On 18/8/10 20:43, in article DJWao.43180$Dt3.31586@hurricane,
" wrote:

On 18/08/2010 12:13, Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at
03:20:43 on Wed, 18 Aug 2010, martin remarked:
Something that I don't think had previously been released:
The crew of the grinding unit, who had no means of re-applying the
brake, jumped off the unit as it passed through Highgate station.

The "jumping off" was known, but not the bit about the brake.

I heard that it was at Archway.

If I've understood it correctly, the failure occurred at, or near, Archway.
It was decided to haul the failed train North to East Finchley; presumably
they intended to either reverse it down one of the centre tracks into one of
the sidings, where it could receive attention, or possibly just dump it on
one of the centre tracks, where it would at least be out of the way, and
could be collected later. Somewhere North of Highgate station, but before
reaching East Finchley, the coupler failed and the train, having no
functioning brake, ran away Southbound, towards Highgate. When it reached
Highgate station, where it would presumably have been travelling fairly
slowly since it had only run away a short distance at that point, the crew
who were unable to control the train, jumped out, and the train continued to
run South until it reached Warren Street.

We now seem to know pretty much what happened, but we don't know why it
happened. We don't know why the failed train was being hauled North with no
functioning brake of any type, not even a handbrake it seems. We don't know
why the crew couldn't apply the handbrake, we don't know if the braking
systems on the two trains were compatible, and if so to what extent. We
don't know if a MR pipe connection could have been made between the trains,
which would probably have allowed the brake on the failed train to be
applied locally from the cab of that train. If there was no alternative to
isolating the brake on the failed train we don't know why another train, or
locomotive, with a functioning brake wasn't coupled behind it. It's not
possible to see on the small picture of the train what brake connections, if
any, are available. Does anybody know if this train can run under its own
power to a worksite, or if it has to be hauled there, and can only move
slowly under its own power while actually working?

A somebody else said, well done the control room staff for quick thinking,
and keeping all of the other trains out of its way.