If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

RAIB Investigation: South Devon Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by 35B, Jul 10, 2017.

  1. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,730
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just received a tweet saying that RAIB are investigating an incident at the South Devon Railway - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-occurrence-on-the-south-devon-railway:
     
  2. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

  3. Gunz412

    Gunz412 New Member Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2013
    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    113
    If true, this is extraordinarily incompetent. How could railway have possibly allowed the coach to remain in service.

    Had a more serious incident occurred the ramifications for the Heritage Railway industry could have been dire

    I am totally speechless.
     
    Harry Stanger and jnc like this.
  4. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,730
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'm sure it has; as I'm outside "the industry", I thought it would be of interest to a wider group.
     
    echap and MikeParkin65 like this.
  5. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  6. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,799
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    Had an email notification about this myself (I subscribe to RAIB reports). As mentioned it could of had very serious consequences for the heritage line "trade" if the worse had happened. The coach SHOULD NOT of entered service until the whole job was completed & all made safe. A notice & supposedly locked door obviously didn't work. Certainly wouldn't be allowed on the national network. All made worse now it's made the national media via the BBC.
     
    Harry Stanger likes this.
  7. WishIHadAName

    WishIHadAName New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2013
    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    163
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Least its a bit of publicity I suppose.
     
  8. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Presently the most read article on the BBC website and also on the front page....

    Seems odd that the guard was able to lock it out of use after it was discovered yet no one could do that before?
     
  9. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2015
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    736
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Not odd at all

    (1) Person working in the toilet forgets to lock it when they have finished work - either because they forgot or it was assumed* that that particular coach would not be in public service until the work was finished / made safe.

    (2) It was assumed that the lock on the door (if it was locked) was robust and would hold

    (3) The guard, seeing the note on the door assumed* that it was locked and didn't think it necessary to check.

    (4) The train was not examined before it entered public service as the Guard assumed* that nobody would leave the coach in a state where it was unfit for service.

    * As has been drummed into me several times in my 'big railway' career, Assumption is the mother of all f**k ups - NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING always check to be sure.
     
  10. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    Messages:
    2,438
    Likes Received:
    1,844
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Rhiwabon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Even if the coach was out of service the door should have had a warning notice on it !

    Bob.
     
  11. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2015
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    736
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    READ the RAIB statement https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-occurrence-on-the-south-devon-railway

    It states

    "The floor had not been replaced and staff had placed a notice on the compartment door and attempted to secure it to prevent it being opened. This had not been effective".

    However a young child is unlikely to be able to see / understand a 'Out Of Order' sign put at an adults eyeline and the parent would naturally be focused on their child - hence it is rather irrelevant as securing the door is obviously necessary, notice or no notice
     
  12. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I suppose the point I was making was that the staff had 'tried' to secure it, yet the guard was 'able' to lock it? Setting aside the safety implications as its a visitor attraction one would expect the facilities to be checked as they come into service each day (no different to checking the station toilets), if nothing else in case there was a big floater left in the toilet.

    Anyway its all speculation and not helpful to discuss at this stage.
     
  13. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    I don't doubt for one minute that a notice was posted and the people concerned attempted to secure the door.

    The way that's phrased I wonder if it was festooned with warning tape, which is easily removed even without human intervention, as is a notice.

    The wording seems to suggest the attempt was a bit half hearted and certainly not much thought was given to it at all levels. It probably means that what is needed is another step towards the line being a professionally run railway and one more away from being a volunteer project.

    Someone dropped the ball it's clear, luckily noone was hurt.
     
  14. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    Messages:
    2,438
    Likes Received:
    1,844
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Rhiwabon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm in work & haven't had time to read it properly !

    Bob.
     
  15. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Without prejudicing the outcome of the investigation, as a generality "amateur" is fine but "amateurish" is not.

    PH
     
  16. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Not sure the old idea that any publicity is good publicity has any truth when it has the public thinking your stock is a load of dangerous old knackers about to fall apart, Could potentially be very damaging to potential visitors.

    Can only echo what others are saying, clearly this should have been nowhere near traffic like that, Hell drag a DMU if your short of stock.
     
    Kinghambranch and paulhitch like this.
  17. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    14,900
    Likes Received:
    12,241
    At least there's a toilet roll…

    Simon
     
    johnofwessex and paulhitch like this.
  18. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,944
    Likes Received:
    6,303
    I hear the sound of a can opener working feverishly on a container marked "worms".
     
  19. mikechant

    mikechant Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2012
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    233
    This is a shame. I had a great day out on the SDR just 2 days ago. Without considering the specifics of this case, I wonder what the opinions would be about the general principle as follows:
    a) A carriage in this state should not be in service in any circumstances or
    b) It's OK *if* the toilet in question is *really securely* locked out of use (maybe even screwed shut or something)?
    With the actual floor missing, I would tend to go for a) but opinions may differ...
     
    buseng likes this.
  20. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    I think we had better give it a rest now and let investigations take their course.

    Paul H
     
    jnc, Shaggy, Wenlock and 2 others like this.

Share This Page