Re: Reporting Rail-related emergencies

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

In article <3753A16B.D92228BE@ancc.com.au> David Langley <del@ancc.com.au> writes:
>From: David Langley <del@ancc.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Reporting Rail-related emergencies
>Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 19:01:31 +1000

>MarkBau1 wrote:

>> Arthur,
>>
>> Thanks for an interesting and well researched post.
>>
>> Would it really be that difficult for the various operators to put a sticker
>on
>> something, (relay cabinet, level crossing sign) at every level crossing with a
>> phone number?

>All electrically protected level crossings in Victoria have a sticker with a
>toll
>free telephone number and a number to quote when phoning about a crossing
>failure.
>The number is a fault centre which unfortunately does not talk good railway
>language and I found it difficult to make them see the problem one day when I
>had
>cause to use it.

>I was at Diggers' Rest one Sat afternoon and the booms stayed down after a down
>sprinter had cleared the crossing. After about five minutes the cars started zig
>zagging around the booms or turned around and went back. I checked the timetable
>and found that the next train was due reasonably soon in the up direction. So I
>phoned the number and reported the fault. I spoke railway language and that had
>them fooled. They did not know what a track circuit failure was. They were far
>more
>concerned that they got the name of the crossing right. I also phoned the police
>and they gave me the run around, said that they had a car in the area and would
>detach - I never saw it. Finally after some further time had elapsed, I phoned
>train control but the only number I could remember was the nesg. But after
>explaining that I knew what I was talking about (remember I have been out of the
>railways for about 9 years at this time so I couldn't use the - I am a railway
>employee line) he put me through to the right train controller who informed me
>that
>the fitters had been called and were on their way. I waited around for the up
>sprinter and guess that he had been radioed because he approached the crossing
>was
>some caution. I left after about 1 hour of failure and never saw the fitters or
>the
>coppers.

>Another time I was technically trespassing near Brunswick signal box
>photographing
>the semaphore signals before they were removed and I noticed a broken rail on
>the
>up line. I reported to Brunswick signal box that there was a broken rail - up
>line
>up leg just on the down side of the home arrival. I felt that he disbelieved me
>even though I had used good railway language and said that I knew what I was
>talking about with my railway years of experience.

>Ho Hum, I will probably give up reporting these matters now, you seem to get
>nowhere.

>David Langley.

According to a Freight corp driver if you lift up of the booms the other 
will follow and the bells and lights stop.

Dave Malcolm