Re: Flat Wheels in Sydney

["Rob McKiernan" <rob@optus.net.au>]

Excues my ignorance but what is the difference between hand and park brakes.
Cheers,
Rob
Railway Rasputin <bob@fastlink.com.au> wrote in message
377B2D9F.1B04BE22@fastlink.com.au">news:377B2D9F.1B04BE22@fastlink.com.au...
>
>
> Rob McKiernan wrote:
>
> > Folks,
> > I caught a suburban train from Newtown to the City recently and while
> > waiting for the train to arrive I noticed that just about every second
> > suburban that went past had a flat wheel and some trains more. The most
I
> > counted was 4 on a Tangara. Nearly all of the G and V sets that passed
were
> > ok. The flat wheels were present on all types of suburban stock it
seemd.
> > Can somebody out there tell me why this is so?. Is it bad driving or
some
> > other mechanical explanation?. Is there any maintenace program for this
type
> > of fault?. I have travelled a bit on overseas systems (Rome, Paris,
London,
> > Washington etc) and it seems to be a uniquely Sydney problem. It's been
a
> > while since I've travelled in Melbourne but I never heard the problem
there.
> > Do other cities experience in Australia experience this problem?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Rob
>
> Tangaras mainly get flat wheels from when drivers use the train line park
break
> to stop the train when they think they will not stop at platforms.
> The quality of driver on the suburban system overall has declined. This is
not
> an attack on Craig or any other driver on this newsgroup. In the past a
person
> worked his way up through the grades with the help of experience
operators. Now
> it is possible to be unemployed now and within 2 years be driving a train.
The
> examiners now days are letting sloppy operators through. This is partley
not
> their fault and they have to work from directions given from "upstairs"
plus if
> they fail someone they will probably claim some discrimination or
harrasment
> bullshit exercise and get on anyway.
> One person who comes to mind is "Boss" who has done some pretty amazing
things
> in his short career as a driver.
> The G and V sets are mainly operated by more experienced drivers and don't
> suffer as much damage as suburban rolling stock. (Yes I know suburban
drivers
> drive G's.)
> The other suburban trains have flat wheels because hand or park breaks
have been
> left on, either by the driver, guard or vandal.
>
> Trains who have flats go to DELEC for a work out with the wheel lathe.
> (Apparantly Flemo will be getting one, when,  I don't know.)
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> rgds
>