A doodle bug SPAD

[aussiesteve]

G'day,
Just found the recently plublished ATSB incident report about a SPAD up on the Main North.
Trackwork causing trains running outside of normal table.
And, an awkward sun angle.
I bet the doodle bug hogger got a nasty surprise when his train suddenly slammed through the points at full speed.
Diverting the eggspress into the coal loader balloon loop.
Them points reversed to protect a train ahead of that location.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/577667...-012_final.pdf
Tossed the cattle about a tad.
I know how hitting the kink in the track in the bottom of the dip east from Raglan affects the Bathurst Bullet doodle bug.
It doing top road speed of 145 kph.
You need to move yer head well away from the window.
Yes BW, I guess that some form of ATP woulda prevented this little incursion into the freight only world.
Well, I guess that the cattle were lucky in that the doodle bug didn't go bush.
Steve.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Yo Steve. Just took a glance at the report. I'll read it in more detail later.

Was there not AWS fitted?

I not going to make any criticisms - 'let he who is without sin throw the first stone', as they say.

Cheers, BW.

[aussiesteve]

G'day BW,
As I have mentioned afore, here in NSW (the Premier state) our trains don't got AWS.
A version of ATP is being trialed and will eventually be implemented on all newbie suburban and interurban emu trains.
Currently, our emus and dmu doodlebugs got deadman and vigilance.
Our weasels only got the vigo.
So, we can pick any stick and have a merry SPAD.
Mind you, management do get aggro.
A SPAD gets you a day or two off and possibly also a fine.
I have just returned from me great escape camping caper to avoid the mongrel mountain noise.
Mind you, the mongrel mountain noise still continues even though the race ended on sunday.
I did enjoy me 14 days respite out west on the banks of the Lachlan River.
But, the blowies (flies) were an annoyance.
I had carted three types of bug spray, none of which worked to deter the things.
Steve.

[DSY011]

Hi Steve, we also suffered from blue flies in Africa, but we would collect a shovel full of cattle dung and leave it near our camp. The little buggers would leave us alone as they went for the dung instead. Mind, we did have to keep it damp to attract them.

[aussiesteve]

G'day Syd,
I hope that yer blue fly ain't a relative of the Tsetse fly.
Yes there were cow pats in the vicinity of me camp site, but not fresh enough to use.
A herd of bovines had wandered through while we were out there two years ago.
And, since the authorities made DDT verboten, most bug sprays don't work much no more.
Need to bring back "agent orange".
Steve.

[DSY011]

Since the authorities made DDT verboten, just use spray glue on them. That will stop them.

[aussiesteve]

Oi Syd,
If I sprayed glue on em, they would get stuck to me forever.
I then would not be able to espouse the old Aussie saying; NO flies on him (er um Me).
The cattle in the doodle bug should have used some glue to stick themselves to their seats.
Then they would not have got hurled about as much when it sprinted through the turnout unexpectedly.
I know that the Yanks toyed with the notion of installing seat belts in high speed trains.
I could imagine that being a chore for the conductor.
This train don't depart until everyone has gone "click-clack" front and back.
Steve.