Re: "lost" trains

[David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au>]

Roy the Boy wrote:

> Stuart,
>     You have to remember that Chullora is reasonably level where as the grade out of
> Hawksbury river is quite steep. A 200 ton loco climbing that grade while hauling a set
> of passenger cars would have a greater chance of activating the track circuit, if the
> reports are to be believed by the simple fact that the wheels were spinning and thus
> they would have helped to clear the sand off of the rail. If sand had anything to do
> with the accident, all it did was to exacerbate an already existing deficiency with the
> system.

Who told you the wheels were spinning?   The train slipped inside Boronia No. 4 tunnel,
reducing the speed of the train to about 5 or 6 km/h.  The train did not slip again, but
when entering No. 3 tunnel, the train slowed down, even though the throttle was wide open
in full forward gear with a full head of steam.  About one train length out of No. 3
tunnel, the train gradually slowed to a stop - with no wheel slip.  The train moved back
about a foot.  The driver tried to lift the train again, but it would not move, so he set
back a further 6 feet to move the driving rods off dead centre.  Another lift was
attempted, with the train only moving forward 6 feet.  At no time did the wheels spin.

>  As for David proclaiming that he has read the findings of the inquiry, and that he
> agrees with it, just remember Dave, the findings were based on information given to it
> by people who had a vested interest in ensuring that the real truth did not emerge.

I love a good conspiracy theory.


--
David Johnson
trainman@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~trainman/