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The Hampi Express accident: What lessons can be learnt?
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| 22/05/2012 02:40 PM |
The short-cut on single control cabins for WDP4 engines used on high-speed passenger trains is the real reason for the number of rail accidents and near misses
By and large, accident enquiries of all sorts tend to place the blame on what is called “human error”, implying that almost everything is the fault of the people on the spot. This is usually the easiest way out, especially when the people involved are dead, and also a convenient way to close a file. But is it the truth, does it provide justice?
As the saying goes, truth and justice are usually distant cousins, and often not on talking terms with each other too. It is likely to be the same in the case of the Hampi Express case here—except for a few simple truths which are now known. And for a change, come with photographic evidence too.
The Hampi Express from Hubli via Hospet to Bangalore, which met with an accident off Penuconda in the wee hours of Tuesday (22 May 2012), was operating under the power of diesel loco WDP-4 number 40036 in LHF (Long Hood Forward) configuration. Here is a photo of this engine in better days, with its control cabin facing forward, in SHF (Short Hood Forward) configuration, the way it should be operated:
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(Image Courtesy: N Santhosh Kumar)
It is very easy, with hindsight, to draw conclusions. But it so happens that I was on the same sector, talking to loco drivers about the problems they face on this vital arterial link, between Secunderabad and Bangalore, and pretty much what one of them predicted has unfortunately happened.
There are multiple issues on this route:
1) Largely single track despite heavy traffic, not electrified as yet, and operating through as well as close to Naxalite territory—often with pilot engines preceding Rajdhani Express trains.
2) Huge amounts of plastic waste and garbage lining the tracks, causing lack of visibility as trains pelt past, and interference with signalling systems.
3) Heavy usage of the WDP-4 diesel engine on this sector, in “Long Hood Forward” (LHF) configuration, for passenger trains.
4) A very strong road bus lobby.
The first is not all that uncommon all over the rest of India, the second is made worse by the elongated dry season, and it is both these combined with the third which makes for a sure recipe for disaster. Here is a photo of a WDP-4 engine, operating in LHF:
(Image Courtesy: N Santhosh Kumar)
Please try to imagine yourself in the position of the loco pilot here, in LHF configuration? And then think about the plastic waste. When trying to understand how plastic waste or wind behaves when a railway train pelts past at high speed, please try to see how this would impact you if you were driving through dusty conditions in a car with the front windows rolled up, but the rear window open. A strange effect takes place—the dust and any plastic lying on the road is often picked up, sucked in by the rear window, and then the whole lot sort of, dances inside the car. The dust gets in your eyes and the plastic sheets tend to float around, often settling down wherever it can—including on the windscreen, on your head, between your feet, or steering wheel.
This is what it is like for the locomotive pilot of a WDP4 travelling LHF on almost the same sector. See him sticking his head out; see the lack of decent forward vision, and the line of sight obscured by the huge ‘hump’ in LHF configuration? Or see it live, on video:
Imagine yourself driving a school bus, in reverse, with your head out of the window. Towing another 20-24 coaches. All controls facing the wrong way, Head out of the window all the time. At 90-120 kmph. To adjust any controls, answer calls on the walkie-talkie or phone, make entries in the log book, and everything else, you have to get up and go in, leaving the visibility part unattended. Typically, in a minute, your train is doing 1.5 to 2 kilometres. And there are well over 1,500-2,000 people whose lives depend on you.
This amazingly dangerous situation is because the big bosses in Indian Railways decided that they could save some money by placing only one control cabin on this class of diesel engines. Unlike in other high-speed or high-power modern engines where there is one control room on either end. Because railway engines can operate in both directions at the same speed. In fact, for better wear and tear, they should be operated in both directions.
Older diesel engines often had only one control cabin. But it was far better designed for ergonomics, did not have that huge ‘bulge’ in front that the WDP4 has, and most of all, was not expected to provide such high speeds. And electric engines have two control cabins, one on each end, for decades now.
But for the new modern WDP-4, in their wisdom, the authorities decided to put only one control cabin and at one end. And this, by the way, is the way the WDP-4 engine is supposed to be operated, with “short hood forward”.
Can you see the difference now?
Typically, a single control room engine would be operated as one half of a ‘mated’ pair, both engines connected LHF to LHF, thereby providing a control cabin in ‘front’, regardless of how the train operates. If operated as a single engine, it should be in SHF configuration. But for passenger trains, the authorities often break this rule, and operate with a single engine LHF.
