Signalling Failure Dimboola Great Southern - Australian Railways

[@jswaggart01]

I have performed a manoeuvre like this is suburban Brisbane and I can tell you it’s an unnerving experience as a train driver. The front of the loco/EMU is practically on the crossing before the circuit is tripped activating the boom gates and crossing signals. I was on a six car EMU which is relatively easy to crawl forward and stop quickly, I can’t imagine doing it on a long heavy freight or a train like the Great Southern. You can’t blame car drivers as they don’t understand what is really happening and all they are concerned about is getting to where they want to go. They sure as hell don’t want to get trapped on the wrong side of a faulty level crossing. Cheers.

[@grahamthomas7775]

As I understand it, this is the standard procedure for triggering the crossing signals in the event of a crossing signalling failure in the crossing approach section, perhaps due to a broken track bond - the crossing signals are triggered once the loco reaches the separate crossing island section. Not easy to edge up to it with a large train like this however. It is not legal in Victoria for railway staff to direct traffic and without the lights operating, and the train hardly moving, the drivers may reasonably have thought the train was performing a shunting move, and was not going to enter the crossing. Once the loco reached the crossing island section, the crossing signals triggered as expected, and it could be on its way..

[@robertleeimages]

Shows how stupid we've become as a society, seriously not 1 iota of common sense from motorists to think maybe something isn't right when a train is creeping to the crossing 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@Itisturtle]

A train isn't going to enter a crossing unless the gates are down. If you live in the area, you would probably understand what's happening and that it's safe to cross.

[@ThePaulv12]

What a whole lot of rubbish. The crew had no authorization to cross unless the crossing was activated. If someone waited and another overtook, or a car from the opposite direction went through then what? I'll tell you, the train crew would be at fault. Engage brain before banging away - it's not hard.

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

I would honestly have to say that the Driver is partially at Fault for not Honking when approaching the Crossing to warn the motorists that the Train was indeed coming

[@charlesbrewer6552]

It show a complete lack of common sense by car drivers. What if the failure showed a green light to the train but the road signals did not operate? This is how people DIE at railroad crossings! I am 72 years of age, I learned to drive in the country. I was taught NEVER to rely on the crossing signals, ALWAYS LOOK! It will be YOUR life if the train hits YOU!

[@MagnorailOz]

@@Itisturtle what if you don’t live in the area. Have you watched the idiots that roar off once the boom gates go up despite the lights still flashing - you have to operate on the lowest common denominator here and commonsense isn’t part of some people’s decision making as can be seen by the cars continuing to cross while staring a loco in the eyes!

[@MagnorailOz]

Wouldn’t you think controllers wouldhacontacted the police to do traffic control!

[@cabbagepatch8947]

Police would probably have to come from Horsham if any were even available.

[@brucekellett2269]

There are fires active in this region. Emergency services have been flat out.

[@nellinightshade3358]

I really hate logical people.

[@peterwhelan6144]

Two “ordinary “ people off the street armed with “ homemade “ ( if necessary ) STOP signs is all that was required - bureaucratic red tape is killing this country .

[@BadDriversOz]

@@cabbagepatch8947 There is a local sergeant & constable @ Dimmy!

[@David-xk6xq]

That is ridiculous it had to get so close to be activated but well past before they would stop. Bloody cars would just keep coming if the locomotives weren’t on the crossing

[@Ar-Rahman61]

Why no horn?????

[@Itisturtle]

​@@Ar-Rahman61 if you can't see a train from the road when it's that close. You may need to give up driving.

[@BadDriversOz]

@@Itisturtle MY thoughts exactly!

[@tonydarcy7475]

@@ItisturtleI was thinking that too. Surely I can’t be the only person that looks both ways before going over a level crossing. I don’t slow down or anything, but I still turn my head so I can slam on the breaks if I see a train coming.

[@nhilltiger]

A premium travel experience, courtesy of ARTC. BTW that crossing is the old Western Highway when it went through the town.

[@trainsstawell]

@@nhilltiger not to sure if it was due resleepering the yard or the other problem of people stealing signialing wire. .

[@christiankirkwood3402]

No flagman, no police presence, no responsibility but unto the vigilance and situational awareness, as per sop, of the engine crew. This is a safe working failure, not just a signal glitch.

[@larrymaroney4390]

As a youngster I remember watching the Seal Beach Naval train ,that would stop a all grade crossings then,then a flag man would stop the auto traffic. The locomotive engineer would really blare the horns before crossing the road. I enjoyed watching the show.

[@ozzypaul1564]

No need for the red flag, motorists would only throw rocks at you for holding them up. I once had a bloke who took out his Caution Order, and then straight into it before creeping onto the circuit to activate crossing which also controlled traffic lights before crossing activated. Couldn't believe it and didn't have time to react before we were in the middle of the road. Lucky no-one ran into us. Could've been instant dismissal, for both of us, or him at least.

