Train 281, fall from cab, Owhango (near Taumarunui), 15 August 1999
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
99-119
On Sunday, 15 August 1999, Train 281, a southbound Te Rapa to Palmerston North freight, stalled as it ascended steep grade up the Owhango bank. After the stalling the locomotive engineer moved to and from the lead locomotive and brought into operation an unmanned trailing diesel-electric locomotive in an attempt to assist the train up the gradient. On finally returning to the moving lead locomotive he slipped while entering the cab and suffered serious injuries. The train was brought to a stop by another person riding in the cab of the lead locomotive.
Safety issues identified were:
• the locomotive engineer's deliberate use of an unauthorised and unsafe manner of train operation
• the train control officer's failure to appreciate and prevent the unauthorised operation
• the ineffective procedure for matching locomotive power to load
• the timeliness of the emergency response.
Five safety recommendations were made to the operator to address these safety issues.
Safety issues identified were:
• the locomotive engineer's deliberate use of an unauthorised and unsafe manner of train operation
• the train control officer's failure to appreciate and prevent the unauthorised operation
• the ineffective procedure for matching locomotive power to load
• the timeliness of the emergency response.
Five safety recommendations were made to the operator to address these safety issues.
Location
Owhango (near Taumarunui) (-38.980469,175.394747) [may be approximate]