Re: Head on in the Western district

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

Maurie Daly wrote:

> In article <81sk6f$ihq$1@nnrp1.deja.com> John Dennis <jdennis@acslink.net.au> writes:
> >From: John Dennis <jdennis@acslink.net.au>
> >Subject: Re: Head on in the Western district
> >Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 01:17:12 GMT
>
> >In article <81qbru$3qr$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> >  Notagunzel <notagunzel@my-deja.com> wrote:
> >> 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.
>
> >From what I have read we have the situation where trains can travel
> >across facing points without any indication of their setting.  Are the
> >annett keys interlocked with anything so that either trains cannot enter
> >the section of they are removed from "the box", or the Train Controller
> >cannot issue authority to proceed?
>
> >To me it seems scary stuff indeed that trains can be travelling at full
> >speed over facing points protected by nothing more than a key, without
> >even any visual indication.
>
> >Cheers...JD
>
> >--
> >John Dennis
> >Home of the Dutton Bay Tramway
> >http://www.acslink.net.au/~jdennis/dbt.html
>
> >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> >Before you buy.
>
> From Johns post above it might be well worth asking what is now the state on
> lines which are now train order which used to be ES or OS.
> In those days mainline points were always staff locked , so that a driver
> could be reasonably assured that if he had the staff ,then all points over
> which he had to travel were locked, (excluding points protected by signals.)
> Whats the situation now with train orders on the same lines?
> There must be some level of concern re safety of unattended points as the new
> CRT siding at Paisley has a switch lock,as distinct from a key.
> At least in SA where train orders have existed for a long time , all points
> were fitted with switch stands which at least provided some visual indication
> of state of points .
> Anyone know how SRA handles unattended points on mainlines under train orders?

Point Indicators.  A 4 square foot black square with a white line at 45 degrees for
straight ahead, or horizontal for turnout.


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