[@krisb51]

Creeping up on a road crossing like that with a train that size would be tricky. I don't know if the wagons have ECP fitted or not.

[@tonys7175]

It’s not ECP, normal pneumatic.

[@petesopenrailsvideos]

My hearing must be even worse than I thought it was. I could swear I can hear bells from the start of the video until about the 50 second mark but clearly the way they ease away from the platform with no horn etc they already knew there was a problem. Dunno what my ears are picking up. This getting old business..... 😊

[@trainsstawell]

Normally they stop at the station for a crew change ans the crossing starts when they depart but this time it was down before the train got to the station and when up just before the train got near the crossing. Not hearing things at the start. This all took 18mins, had to cut the video down and all the boring bits.

[@petesopenrailsvideos]

@@trainsstawell Cheers mate, thanks for that. I've been to Dimboola a number of times over the years. It's a great place for photos because of the crew change as my camera's not up to '"fast motion" shots. I'm glad to know my ears are still going along ok! 😊😊

[@Rodger_Phillips]

a prime example of why our stations (I live on this line) should not be automated and unmanned, the stations need local controllers. personally I love that these trains are coming through, but when they block multiple crossings on main roads due to station stops and the length it's more than a pain imagine being in an ambulance heading to Stawell station and one of these is in town, I know many would just say go around, we need the tourism, but really unless you are running a certain local motel with a special deal, no real tourism money is coming in all they see is s closed station and the Bus stop while a 70 carriage (I have counted some of the them) train blocks all three main roads off the highway and into town, there is nothing warning people to use alternate routes either. not saying don't have them, just do it better, a local controller would help, along with remote warning signs (I am dreaming I know) at each end of the town would help with traffic control. in this clips case, a local could contact Police for Traffic rerouting

[@Skull-Beneath-The-Skin]

In the end, a fun day was had by all...

[@rodpeeler7847]

In the circumstances, I think the train driver(s) would have had special permission to go slowly through a double red signal to activate the bells, lights and boom gates at the crossing. I also wonder why there were no people there with red flags there to stop all road traffic for the train.

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

Since when did the Great Southern go through Dimboola

[@trainsstawell]

Started in 2019, bit hard not to go through Dimboola to Melb to Brisbane. Your not thinking of the ghan the runs to darwin?

[@jamesgovett3225]

Geez all the experts giving drivers a spray for not stopping for the train strewth think about it, the bloody lights aren’t flashing the booms are still up the drivers aren’t blowing the Horns and it’s moving at a Poofteenth of a miles per hour! Plus there is no Railway worker on the level X-ing trying to give any vehicle drive any warning plus why on earth would a driver stop as as they approaching and if you look at it the loco driver seems to be well aware by the multiple brake applications at his ultra slow pace to activate the lights and bells before entering on the roadway, also the car drivers would assume the locos stationary as there seems to be some obscurity on the right side and they are the ones moving at a faster rate and would not be aware of the trains super slow approach

[@themaconeau]

Don't level crossings have a box that can activate the crossing? 🤔

[@trainsstawell]

yes but its easier to stay in the locos and just creep up to the xing

[@IanBrodie-bg1lu]

long train!

[@Mopar-Pioneer]

If I remember correctly , this was a failure of tyhe home departure stick. if it stayed red then the circuitry for the bell block that operates the boom gates would be cut out, ergo no boom gates. There should have been a station staff member with red flags on each side of the crossing before the train moved !

[@trainsstawell]

the would be the old way of doing it, drivers are not traffic controllers in Victoria and cant stop traffic. safest way to do it is the way in the video

[@brucewilliams8714]

I'm surprised there was no red flag in the cab for the second person to use on the roadway.

[@trainsstawell]

@@brucewilliams8714 im told they dont do that anymore and they just move to the crossing like they did.

[@brucewilliams8714]

@trainsstawell Ah, thanks for letting me know.

[@DomQuartuccio]

Train Crews aren't allowed to direct road traffic in Victoria.

[@bigman4225]

@@DomQuartuccio And that has been a rule for many years now. Health and Safety.

[@al-uw4ln]

​@@trainsstawellAnd what would they do if the crossing signals were completely broken and didn't get activated at all?

[@Gary68_Melb]

Question: Why is there only 1 locomotive hauling such a long train????

[@S3pra]

There are two up front

[@Gary68_Melb]

@S3pra oh shit my eyes are f****d.

[@PeterFoster-fj7kq]

I think that when you have another look at the video, there are 2 diesels hauling this massive passenger train.

[@IanBrodie-bg1lu]

The intro also names nr30 and nr31.

[@davidbennetts616]

Think you need to go to Specsavers.

