On track construction kit runaway Wales

[fsmr]

Another incident this time Iron man heavy lift trolleys brakes failed and ran away in Neath

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.c...cape-runaway/story-24227566-detail/story.html

A group of railway workers escaped unscathed when railway transporters broke free and ran for six miles along a line in Neath Port Talbot.

The 'Iron man' transporters were being used to move a 52-foot long section of rail when they broke free, running between Pantyffynnon Junction and Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen.

Two workers applied the brakes on the transporters but they failed, forcing the staff to jump out of the way.

"After being unable to physically stop the trolleys the staff jumped clear, with one member of staff sustaining a graze to the head after falling on to the ballast," a Network Rail report stated


Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.c...tory-24227566-detail/story.html#ixzz3IEpZwUqd
Follow us: @SWEveningPost on Twitter | SWEveningPost on Facebook

 

[bishdunster]

Transporters, I thought for a moment it said trainspotters !

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It was a "runaway" (let us wait for the RAIB report) from the top end of the Pantyffynon to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen freight only line (around 3 trains a week I gather) - which is very steeply graded - basically 1-40 (with a few short bits of 1-37) - on a single line - so a difficult one.Only saving grace it was in the dark hours when road traffic would have been very limited. The formal report will give all the details in due course.

 

[merlodlliw]

Reminds me of a runaway occurrence on the West Coast Main line in Cumbria a few years ago,then it was an Anglesey sub contractor,unfortunately four died.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/18/transport.world

 

[gage75]

What is an 'Iron Man' transporter??
Any one have a link

 

[Bigfoot]

What is an 'Iron Man' transporter??
Any one have a link

This is an iron man http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8397/8681344086_d4ec7f82ba_m.jpg
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In my experience you have to push a leaver down to release the brakes to move ie fail safe. Makes me wonder what state they were in when used.

 

[ASharpe]

Some more details here: http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/141101_raven_level_crossing.cfm

At around 21:40 hrs on 1 November 2014, a pair of special trolleys (known as ‘ironmen’) were being used to transport a 16 metre (52 foot) length of rail, weighing approximately 0.9 tonnes, from an access point at Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen to Raven level crossing. While the ironmen were in transit they ran out of control for a distance of more than five miles along the Garnant Branch line. Two track-workers travelled with the runaway ironmen (one on each) as far as Raven level crossing, where they shouted a warning to four colleagues who were in the process of removing road panels from the level crossing, before jumping off. As a result of this warning the men working on the level crossing were able to move away shortly before the ironmen ran through their site of work. One of the men who had travelled with the ironmen required hospital treatment for injuries he sustained when he jumped clear; there were no other injuries.

The ironmen subsequently ran through three further road crossings (two of which were automatically operated) and two footpath crossings before they had slowed sufficiently for a Network Rail manager to be able to stop and secure them near the town of Ammanford. The ironmen were not equipped with lights.

Reports indicate that the runaway occurred during a period of intense rainfall.

Network Rail documents show the average gradient of the line between Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and Raven level crossing as being 1 in 40. The RAIB observes that the gradient of the line is not uniform and that it therefore exceeds 1 in 40 for parts of this distance.

A second pair of ironmen, which was being used to transport a similar load, was following the first pair. The three track-workers who were with these ironmen struggled to retain control of them, but eventually succeeded and brought their load to Raven level crossing as planned.

The RAIB’s investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events and will include consideration of the planning of the work, the design and maintenance of the brakes on the ironmen, the rules governing the use of manually-propelled wheeled plant on gradients and the effect of the weather conditions. It will also take into consideration the findings from other similar incidents that the RAIB has investigated, including trolley runaways on the Larkhall Branch line in the Hamilton area on 2 November 2005 and near Haslemere in Surrey on 10 September 2011 (RAIB reports 20/2006 and 14/2012).

The RAIB’s investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry, Office of Rail Regulation and British Transport Police.

The RAIB will publish its findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on the RAIB website.

The workers on one pair of them held on until they could should a warning colleagues at the work site they were heading to. Could have been much worse if they hadn't.