Why?
Because they can and also because there is a shortage of engines, there is always an excuse that they could not turn the engine around because the turntables were unavailable, and because if the loco driver objects then there may be hell to pay. Especially as diesel engines and loco pilots are being replaced by electric engines and loco pilots. The diesel loco pilot, as a result, keeps quiet and accepts his fate.
It is another simple fact that in parts of eastern India, passengers refuse to let a train move if the WDP4 engine is operated in LHF configuration—they are known to force the authorities to get either a fresh engine in SHF configuration or they get the LHF turned around on a turntable.
Will the Hampi Express accident, which occurred with WDP4 engine number 40036 in LHF configuration, bring this simple basic common sense to the bosses in the Indian Railways?
(In my days, I have worked on some huge ships, under really stressful conditions. The WDP4 diesel engine in LHF configuration is something else, again—you have to board one to experience the stress the loco pilots must be going through.
Here’s where the road lobby comes in, when the roads outside are good and the commercial bosses in the Indian Railways are forcing high operational speeds on trains in this region.
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Comment
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago
I am surprised.
There are so many experts commenting on Railways but none from Railways.
Railways goes on mowing people as Usual. Yes persons herded in General Compartments and on the top, in between, in toilets and wherever you can imagine. The spineless Indians. With love from Mamta who drives it it remotely from Writers Building in Kolkata.
NO ARAB SPRINGS HERE TO SHOW THEIR ANGER. NO ANNA CAPS.
Elsewhere a Nation would have revolted. Here no eye brows are raised.
Kya ho gaya hai. Aamir you have got another story for your eyes. CRY.
Elsewhere Unmanned cars navigated by programs. Unmanned planes remotely piloted.
Are we going forward or backward relatively.
MERA BHARAT MAHAN behind the TRUCKS. JAI HO.
GREAT INDIAN PAININSULA STILL RUNS INSA ALLAH BHAGWAN BHAROSE.
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago in reply to Ratanlal Purohit
Mr.Purohit, are you by any chance referring to my mail about the engine turning pit? For your kind information I am very free with my advises. As far as advises are concerned no parsimony. I could have given enough advises to Bill Gates about , not the engine pit but the 'shit pit'.
Just now I remembered that I have some advises or suggestion regarding our IPC. Do you know as per clauses 297 and 299 a householder vis a vis an intruder is very much at a disadvantageous position. As far as IPC is concerned the intruder has upper hand house holder is at the receiving end. Suppose a burglar opens the window, remove the grill, get inside and open all safes, almirahs and wardrobes and relieves the householder of all his valuables and dresses, and before calling it a day or to be precise calling it a night, goes to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator and gets a shock, an electric shock and not the shock of seeing no ice and water to mix a drink, the householder can get ready to get a shock, this time not electric but mental. The burglar can sue the householder for keeping a faulty refrigerator and giving electric shock to innocent burglars. The court will award the sentence in favour of the burglar. First the householder have to bear all expenses for the treatment of the shocked burglar. Then he has to pay for the mental agony and physical agony the burglar had to undergo because of the faulty refrigerator. If he is asked to take rest for some time the householder has to pay for the losses incurred by the burglar as he was incapacitated from pursuing his occupation for the period. Everyone has to make a living. If a farmer do farming a thief has to do thieving and court recognizes all professions at equal footing.
An advise to all. Keep your refrigerator always in good condition. You don't know when your nightly guest may be dropping in.
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago in reply to Guptan Veemboor
Dear Mr Vemboor
My doors are open and Windows no grills.
You are welcome. ELCB will ensure that you dont get any shock as the relay will trip and I will also not attract any IPC. ITS RATHER SAFE THAN SORRY. SAFETY IS THE KEY OF ANY OPERATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE DESIGN HAS TO BE FAIL SAFE. IN SERIES. A CHAIN.
Iam thankful to you that you chose to respond to me although my comments were of general nature. You definitely gave very useful information. I will be more careful in my turf.
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago in reply to Ratanlal Purohit
Hai Mr.Purohit, Thank you for your nice short comment to mine.
I am a very old person nearing 75. As a boy of four or five I stayed near a railway station and there was one level crossing near our house. Myself and a boy who was some four or five years elder to me and go and sit in the gateman's shed and watch trains. It was then all steam engines. I was so enamoured by its majesty and grandeur that my dream was to become an engine driver when I grew up. The crew in the engine cabin were heroes to me. But much later I came to know that every boy of that time wanted to be an engine driver at one time or other.
