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G'day BW,
From the images of the prang which have been sent to me, the particular level crossing is only protected by cross-bucks and a stop sign.
Hence NOT type F with flashing lights and bells.
The crossing appears to be at a very acute angle to the track, hence the roll over of the big rig.
This glancing blow is most likely what saved all and sundry from more serious injuries.
Had it been a full head-on, then potentially much more of a drama.
One of them cross bucks is laying on the ground beside the train having been hit by the truck.
There were something like 28 of the two car sets rattling around on the NSWR.
The motor car provided with a pair of under floor weasel motors driving via cardan shafts.
The trailer car also having a cab so to avoid requiring turning of the two car train at a terminus.
They were bonzer trains to rattle around in, though NON aircon.
You wanted fresh air, you opened the windows.
LPG gas heating was provided for winter.
Dinkum leather seats unlike the anti-vandal hard as nails seats of today.
One of the sets was converted to the Worlds First Solar Powered train which operates for a short distance up on the Old Murwillumbah branch in NSW.
An aircon version was subsequently introduced which could run in either three or four car sets.
Two of such sets amalgamating for the Northern Tablelands eggspress comprising 7 cars which separated at Werris Creek.
One of those trailer cars also provided a small buffet.
But, externally, the cars looked the same as the earlier non aircon jobs.
The DEB sets as they were referred to numbered in the 900 / 800 series.
The 600 / 700 and 620 / 720 series being the non aircon sets.
This train involved in the prang is a 620 / 720 set.
I remember working the Central West two car weasel service one time.
The Lithgow crew working west on a freighter and then the driver and guard working the rail motor and fireman travelling passenger back east.
Trundling down Tumulla approaching Tumulla loop and the pointcop to exchange the ETS tokens, NO sign of the guard.
Roadrunner the guard had a reputation for chatting up the sheila patrons.
So, I grabbed the ETS hoop to exchange with the pointcop to prevent us needing to stop.
Just as I was hanging out the door to exchange the tokens, the cattle compartment door swung open.
TOO late I had made the exchange.
Roadrunner bellowing; OH %$#@!@#$%*& NOT AGAIN.
He then retreated back into the cattle compartment.
I was confused, not knowing the situation.
Me old class 6 driver had a big smirk on his face and commented; That will teach him a lesson.
I discovered later that the guard MUST perform all safeworking en route on a pas job.
If not available to do so, then the train must stop and the driver perform such.
That explained the expression on the pointcops face at Tumulla.
I being a fireman was in green uniform, guards and traffic mob wearing blue and white.
DID the pointcop dob in Roadrunner was the question.
I felt sorry to Roadrunner as I had not intended any compliance issue for him.
Steve.
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