Pilot swoops to halt train and avert disaster at level crossing Read more: http://ww

[GodAtum]

This is quite amazing!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046246/Pilot-Kathryn-Chapman-halts-train-avert-disaster-level-crossing.html#ixzz1a58IbWXW

Even the police and NR had an argument:

A spokesman for Northern Rail said the Sheffield to Bridlington service ‘was brought to a controlled stop as instructed by a Network Rail signal operator who was aware of the car on the track and alerted oncoming trains to it by bringing them to a standstill’.

But Chief Superintendent Colin Andrews disputed that version of events, saying it was the police action that saved the day.

‘This was a reckless act by the driver of the vehicle, which could have resulted in the deaths of a number of people, but as a result of the quick thinking of the Humberside Police helicopter crew it was avoided,’ he said.

 

[TDK]

Interesting article, it doesn't really matter who or what stopped the train, an accident was averted however 30 yards may be more than that distance bearing in mind a mile at 50mph. Well done on the quick thinking of whoever stopped the train including the quick actions of the driver.

 

[Schnellzug]

Mrs Chapman, who had had to avoid a flyover only a few hundred yards away, knew exactly what to do because she was also a qualified train driver and briefly had a job driving the same type of train four years ago.

This meant she knew what signals to use to get the driver to stop.

really? So there's an approved system of signals from helicopters to trains?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

really? So there's an approved system of signals from helicopters to trains?

Any light waved violently at a train is taken as a stop signal. The pilot clearly knew that, and credit to her, did all she could to stop the train. She did not know if the crossing was controlled or not, so well done to her.


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[Schnellzug]

Oh, true. i just wonder if there was a little bit of dramatic licence in the Mails' reconstruction. Still, they seemed to get the helicopter about right, even if I'm not sure what the train is supposed to be.

 

[sonorguy]

The pilot concerned, as well as being an ex-Navy pilot was also a train driver about four years ago apparently.

 

[Greenback]

Oh, true. i just wonder if there was a little bit of dramatic licence in the Mails' reconstruction. Still, they seemed to get the helicopter about right, even if I'm not sure what the train is supposed to be.

It's the Mail, of course there will be inaccuracies and sensationalism!

 

[DavidBrown]

Was there not a near identical incident in Hull a long time ago that has been a regular on the Police Camera Action type programmes ever since?

 

[Wyvern]

Was there not a near identical incident in Hull a long time ago that has been a regular on the Police Camera Action type programmes ever since?

If this were the case, it wouldnt be the first time that a newspaper has rehashed an old story as if it were a current event.

A friend of mine years ago experienced it personally and neither of us have bought a newspaper since.

 

[bluenoxid]

It's a new event. She has done her job in difficult circumstances (preserving life). Good on her.

 

[michael769]

Lets not forget to acknowledge the role played by person who actually applied the train brakes.

They may have been just doing their job, but if they had not done it properly......

 

[lincolnshire]

What a load of Clap Trap the crossing in Question was one of the first CCTV crossings in Hull, so the signalman would be unable to pull off the signals either side of the crossing till he had confirmed the crossing barriers was down and the crossing was clear as viewed by his camera.
Even if the Barriers had been hit by the car after he had cleared the siganl they would have reverted back to red as its always a failsafe system.
CCTV crossings are some of the most safe crossings.
Good Publicity for the helicopter as it costs a fortune to run, paid for by the council tax payers.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

And how do you expect a helicopter pilot to know if a crossing is controlled or not Lincolnshire?


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[lincolnshire]

By looking at the crossing , because if like she said she was a former train driver , she would know that one with full barriers is a CCTV Crossing and one with just 2 half barriers is an unmanned AHB crossing and one with no barrieras is a AOCL crossing.

 

[GB]

And how do you expect a helicopter pilot to know if a crossing is controlled or not Lincolnshire?


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Her experience as a previous train driver?

In anycase it was quick thinking by her so well done. However for the Police to turn round and say she saved the day and publicly dispute Network Rail is a little low and a little odd becuase its clearly not true.

 

[Darandio]

By looking at the crossing , because if like she said she was a former train driver , she would know that one with full barriers is a CCTV Crossing and one with just 2 half barriers is an unmanned AHB crossing and one with no barrieras is a AOCL crossing.

It doesn't say she worked on that particular stretch of line does it? Then factor in the quick thinking, panic etc. It's easy for you to say all of that of course, sat behind the computer screen.

Using your words, I'd say your posting is a load of "Clap Trap"

 

[Schnellzug]

What a load of Clap Trap the crossing in Question was one of the first CCTV crossings in Hull, so the signalman would be unable to pull off the signals either side of the crossing till he had confirmed the crossing barriers was down and the crossing was clear as viewed by his camera.
Even if the Barriers had been hit by the car after he had cleared the siganl they would have reverted back to red as its always a failsafe system.
CCTV crossings are some of the most safe crossings.
Good Publicity for the helicopter as it costs a fortune to run, paid for by the council tax payers.

To be fair, it'd be a different story if it was AHB, wouldn't it, as we all know, so surely it would be rather a dereliction of duty to sit back and say "Well, the train'll stop anyway", since, unless they had a detailed knowledge of every level crossing in their area, they couldn't be sure of that.

 

[lincolnshire]

It makes it look like Network Rail is not upto its saftey requirements with reguards to CCTV crossings.She was a train driver with Scotrail, so isn,t there any CCTV crossings in Scotland then?
The helicopter spends hours flying round Hull area. So waht would have happened in it was at othe other end of Humberside Polices area then?

 

[richw]

At the end of the day, she did this in a split second of thought, whether or not this particular crossing had cctv would probably not of even crossed her mind.

 

[SussexMan]

So, if it was CCTV controlled and the signaller wouldn't have been able to clear the signals, why did the train only stop 30 yards from the crossing? Doesn't seem much margin for safety! Are the protecting signals less than 30 yards from the crossing - or was there a SPAD? Or perhaps there are so many errors in the story that you have to take it all with a pinch of salt...

 

[GB]

The last one is probably correct. Allthough I will say CCTV level crossings are not considered an obstruction and many can be found within the overlap of its protecting signals.

 

[Wyvern]

The helicopter spends hours flying round Hull area. So waht would have happened in it was at othe other end of Humberside Polices area then?

She was assisting at an incident connected with the car

 

[185]

Of interest, that level crossing in West Hull has been featured on BBC Traffic Cops with an almost identical incident with a chav crashing a car deliberately.

High time to close both the crossings in West Hull and make one of them a bridge if you ask me.

 

[Ploughman]

And after working on that stretch of track at night for track renewals.
I can say that the area is alive with people of a dubious nature.
All night long there is a continuous flow of bodies jumping / climbing over the fences and returning a while later with a bag slung over there backs and the shops ain't open at 3 in the morning.
The Police Camera Action clip was filmed between Chalk lane and Hawthorn crossings.

 

[CosherB]

And what of the car driver? The report implies the car was deliberately left on the crossing. Will the car driver get the punishment such a dangerous act deserves?