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

["Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>]

Rod Gayford <rjaygee@smartchat.net.au> wrote in message
7qhnpc$lnm$1@merki.connect.com.au">news:7qhnpc$lnm$1@merki.connect.com.au...
> I thought in Australia manual points
> should be clipped when passenger trains pass to prevent such occurrences?
>
> Cheers
> RJG

NO.  Not in ARTC (AN) territory.

Remember, these locations are at the back of beyond, even without the
provision of powered operation the switches are physically locked by the
lever, that when thown (turned), seats into a groove on the switch stand
preventing it from being vibrated open.

In the case of this accident, it appears (because the location is powered)
that the crew member operated the throw button as the train approached, and
as several others (far more expert on the subject than me) have indicated
this is possible due to the short approach circuit at these locations.

Read: Notagunzel and David Langley's mails in "INDIAN PACIFIC CRASH" message
for the technical answers.

Bob.