But when Dilip Kumar and black and white cinema the romanticism vanished from the celluloid so too the glamour of an engine driver with the sad demise of steam engine. Even now boys are still enamoured with steam engine. Some four or five years back in US the boys were mad about one story of a steam engine named Tom. Now I don't know. Then there were many adventure series with Tom as the hero.
Even now if I see a steam engine I don't mind looking at the big wheels, the piston rod and all those grand parts. Present day locos has no charm. Might be sleek and more efficient. But all covered and nothing exposed.
If you feel like corresponding with me I am available at " gptnvmbr-nampad@yahoo.com".
It is a disposable address and even if anyone other than you see this I can always remove it.
With warm regards,
Yours
V.K.Guptan
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago in reply to Guptan Veemboor
Sir
I am only 72 going to run 73 soon. Still Young for learning. There is some steam left still in some place for the child in me.
Its all in mind.
Thanks.
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago in reply to Ratanlal Purohit
Hai Mr.Purohit, thank you for responding so quickly. Mentally I too do not feel my age. I can even now laugh at a Laurell and Hardy comedy or jokes of a college boy unless it is outright vulgar. When people of my age is discussing about 'Gita' and other philosophical things I like to discuss things like this steam engine and such. Mundane and earthy. My nephews and nieces have started some group for youngsters and they were even thinking I that I can be added because I can think like them. Have you read stories by P.G.Wodehouse? There there is one character called 'Uncle Fred' who though old thinks like a school boy. I sometimes feel so.
By the way the steam engine which was the craze of US boys not so long ago is called Thomas and not Tom. I wrote Tom by mistake.
Regards,
Guptan
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago in reply to Guptan Veemboor
Thats very good thing. Let's us help Indian Railways to become accident free.
By the way I am not a man of letters. A die hard electromechtechnomical Inndustrial Engineeer. Not of philosophy. Facts are fascinating than fiction.
In SSC I read English story of Tom Sawyer and how he was white washing the fence. The ingenios boy of Mark Twain. Highily talented in practice of theory of motivation.
er. .Last
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago in reply to Ratanlal Purohit
Right Oh Sir. I have a blog and as and when I feel I write in my blog "topsyturvyviews.blogspot.in". I do it like one writes one's own diary. My views are in general opposite to that of any normal man. I have a neverfail knack of making others oppose my views. That is something I inherited from my family.
I am just reminding you of my safe id which is
gptnvmbr-nampad@yahoo.com. I don't know how long this money life will allow us to use it as private communication channel.
Au revoir,
Guptan
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago
Mr.Malik, Thank you for updating. In my opinion the 'engine turning pit' will be more ideal. It will take less space than triangular lines as the later even though simpler should be taking much much more space. With motorised turning it can be done in a jiffy.
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago in reply to Guptan Veemboor
TURNSTILES ARE VERY COMMON FOR CAR PARKING SYSTEMS TOO. MAKES SENSE.
ALTERNATIVELY YOU CAN BE ON A LOOP TO CHANGE DIRECTION. NO BIG DEAL.
I THINK RAILWAYS KNOW THIS AND USE IT.
I APPRECIATE IT COMING FROM A NON RAILWAYMAN.
HOWEVER IT SHOULD BE RAILWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO TAKE ALL STEPS TO ELIMINATE ALL CHANCES OF ACXIDENTS. MAN MADE OR SYSTEMIC. AND IT CAN BE DONE. FOR EXAMPLE A DEAD MAN'S HANDLE IN LOCAL.
LETS BE SAFE. AS OTIS SAIDID FOR HIS PROTOTYPE LIFTING PLATFORM IN PARIS EXPO. ALL SAFE GNTLEMEN. ALL SAFE AFTER CUTTING THE ROPE.
malq 1 year ago
Not exactly a news report, but probably of higher value and credibility:-
http://railwayslocopilots.blogspot.i...i...
""Visibility from the loco is a big casualty in long hood driving and SIKRI Committee had
recommended short hood driving in view of safety. But railways further extended the length of long hood 5 meters more than WDM2 in WDP4/WDG4 with projection of radiator room and battery box reducing visibility largely with a seant regard to safety. During rainy season visibility is further reduced due to bad quality wipers or non working wipers. The short hood working can be achieved by renewing old steam turning tables or turning at triangle sections near junction stations.