[@smitajky]

Once upon a time signalling and crossing gates were supposed to "fail safe". That clearly didn't happen here. AND the train was moving into a single line section against a double red. And we have the "car is king" rule which also applies to pedestrian crossings. i.e. if in doubt the cars must not be impeded.

[@trainsstawell]

it was safe, there was no problem just took longer and more still to leave Dimboola

[@PJRayment]

It appears that the problem was that, due to a fault, the signal could not be put to proceed, so the train controller gave the driver permission to pass the red signal. However, with the signal at red, the crossing wouldn't operate until the train was right on it. This is by design so that a train shunting there-and not intending to pass the signal-can go right up to the signal without setting off the crossing lights. The cars continued to cross because with the flashing lights not operating, they were not required to stop.

[@AX2SEG]

A magnetic shorting lead could have sped up this process.

[@hayloft3834]

Interesting if it wasn't a signal fault with a train coming the other way.

[@trainsstawell]

@@hayloft3834 they where talking to artc control to go passed a red signal and all trains are gps tracked so they know where all the trains are.

[@tonys7175]

⁠​⁠@@trainsstawellIn NSW that is a Starting Signal in a single line Bi-Directional area and you would be in possession of a Special Proceed Authority (SPA). Details of passing signals at stop, road crossings etc., within the limits of the SPA are detailed on that form. If not the same then something similar would be used in Victoria. There’s a lot of strange comments here but what you see there is the correct procedure for this particular situation.

[@BadDriversOz]

@@trainsstawell Past.

[@grahamthomas7775]

The crossing approach sections to trigger the crossing signals in each direction are separate, and that for the other direction may well have been working fine. Not uncommon.

[@hayloft3834]

@ Also *were

[@phillipbrock4810]

Where is Dimboola in Australia?

[@heatherhoward2513]

In Western Victoria. As you can see, it's hot there and dry.

[@hamburger2468]

its about halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide, train crews change there, next stop after this will be Horsham, Melbourne bound. There are a good selection of older machinery on the turntable not far from the station. A great part of our country out there.

[@BadDriversOz]

LOL! The Wimmera!

[@BadDriversOz]

@@heatherhoward2513 Wimmera actually, Western Vic is Casterton region etc.

[@BadDriversOz]

@@hamburger2468 Sure is!

[@s.roberts3839]

Victoria on the move alright 🙄

[@kellyswoodyard]

There used to be station staff who could manually control the gates. Plus you'd think they'd give those loco's a wash. Isn't this supposed to be some sort of prestige experience. Then you turn up and the two loco's look like they've been hauling coal. Rich foreign tourists are not happy with this type of thing. First impressions.

[@MasterDownUnder]

How to say you don't know anything about this train, without saying you don't know anything about this train...!!! I guarantee this train would've been spotless when it left Adelaide.

[@kellyswoodyard]

@MasterDownUnder I saw video of it leaving Adelaide, it still looked like it was dipped in shit. If they got that filthy between Adelaide and Dimboola, please explain how? That's accumulated grime and other shit, it hasn't seen a wash bay in many moons. I worked on the engines on Victorian Railways railways, I know how they get that filthy. I spent many days cleaning locomotives. Stop talking through your arse.

[@davidperrott4502]

Woow, reading all the comments about the crossing, wouldn't it be just easier to actually make shit work. now that would be different.

[@trainsstawell]

Someone has been stealing wire from the signialing thats why it wasnt working

[@MaxiAir-d4m]

Would one not think that ignorant vehicle drivers would stop?

[@PJRayment]

Not if they had the right of way, which they did. And with a train moving that slowly, why would they think that there's a problem.

[@Barry-r3o]

the Utter Arrogance of these motorists is nothing short of Disgusting

[@PJRayment]

They did nothing wrong.

[@robbie6954]

Australia has one of the worse country railway networks in the world 😢

[@BadDriversOz]

Worst.

[@robbie6954]

@BadDriversOz Oh excuse me 🤢

[@PJRayment]

"worse" (sic) in what respect?

[@BadDriversOz]

@ YW! You CAN go and fix it now!

[@MrTerrymiff]

There's eight minutes I'm not getting back.

[@trainsstawell]

you could have read the description, it said what was going to happened and you could have saved the time

[@MrTerrymiff]

@@trainsstawell It's probably headlines of the year if you come from Stawell. I thought that there must have been a level crossing accident from the clickbait title and avatar.

[@trainsstawell]

@@MrTerrymiff thats for your comment always nice to get feedback and hope you have a great day 🙂 If there was a accident i would have put that in the title.

[@heatherhoward2513]

Im sorry, what idiot drives over a crossing with a train that close?

[@BadDriversOz]

I would have stopped! I know this area well!

