Here are some images of the level crossing accident that resulted in the death of the truck driver. 3 locomotives and a bridge were destroyed by the resulting fire.
Thats going to be one very interesting removal!Couple more 250 ton cranes plz.Looks like a very hot fire went through them too,any word on what the truck was carrying Paul?
As a matter of interest this is the first 81 class to be written off since they entered service in 1982. Cheers David
The truck was carrying hay. fire was most likely started by a ruptured fuel tank on either the locomotive or the truck. crew survived, but were injured. (they jumped)
So I presume they hit the hay truck. Doesn't seem like it would derail like that. Even an 18 (22, 26) wheeler truck. Remember the film on the UP hitting the grain trailer at the crossing? It went right through it. These are all big six axles, too.
Flash I think the train made contact with the truck,then dragged the whole lot across the bridge. Looks like the prime mover fell off half way across.Then the 81 derailed from the trailer,pretty lucky for the crew,condolences to the truckies family tho.
Flash, you have to remember that your locos are alot heavier than ours, an 81 internally is close to an SD50 SD50 = 190ish ton 81 = 126t the 48 class is a branchline loco and only tips the scales at around 112t not sure what the line is rated at but it looks class2 (from memory 50kg rail on wooden sleepers) so line speed isn't high, so low weight, low speed, hit truck, drag truck to bridge, and flip over truck that is now wedged on bridge (which burns to a crisp)
Cootamundra West - Parkes is class 2. Line speed is 100km/h but a Class C freight is 80km/h. The train was empties from Cootamundra to Gilgandra so it could have been doing close to line speed. Here is the location on Google Maps. The bridge where the train stopped is about 100m/300ft to the north east. From the look of the level crossing it's easy to conceive what happened. Cheers David
What did the truck driver do to get hit? Stall? Disregard the crossing? I feel more sorry for the crew than the truck driver. I'm sure in Australia as in the USA, the train has the right away 100% of the time.
Yep, trains have right of way. And in NSW all road traffic is required by law to come to a complete stop at ungated level crossings. That doesn't stop a dozen or fatalities at level crossings each year and, according to train drivers, hundreds of near misses. it even happens at protected level crossings. Here's a few other recent ATSB accident investigations. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair20060010.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair2006014.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair2006013.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair2006009.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair2006006.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair20060015.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2006/RAIR/rair2006004.aspx http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2005/RAIR/rair2005004.aspx Cheers David
48155 (the third loco) was moved off the bridge and has been towed to Lithgow. Apparently most of the fire damage was external due to the burning bridge and there may be some recoverable spare parts. The other two locos were rolled off the track and will probably be scrapped on site. Cheers David
Abit more news on the driver.Was a local farmers son that was stock piling loads of hay in their truck,for their property (cattle). He had probably driven across that crossing hundreds of times & never come across a train........until this fateful day.(Remember this is a private crossing on their property.) Apparently he tried to jump but wasnt quick enough.
Found a folopic gallery with some more photos. I hadn't heard 48106 was still on its wheels and was towed to Back Creek yard. http://gallery121707.fotopic.net/p40021867.html http://gallery121707.fotopic.net/p40021869.html http://gallery121707.fotopic.net/p40021868.html http://gallery121707.fotopic.net/p40022351.html http://gallery121707.fotopic.net/p40022354.html Cheers David