The reflex action attained by loco pilots are lost due to un-scientific design of left/right side driving wherein a loco pilots point of sighting a signal from right side to left side in long hood differs. Added with non-standardisation of driving gadgets from loco to loco leading to late reaction by LP: in case of emergenceis. Eventhough there are several DSO/CSO and director of safety at board level, the onus of safe run is trusted upon crew alone without ensuring visibility and uniformity, while a nano car worth two lakh rupees has standardised driving gadgets, excellent wiper, dust and sound proof driving cab comparing to a 12 crore worth WDP4/WDG4.""
malq 1 year ago
Here's an update on the Hampi Express accident at Penukonda:-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...
Spells out some home truths.
Sucheta Dalal 1 year ago
Mr Purohit
Many thanks... I think we the people need to do something.
Moneylife Foundation had organised a talk with Mr Dinesh Trivedi to figure out the way forward. We wanted to do something about the short shrift to safety.
One of the things he said at our seminar was stunning - he pointed out that the rich and super rich travel by planes - these days in private ones.
A big chunk of the really poor people never travel - even after 65 years of independence that is the level of poverty we have.
It is only the middle class that is affected and killed in railway accidents.
Lets look at doing something concrete.
We welcome ideas and suggestions.
I do think that Dinesh Trivedi's budget speech is the starting point and we need to insist on its implementation.
Mamata Banerjee sacrificed railway safety by saying to price hikes. But there will be no fund raising through revenue generation either. There will also be no attempt to rationalise costs and eliminate pre-independence perks for senior officials such as the fancy saloons that they are entitled to.
Can all the railway people who have commented here help us?
We guarantee that no names will be disclosed and identities protected. Pls help us take the Safety issue forward!
B V KRISHNAN 1 year ago in reply to Sucheta Dalal
It is very good of Moneylife Foundation to take up the cause, but due to your location, your seminars and events always happen in Mumbai, and people from other cities cannot participate. Suggest you start doing web-seminars with advance info to all members to that they can all participate.
Ratanlal Purohit 1 year ago in reply to Sucheta Dalal
Dear Suchetaji
Any time for the Safety
Thanks for writing personally
Regards
RB Purohit
9029634900
malq 1 year ago in reply to Sucheta Dalal
Thank you, Sucheta - and I think the first thing in safety that needs to be done, to bring in a culture of safety, is for post incident investigations to be carried out by independent 3rd party entities.
In this accident's case, for example, even though the accident involves loss of life and property, the enquiry under the Railways Act is being conducted by the same DRM under whose watch this collision took place. And amazingly, the local or central police do not file any FIR or carry out an investigation to see if there was any crime in the incident - while it is a fit case for CBI right from the start because multiple states are involved. (Train starts in Karnataka, operates through AP including declared Maoist areas, and then re-enters Karnataka)
But the enquiry under the ancient Railways Act is conducted for an "accident".
How does ANYBODY pre-suppose it is an accident?
THAT is what needs to be resolved. The DRM conducting the enquiry, IMHO, is the prime suspect till proved otherwise.
What would we have expected if 2-3 dozen Indians had died in an unexplained train accident in any other civilised country?
We HAVE to demand that the Penukonda Police file an FIR and even now conduct investigations.
I will draw a paralel here with the ENRICA LEXIE/St. ANTONY case, which also we covered extensively - where the Kerala Police commenced investigation and prosecution despite it being a foreign flag ship out there in the ocean. Co-terminus with the (weak) investigation by the DGS/MMD/Central Govt.
brgds/VM
Guptan Veemboor 1 year ago in reply to malq
Sir, You seems to be having too much confidence on the local police than central ones. I am a bit skeptic on that. The local police to me looks good only to take charge of petty criminals like a pick-pocket or someone who stole a bunch coconut from coconut tree or a bunch banana which used to be a regular occurrence in Kerala. And that too not catching them themselves but take then into custody when the public catches them and hand them over . As regards the Italian ship Enrica Lexie could be taken into custody after they were asked to come to Cochin Port . Even after going through the ship for some two weeks police did not agree to release the ship. Ballistic experts took nearly three months to test the guns. CBI may be nick-named Congress Bureau of Investigations. Still I have more confidence in Central agencies to conduct any enquiry than the local. They are good only to get information from some petty criminals by third degree methods. Regards Guptan