Be aware of locomotives

THE tragic death of Peter Mcclounan on a cane railway line at the weekend is a poignant reminder how dangerous locomotives are.

The mill worker was run over by a locomotive and killed. It was believed he was asleep on the line at Tully in the early hours of Saturday.

It was a distressing situation for the driver and other staff and appears to be a terrible accident.

At the weekend it was evident throughout the Far North that it was cane harvesting season with trains and locomotives as well as tractors, trucks and other vehicles moving about through the cane fields, on the roads and at the sugar mills.

Impatient drivers blasting their horns after the train has passed but with the flashing lights still operational really need to show some consideration.

There is an extensive network throughout the Far North of more than 800km of track, 397 road crossings and 319 bridges. Across the network, more than 20 locomotives operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the end of November.

Cane trains are iconic to the Far North Queensland landscape and attract interest from both locals and visitors. However it’s important to remember that they also bring risk.

But because the network lies dormant for six months of the year it creates a level of complacency among many motorists at the moment.

A fully-loaded train can take 250m to stop in good conditions.

Drivers and pedestrians are reminded that when a cane train is approaching, it is a legal requirement to give way at all times.

Don’t take a chance and respect the locomotives and the trains. Nick Dalton Deputy editor