mhz   Millers Bluff
158.0000 Mhz  162.6000 Mhz   Mt Faulkner, Dazzler Range
158.0125 Mhz  162.6125 Mhz   Mt Arthur
158.0375 Mhz  162.6375 Mhz   Burnie
158.8125 Mhz  163.4125 Mhz   Table Cape
158.8500 Mhz  163.4500 Mhz   Companion Hill
160.5750 Mhz  165.1750 Mhz   Mt Reid
409.4500 Mhz  418.9000 Mhz   Mt Barrow, Grasstree Hill, Railton

Local frequencies are:

157.5375 Mhz
157.5750 Mhz
157.7750 Mhz
163.1800 Mhz
411.6250 Mhz
411.6500 Mhz
411.9750 Mhz
472.5000 Mhz
475.0750 Mhz
477.7000 Mhz

Also the Point to Point links were found to carry radio traffic:

404.4250 Mhz/413.8750 Mhz
404.5750 Mhz/414.0250 Mhz
404.8500 Mhz/414.3000 Mhz
451.1250 Mhz/460.6250 Mhz
852.0375 Mhz/928.0375 Mhz
852.1875 Mhz/928.1875 Mhz

Alot of this has changed since Railscan 4 was published.

One thing to note with Track Warrents, is that the train no. is not used,
instead the Warrent is issued to "1102 North", or "M4 South", depending on
the locomotive.  Also, Warrents are used for worksite protection, so a
Warrent may be issued to "Joe Bloggs" "to work between Moory Jct and
Hatfield".

Now for a question:  What is the name of the Log siding between Western Jct
and Longford?  Its only single ended, and isn't used for log traffic
anymore.  Any answer would be appreciated.

B.