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New Zealand: Ex-train driver spells out trauma of job
(The following story by Ruth Grundy appeared on the Otago Daily Times website on May 27, 2009.)
OTAGO, New Zealand — Most of his former colleagues think retired train driver Max Kennelly (68), of Dunedin, has faced more than his fair share of railway-crossing collisions during his career.
However, given the circumstances, one could ask what a fair share would be.
In 2005, after almost 45 years on the job, Mr Kennelly took his leave from a position which has seen him drive locomotive engines - steam and diesel - hauling goods and passenger trains throughout the South Island.
During his working life he worked as part of a team of train drivers based in Dunedin and he also relieved in Timaru, Balclutha, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Ranfurly.
Mr Kennelly was involved in 12 incidents during his career, "some minor, some major".
KiwiRail's Dunedin manager Trevor Buckley-Beman is manager of a team of 17 locomotive engineers who drive trains between Invercargill and Timaru.
Each of his drivers has been involved in a rail-crossing accident, some more than once, and over the years the team has had to come to terms with eight fatalities.
Train drivers say individuals often fail to take responsibility when they approach railway tracks and, despite the train driver's best efforts, the result can be tragic.
Even a close call can leave the train drivers shocked and shaken.
Mr Kennelly was hesitant about reawakening memories for anyone involved in traumatic events now consigned to the past.
However, the fact his fellow engine drivers frequently had to deal with the consequences of public complacency moved him to speak to Southern Rural Life.
Mr Kennelly said, in his experience, the only thing which seemed to improve public behaviour around railways was publicity about an accident.
For a limited period of time following a serious accident, it was noticeable people took care when approaching railway tracks, he said.
Mr Kennelly said the question had been asked over and again: why did accidents like this happen?"I've seen some really stupid things," he said.
These include trucks overtaking cars stopped at a crossing, motorbikes riding up on to footpaths to cross the track, vehicles "zig-zagging" through barrier arms to cut across in front of the train and people "playing chicken" with the train.
Where the tracks run parallel to the road he has come across stock trucks and milk tankers which have crossed the tracks and are waiting at another road give way sign with their trailers still straddling the tracks.
Some people travelling towards or over a crossing seemed oblivious to the train despite long blasts of the horn, he said.
Mr Kennelly's worst accident was at a level crossing at Hilderthorpe near Oamaru in November 1996.
He was driving the northbound Southerner, and four people were killed when the car in which they were travelling collided with the train.
The crossing, on Macdonalds Rd, had no warning lights but there was unrestricted visibility along the Pukeuri Straight on either side.
At the conclusion of the coroner's inquest into the deaths at Hilderthorpe, it was put on record that Mr Kennelly was in no way responsible for the collision and he acted in a responsible way throughout.
Following the accident, Mr Kennelly was given a week's leave.
The week after that he took a week's holiday and walked the Queen Charlotte track in the Marlborough Sounds.
"I just wanted to walk by myself, miles and miles on my own."
Not long after the Hilderthorpe accident, Mr Kennelly was driving the Southerner north from Invercargill when a truck drove through a compulsory stop, ignored warning blasts of the train's horn and a collision was only avoided "by inches".
"I thought `I don't need to do this'."
"I've always liked the job, but I found it very hard when it came straight after [the Hilderthorpe accident]."
Mr Kennelly said the drivers supported each other.
"There is a good bond between the guys."
Counselling is always at hand for staff but in the early days of Mr Kennelly's career - he experienced his first fatality in his 20s - counselling was not an option.
Drivers were expected to return to duty the next day, he said.
He said he had received messages of support from passengers and members of the public, and he had met some family members of those killed.
"People have been very nice. There has been no animosity."
This was in contrast to how some drivers had been treated.
He had heard of instances of antagonism directed towards drivers after an incident.
Mr Kennelly said the close calls could be as traumatic as a collision.
On one occasion he faced three close calls in one trip.
He was driving the northbound Southerner when he came across people on the tracks at Blanket Bay, fishing, who narrowly avoided being hit.
In Oamaru, a fork lift carrying timber was caught making its way across the tracks.
It managed to back off just in time.
At Studholme, a truck driver failed to heed warning blasts from the train driver and narrowly avoided a collision.
His worst "close call" was when a truck and trailer carrying a load of gravel drove through the warning lights and bells and on to the Ontario level crossing in Gore and collided with the train.
The collision separated the truck and trailer and the trailer flew over the engine's cab, covering the windows with gravel and, as it fell to the ground, narrowly missed crushing the driver of a car waiting on the other side of the crossing.
The fact everyone who was involved escaped with only minor injuries was incredible, Mr Kennelly said.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
© 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
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February 8, 2010
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