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Revision as of 16:43, 12 January 2006 by Chrishyli (talk | contribs) (rm dupe word)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Lindfield train disaster of 1928 occurred due to a breakdown in the stop and proceed method of passing an automatic signal at stop. Lindfield is a station on the CityRail system. It is on double track with an extra terminating platform.
The train ahead was waiting at a red signal for the terminating platform at Lindfield station to clear. The train behind was waiting at Roseville station at a red signal held in that position because of the train ahead.
On passing the red automatic signal under the stop and proceed rule, the driver of the train behind should have maintained an extreme cautious speed, but he failed to do so, running into the rear of the train ahead, caused some carriages to telescope. Fortunately, both trains were fairly empty as they were travelling in the counter-peak direction. At the time of the accident, visiblity was good, although a train on the other track may have slightly obscured the train ahead around a gentle right hand curve.
Drivers when departing stations, almost always accelerate to normal speed. Exceptionally, on this occasion, the driver of the train behind needed to maintain extremely cautious speed. The need to do this may have been overridden by another engraved behaviour pattern.