Re: Train Accident in Blue Mountains

[David Guymer <davidmg@optusnet.com.au>]

In my not so lay experierience one question for those up north of the border. Is Penrith staffed by one or more Signalmen?
If it is more than 1 then could the phone calls have been taken by different people?
David G.

Richard wrote:

> Something I,in my lay appreciation of this event has been able to fathom is
> 1)Did not Penrith realise that the IP was directly in front of the IU
> 2)even if they were unsure of exact location , why was the IU driver not informed that the IP was somewhere just ahead
> of it (or was he??)
> 3)Why was the IU travelling at anything other than slow cautious , prepare to stop speed?
> 4) why did penrith even allow anything to progress if it was not sure where the IP was...as surely the control of rail
> is not left to assumptions!! Might not it have been prudent to wait until the IP had contacted again Penrith so as to
> allay any confusion .
> 5)Given that the track is downhill to some degree on leaving Glenwood (???) and knowing you have signal failure, and you
> know the line of sight is crap, you have to ask again why the IU had any speed?? Sure they can accelerate reasonably
> well, by why would you if you are supposed to be exercising extreme caution??
>
> Now i am not an expert in these matters, so will allow others more accredited to come to the proper conclusions, but
> sometimes being not entrenched in something allows some simple, unbiased observations to be had.
> It seems to me the obvious, that someone was in the wrong place going way too fast. The inquiries will hopefully sort
> out the reasons and apply the findings with utmost haste.
>
> There were many mitigating circumstances to Granville, and they worked out  what they were. I somehow feel that this
> accident is maybe far simpler in cause, and unfotunately none of this helps the poor souls who were victim to this
> event.
> Again my thoughts go out to the families and friends of the deceased. Nothing will make their Christmas merry.
> Im hoping that whenthe buck stops ...its where the blame should lay, and not where it is convenient.
>
> :-(  Richard
>
> Dave Proctor wrote:
> >
> > John MacCallum wrote in message <3848679F.7AA014EA@MYlisp.com.au>...
> > >Vanguard wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > From the roumor mill:
> > >> > It appears that the signaler advised the driver of the  V set that the
> > >> > signals were "booked out" and to ignore them.
> > >> >
> > >> > I stress that this is from the roumor mill and not verified truth.
> > >> >
> > >> > rgds
> > >>
> > >> Nip that one in the bud- definitely not correct.
> > >
> > >How do you know what was said to the Driver of the V set?
> >
> > They would not tell a driver to "ignore" the signals, they would tell him to
> > comply with the appropriate procedures for a signal failure. Even if they
> > HAD told the driver to "ignore" them, the driver should have ignored that
> > direction and followed the correct procedures anyway.
> >
> > Dave