Re: Tonight's Railway Adventures episode- Get the REAL Facts regarding Victorian Episode.

[keithm@commslab.gov.au (Dave Malcolm)]

In article <Tvhj3.1641$r61.14635@ozemail.com.au> "Stewart Findlay" <timepieces@ozemail.com.au> writes:
>From: "Stewart Findlay" <timepieces@ozemail.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Tonight's Railway Adventures episode- Get the REAL Facts regarding
>Victorian Episode.
>Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 19:07:22 +1000

All of what Stewart has said below is all well and good, but if an un 
qualified person drives a rail vehicle then the qualified driver and 
possibly the rail operator should face the consequenses. 
There are rules for a reason.

Dave Malcolm

>One can understand Greame Fergusons point in relation  to filming this
>current series.
>Despite all his valid points there has been an adverse reaction by VLP in
>requiring SCIDS (Special Class Instructor Drivers) to travel on all historic
>train special.

>As Secretary of Steamrail Victoria, I can tell you that our organisation was
>notified some three weeks ago of this situation, there has been no change of
>heart from VLP as to the SCID dilemma. I refer to our recent tour of
>Saturday 10/7/99 where a SCID travelled from Castlemaine to Werribee via
>Maryborough-Ballarat-North Geelong. Steamrail Victoria has worn the cost
>this time, but as with all business expenses, the customer will ultimately
>wear the cost. This is not only for Steamrail Victoria but also ARHS-Vic Div
>tours, ARE tours, SRHC tours, etc. Every tour!

>Wombat stated:
>>They show him driving it over the Viaduct and into Plat 12 at Flinders
>Street, driving through a track gang and into the SRHC Depot among other
>things. VLP has had a HUGE reaming out by all the safety watchdogs and I
>pity any organisation that wants to do a film run in the future. The Special
>Class Instructor Drivers are being placed on ALL Special/Charters, with VLP
>as the Operator to appease (sp?) the angry gods! and the costs to the Hirers
>will go up as a result.
>What is stated here IS ALL TRUE.

>Greame F. stated that :
>>no time did the presenter operate the Railmotor
>>Was anyone you know actually involved in the filming??The FACTS:
>>At all times a qualified driver was at the controls.
>>He either was standing a fraction behind Scott McGregor or beside him, just
>out of camera shot.
>>Further more when Scott McGregor sat in the driver's seat he was only do so
>where there were no signalling , or safeworking involved.
>>The actual scenes where he was seemingly in control was for no more than 15
>to 30 seconds.  These scenes were then spliced together to give the illusion
>of Scott driving continuously.
>>How many times have you seen Politicians at the controls of a locomotive at
>some special ceremony.  I'd like to see some bureaucrat take action against
>a Transport Minister or Premier for this.  An unknown actor is a softtarget.

>HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS:
>1/ The driver must have been exceedingly skinny to have stood behind the
>driver - there
>     is NO ROOM THERE!. Anyone knowing the layout of a Railmotor will know
>that this
>     is simply not feasible. If it is a diesel or steam locomotive, then
>this is a different
>     situation.
>2/  If Scott McGregor was filmed in the drivers seat whilst the RM was
>travelling "over
>     the Viaduct and into Plat 12 at Flinders Street" then he has just
>driven throught the
>     most concentrated array of signals within the state! Where is the
>facvts in Greame's
>     reply!

>VLP were naturally disturbed and their actions are somewhat justified,
>though, I believe a little over the top, but under the current system of
>self accreditation and regulation this was the most logical action as they
>must report any irregularities and provide a solution to rectify/ensure that
>this will not occur again.

>The alternative which Steamrail Victoria is actively finalising now is to
>run under its own EBA and accreditation. If one of our drivers did the same
>then a similar result may occur.

>Think about it, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction,
>sometime much to the detriment of many.