Train hit track workers in Italy

[Beeyar Wunby]

Very sad news.

Link...Train hits workers

[aussiesteve]

Tragic.
I presume that traditional worksite protection was not in place at the time.
Back in the good ole days we were running over crackers (detonators) everywhere protecting worksites.
Naturally nearby residents don't appreciate all that banging going on.
Modern day protection being by computerized systems and radio.
I would not have as much faith in such modern day concepts.
Hit crackers and you not only jump out of yer seat, but you are quickly on the hooter and hurling out the anchors.

[Beeyar Wunby]

We still have detonator protection here in the UK, but I suspect it will disappear when the railway goes digital.

About 20 years ago I was bringing the last train of the night home empty, when I exploded dets and ran through a possession at St Johns (near Lewisham). It was a close call and orange bodies leapt out of the 4 foot in front of me.

It transpired that the PWay team had set up on the wrong line completely.

Fortunately there was no harm done but it scared the hell out of all of us. It proved the value of dets though.

[aussiesteve]

Digital crackers, the computer going bang.
Yes, mistakes can be devastating.
Doing more with less, CAPITALISM, can result in far fewer bods performing tasks.
OK, the opposed perception, nine council workers leaning on shovels while one bloke digs did prompt doing more with less.
Actually, I have them nine council workers relaxing opposite my hovel during week days.
We are copping a humongous storm water drain with consequent digging in the dirt to plant the pipes.
They have moved barely 300 feet up the opposite footpath in four weeks.
NO crackers in use in Van Diemens Land while I was toiling down there.
Track Bulletins and notification on the Track Warrant authority providing any protection.
So, you had to be on yer toes while rattling along.
Mind you, we didn't percolate all that fast, 60 kph being the South Line max speed.
And there wasn't much of that.
Only one incident that I was aware of could have resulted in devastation.
The driver (Bomber we dubbed him) of a failed train reported his location as being such and such.
Fortunately, the driver of the rescue mission, he had stabled his train by himself to roar off to find and shove the failed train, realized that Bomber could not be where he stated.
The given location being 10 kms OUT, and closer to the rescue mission.
Driver Only Operation does make you more aware of your situation.