Re: A burning question. was > Re: Indian Pacific hits freight train - Who's the Responsible Investigating body?

["Rod Gayford" <rjaygee@smartchat.net.au>]

In the 1950,s a very similar accident happened on the Santa Fe when a mail
train was put away to let a Super Chief pass and the switchman for reasons
unknown threw the switch just as the Chief approached the switch. The only
difference was that the Chief was doing 80 mph and the resulting crash
killed a number of passengers and train staff. A story on it was in Trains
magazine within the last 12 months. I thought in Australia manual points
should be clipped when passenger trains pass to prevent such occurrences?

Cheers
RJG
< Tell > <telljb@OZozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:381008df.6710969@news.ozemail.com.au...
> All this sand on Cowan Bank and way off topic subjects
> to the original post has prompted me to ask:-
>
> If the IP was sent into a siding where another train
> was waiting, how come the driver on the IP did not go
> for the big hole on the Westinghouse well before.?
> How come the crew on the goods waiting for a cross, did
> not see the points set for a kiss.!
>
> This is NOT Cowan bank or anywhere else on the East
> Coast, but the wide open Nullabor with plenty of scope
> to see where opposing trains are sitting and which way
> the points are set, DAY or NIGHT.
> Most have only two choices, mainline or crossing loop.
>
> casey-joe <berlina@bigpond.com> has very forcibly told
> us that it was due too TC, and I quote in part:-
> "They refuse to answer their Radios, and sit over there
> in Adelaide, probably wanking themselves off in their
> own self importance! Yes legends in their own little
> minds!" ..end quote.
>
> Well .....a lot of the PA controllers are working in
> Adelaide now, they are very experienced, but human just
> like the rest of us crews included.
>
> I await the report with interest, because it might
> determine whether I travel long distance rail again.
>
> Privatisation has nothing much to do with this one,
> only the pass cars were private owned, everything else
> was GOVERNMENT owned.
>
> Then again, "corporatisation" of government bodies
> might provide a clue.
>
> ----Terry Burton
>