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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 20, 2017 16:30:21 GMT 12
The results of suddenly finding a logging truck on a level crossing in front of me this afternoon at Waingawa in Wairarapa.... A 90-tonne locomotive hauling 210 tonnes of passenger cars impacting into the side of a logging truck = a huge bang and a big mess. Fortunately, everybody walked away from it, although the passengers on the train told me it felt like a brutal impact back in the train. Having a few stiff whiskeys at the pub now. Three day automatic stand-down (still getting paid though), then back in the saddle next Tuesday. I imagine the truck driver will be having a few difficult discussions with Mr Plod and his insurance company. And the lads at Hutt Shops will have a bit of work to do on the front of the locomotive.
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Post by delticman on Oct 20, 2017 16:59:10 GMT 12
The results of suddenly finding a logging truck on a level crossing in front of me this afternoon at Waingawa in Wairarapa.... A 90-tonne locomotive hauling 210 tonnes of passenger cars impacting into the side of a logging truck = a huge bang and a big mess. Fortunately, everybody walked away from it, although the passengers on the train told me it felt like a brutal impact back in the train. Having a few stiff whiskeys at the pub now. Three day automatic stand-down (still getting paid though), then back in the saddle next Tuesday. I imagine the truck driver will be having a few difficult discussions with Mr Plod and his insurance company. And the lads at Hutt Shops will have a bit of work to do on the front of the locomotive. Glad your ok, did the logger get a drug test?
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Oct 20, 2017 17:29:14 GMT 12
Geez KTJ, maybe you should take up flying - much safer!
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Post by Bruce on Oct 20, 2017 17:36:07 GMT 12
Glad that didn't turn out worse! Theres some serious energy involved in something like that so its always good when there are no injuries. Hope you're back in the saddle soon!
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 20, 2017 18:11:14 GMT 12
The last couple of seconds before smashing into the side of a loaded logging truck & trailer are a bit of a heart-stopping moment.
Not even so much of a scratch down the side of the passenger cars though....the trailer (which was the bit hit) and logs all went flying and didn't even touch the rest of the train.
The sheer energy involved in a collision like that is mind-blowing. It's like watching a movie, except that you are in the middle of it all.
By the time your brain actually wakes up to what has happened, it is all over.
Slamming the train brake-valve into the big-hole (where you dump all the pressure out of the brake-pipe) is an automatic reaction, but it makes your ears ring, because the air from the entire brake-pipe throughout the length of the train exhausts directly into the cab over a period of about 2-3 seconds. It makes your ears ring for a good hour or so afterwards.
Then you sit there for about 10-15 seconds or so while your mind catches up to what has just occurred and the fact that there is a huge mess spread everywhere.
Not to worry, I'm still at the pub and the mind is now considerably dulled by a shitload of alcohol.
The cops are going to contact me in a couple of days to get all the details of exactly what occurred from my point of view.
They actually drove my car home from Masterton Railway Station for me, then dropped me off at the pub.
I guess the upside is that I'm now actually going to get Labour Weekend off, but still get paid for it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 20, 2017 18:24:05 GMT 12
Holy smokes!!
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Post by The Red Baron on Oct 20, 2017 18:46:58 GMT 12
On the bright side your winter firewood problem is solved.
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Post by delticman on Oct 20, 2017 22:09:39 GMT 12
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 21, 2017 8:26:26 GMT 12
They build them tough....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 21, 2017 10:10:24 GMT 12
Quite a disparity between the levels of damage, eh. It hardly even chipped the paint on the locomotive. Amazing.
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Post by suthg on Oct 21, 2017 10:24:36 GMT 12
Glad to hear you are ok KTJ - apart from the nerves and the memory which will not go away quickly. At least it was just the trailer unit and not the truck, the trailer being the lighter and more loosely constructed element of the whole load - and no buses or passenger vehicle was involved. I bet the horn probably was used excessively too! You can't stop the idiots ... perhaps he/she had a brake failure locking the brakes on or something and unable to pull away. The coppers did a great job - pleased about the care they gave you!!
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 21, 2017 10:35:15 GMT 12
There's a bit of structural damage you cannot see. One of the anti-collision beams inside the nose is slightly buckled, but it did the job it was designed to do which is to protect the cab in a big impact. And the bent anti-climbers just below the nose likewise did their job and stopped the log trailer from climbing and rolling over the nose into the front of the cab. Most of the rest of the damage is mainly cosmetic and will involve some panel-beating and replacement of various fittings. The locomotive will need to go to Hutt Shops and have the nose removed, then get the damaged anti-collision beam replaced; and the bill will be in the tens of thousands of dollars, although not excessively high considering the force of the impact. It will probably be back in service again by the end of next week.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Nov 29, 2017 13:02:17 GMT 12
Barrier arms are for driving around, eh?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 29, 2017 14:12:10 GMT 12
Stunning stupidity. I have never seen that before where the train has to give way due to idiots. it will come soon where they need cameras at barrier crossings to film and fine those dickheads.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Nov 29, 2017 14:32:32 GMT 12
I had yet another near miss last week at the same level crossing where I T-boned the log truck a few weeks ago.
This time it was a b-train hauling wood chips. He only just scraped across in front of the train.
There are big changes coming to both the level crossings at Waingawa shortly. The proverbial really hit-the-fan over the collision with the log-truck. There is a big paper trail going back three years regarding our concerns over how dangerous both that crossing is, and the crossing at the other end of Waingawa. And Land Transport NZ have looked at the paper trail and demanded the situation be sorted out. The result is that KiwiRail are going to install barrier arms at both level crossings and Carterton District Council are going to completely redesign the intersections adjacent to both level crossings, including lots of traffic islands, separate turning lanes, flashing amber lights on the side connecting road warning that level crossing alarms up ahead are operating, and several other measures.
And although the damage to the locomotive in that photograph doesn't appear to be too severe, it actually suffered some serious structural damage, including both anti-collision beams inside the nose being buckled and fractured and the anti-climber beam also fracturing. The cab mountings were also slightly damaged as the nose section got shifted backwards by the impact. The result was a major strip-down of the foward section of the locomotive at Hutt Shops and several structural members of the locomotive frame being replaced by boilermakers. I'd imagine the total repair cost would be close to $100,000 for damage to the locomotive alone, let alone all the other numerous costs. Hutt Railway Workshops did well to get the locomotive back in service in less than two weeks. I guess the trucking company concerned will receive a huge damages bill from KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Their insurance company will NOT be pleased.
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