Re: Head on in the Western district

["Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>]

On Victorian Train Order Territory the points would normally be operated by
a Master Key as is the (Normal situation) in ASW.

Each Master Key has a number, this number must be included in the body of
the Train Order message, ie: Master Key No 12. or with ASW: MK 15 would
appear in the message box of the Section Authority. However when you have a
botched up system like Ararat there seems to be no protection.

As far as I'm aware (and I'm sure someone will correct me), the UP Departure
Signals at Pyrenees are controlled by the ARTC Train Controller at Mile End
and have no detection for the track section ahead except for the detection
of the points at Pyrenees, this has been the situation since V/Line operated
them when the CTC section Pyrenees - Ararat was dis-established and the
signal that protected the offending points at Ararat was removed about 5
years ago (about gauge conversion time).

Bob.

Maurie Daly <mauried@commslab.gov.au> wrote in message
mauried.483.3841E725@commslab.gov.au">news:mauried.483.3841E725@commslab.gov.au...
> 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?
>
> MD
>