Re: Head on in the Western district

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <81qbru$3qr$1@nnrp1.deja.com> Notagunzel <notagunzel@my-deja.com> writes:
>From: Notagunzel <notagunzel@my-deja.com>
>Subject: Re: Head on in the Western district
>Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 04:42:38 GMT

>In article <81puc2$20pb$1@otis.netspace.net.au>,
>  "Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au> wrote:

>> Reece,

>> The present system of securing the points at Ararat yard is purely
>> Victorian Railways, ARTC inherited if from the PTC. The points in
>> question are locked by Master Key and are operated under "Victorian"
>> Section Authority System Rules.

>> If ARTC had introduced SA operating proceedures into Ararat, all they
>> would have provided would be: A Switch Stand and a padlock, locked
>> with a standard AN "S" lock.

>Last I knew, and I'm open to corrections, Ararat had Annett Locks at
>each end.  IIRC an A pattern at the Up end and a B pattern at the Down
>end.  The relevent key was kept in a locked box adjacent to the box
>(V5PSW)

>It's actually worse than when the SG was first reopened.  At least then
>they had staff locks on the points, and the Maryborough staff was
>specially hacked so as not to open the main line points.  At some time
>the Staff Locks were replaced with Annett Locks.  Initially there was A
>pattern at each end, but later the down (?) end got a B pattern lock.

>Its actually all very mickey mouse.

>> The interesting thing about Ararat is that the area involves the
>> co-operation of 3 Train Control Boards operated by 2 Train Control
>> Companies. (ARTC CTC Wolseley to Pyrenees Loop, ARTC ASW from
>> Pyrenees Loop to Newport, and Freight Victorian Train Control on the
>> M'borough line into Ararat Yard, "Train Orders or Train Staff" (not
>> sure of the current authority on this section). So as you see ARTC
>> don't control the whole area.

>Staff (no ticket?) to M'borough.

>> What actually happened at Ararat I'll leave to Workcover and the ARTC
>> and Freight Victoria Boards of Enquiry, but as you pointed out, on
>> the surface it appears as though someperson (at this stage unknown)
>> operated the Master Key locked points.

>Shades of Zanthus.  From what I've seen, I am lead to beleive, for
>whatever reason, the Annett Locked points at the down end were left
>reverse after shunting.

>Will the enquiry result in anything improving? I doubt it.

>P.S. as im currently using deja.com (in Qld) I hope this posts
>properly. :-)

>Notagunzel


>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.


Further on this issue a bit , who controls the up departure homes at Pyrenees 
Loop,and what aspects may this signal display, ie will you still get a G/R if 
the points in question which related to this accident are reversed, ie where 
does the track circuiting stop,and do the points have state detectors?
Is there any relationship at all between the clearing of the up home and the 
issuing of the relevant authority to enter the section.
It seems that the Ararat situation is even more mickey mouse than Zanthus
where at least the facing loop points have state detectors.

MD