Re: Train Accident in Blue Mountains

[billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton)]

Dion Williams <onamission@start.com.au> wrote:

> If the impact had occurred at low speed the force could have been readily
> absorbed by the mass of the train in front.

Really, how do you figure that?  The IP locos had reportedly just
started to move so the slack was probably still bunched for most of
the 17 car train.

> over to derail its front car and the IP's rear wagon across the adjacent
> track.

Since the collision was on a sharpish curve, that was an almost
certain outcome from a collision at anything other than a trivial
speed.

> Media reports indicated there were approximately six seconds between the
> driver sighting the danger at 100m and the impact.

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote piece, which was a entirely
speculation, about how little time the driver had to warn the
passengers.  AFAIK the driver has said nothing about the incident.

So the 6 second figure is not based on any known fact at this stage
and further more does not tally well with reports from "eye/ear
witnesses" at the site or on the IC at the time of the collision.

Remember, not only did the driver have time to warn passengers, but
another male passenger had time to start warning the upper deck
passengers based on the drivers warning, so there were two sets of
reaction times involved for the upper deck warning.  For this all to
occur within 6 seconds would be a truly remarkable event.

Cheers,

Bill