[@petersampson4635]

What idiot would defy a double red signal. Especially if he knew it was going on camera for the court to make a ruling against him. I've driven steam and diesel locomotives. My feet would be up until they sorted it, or arranged an official escort. This is a major and therefore, serious breach of rules. No right of way has been granted. "Listen Mick, just go up there and creep across." Is not "Right of way." And as I said, "On freakin camera 📷!!!"

[@PJRayment]

You're not an idiot for driving over a crossing without it's lights flashing, even if there is a train that close, when that train is stationary or barely moving.

[@PJRayment]

@@petersampson4635 "What idiot would defy a double red signal." You're not an idiot for passing a defective stop signal when you've been given permission to do so. In fact you'd be an idiot for holding up the train unnecessarily. "No right of way has been granted." Clearly false. He would have been given permission to pass the defective signal. That's always been the case.

[@BadDriversOz]

@@petersampson4635 There is NO 'RoW' in Australia!

[@petersampson4635]

Instant fine or dismissal for the driver and fireman proceeding through a double red.

[@petersampson4635]

Just go up to the road and pull rank by creeping across the road would not stand up in court I'm afraid. I've driven steam and diesel and brakes would be firmly applied with my sandwich box out and coffee ☕️ mug firmly in hand, until I got right of way. This is on their record. I would have not even perhaps left the station until I had someone go to the crossing and hold up traffic. Outrageous!!!

[@trainsstawell]

they had been given the ok to pass the red, this is a cut down ver and took 20mins all up from start to finish for the train to depart

[@PJRayment]

@@petersampson4635 "I would have not even perhaps left the station until I had someone go to the crossing and hold up traffic. Outrageous!!!" You'd never have left the crossing. By law in Victoria now, railway staff are not allowed to direct road traffic. "I've driven steam and diesel and brakes would be firmly applied with my sandwich box out and coffee ☕ mug firmly in hand, until I got right of way." So you were never ever given permission to pass a defective signal? And also never ever taught the rules about doing that?

[@shanebullen748]

Weather the signals are working or not as a road user it's your responsibility to check that the bloody crossing is clear. As far as trains go that's a different story. Crap video BTW

[@PJRayment]

"Weather (sic) the signals are working or not as a road user it's your responsibility to check that the [deleted] crossing is clear. " And it was when they drove across.

[@KeithLyons-z4h]

Vicrail couldn't run a chookraffle....Their should be people flagging the train through because it has high profile ie.Victorian tourism. Where are the ground crew,asleep in bed??

[@Itisturtle]

ARTC**

[@BadDriversOz]

There.

[@PJRayment]

"Where are the ground crew,asleep in bed??" Maybe in Adelaide, where the track owner, ARTC, is based I believe. (Seriously, there would be crews closer, but obviously not close enough to fix the problem quickly enough.)

[@BadDriversOz]

@@PJRayment 1 of them has an office IN Dimboola!

[@gregscally5119]

Are passenger trains really necessary between capital cities in this day and age. Seems they are nothing but trouble. And the combined taxes paid by the cars going through the crossing while the train waited ( which was facing a stop signal anyway) far exceeded any tax paid by the train. It is about time some economic rationalism took place and these train dinosaurs were put on the scrap heap.

[@gordonrice167]

It's called transport

[@heatherhoward2513]

@gregscally5119 yes, they are really necessary. How do I get to my daughter's in Melbourne, 80km away if neither of us drive? How do thousands of commuters get to work each day from outer suburbs to cities? Oh yes, drive. Hah! More congestion on roads, more smog, more accidents...you're not an American by any chance are you? Of course, we could all go back to horse and carts but then there's all the manure ( shit to you) in the streets again. Don't be a twit!

[@tonys7175]

That’s a special tourist train and you need a couple of thousand dollars to ride it.

[@PJRayment]

"Are passenger trains really necessary between capital cities in this day and age." Are roads really necessary between capital cities in this day and age? Many people are killed in car accidents, and you have the far safer form of transport known as trains connecting the capital cities. Or, you could be reasonable, and allow for both.

[@Ar-Rahman61]

No horn lewving the platform? They need to be on the horn like in the US.

[@stevenhughes6282]

Like the US does everything right? How many railway crossing collisions do you have per year. The train had obviously not stopped at the station to allow passengers to alight or board so there was no need for the horn. Think!

[@BadDriversOz]

Lewving? What is that?

[@BadDriversOz]

@@stevenhughes6282 2 air crashes in 2 days sounds like a GOOD track 'record'!

[@PJRayment]

@@BadDriversOz 🤣

[@PJRayment]

"No horn lewving (sic) the platform?" The channel owner has said that he cut out a lot of the video. They would have blown the horn when they started moving, but probably just a short blast. No point in blowing it for the crossing when they aren't going to be crossing it for another few minutes.