“only1clio, class LOL !!”

“The level crossing is monitored by CCTV, the signalman would have stopped the train anyway using the signals either side of the crossing, so there was no risk to the train and the helicopter action was unnecessary (though the pilot probably would not have known this at the time). This story is just trying to persuade us of the value of the police helicopter.”

“Now this is what they call a 'feel good story', the baddies get caught , the police are helpless and a daring Pilot enters the fray and saves the day.

Well after watching Look North last night, it did seem to me that the daring Pilot ' Kathryn ' maybe was a ' Colin ' at some point in the past. The voice was particularly deep, and in the words of the song ' Dude looks like a lady '.
I am sorry to shatter all the previous posts of her being a being a bit foxy, but I would maybe try and catch a repeat of this and see for yourselves.”

“26 mintues after calling for the helicopter the train was halted,

rather than thinking well done oscar99, I'm thinking don't railtrack control the network at all ?

Don't forget there two lines crossing the road at Hawthorn Ave, as we only have one Oscar99 who was stopping trains coming from the other direction ?”

“This is a weird story. There must be a simpler and faster method. I am amazed that it took 20 minutes to make contact with the next train. Had the next train been much sooner then the consequences could have been far worse. I would say that there should be an investigation into why other methods involving signalling and direct radio communication with the driver cab were not possible or just not used - or why a few strong blokes could not have moved the car. This is almost as bad as the "Railway Children" when a girl had to run down the line waving a pair of red nickers to tell a train to stop. And even that method could perhaps have been more effective!”

“Well done.

@rtyrty20 ... in the interview given on Radio Humberside yesterday, Captain Chapman stated that the train drivers only have radio communication with Railtrack and that to contact Railtrack, who would then have to message the driver would have taken too long.”

“Hang on - I thought these crossings were under observations by CCTV - and the control room has access to STOP/GO/CAUTION lights? Although I truly praise our intrepid flyers, I think this story is being a little 'over-egged' for dramatic effect?

Now, if the observer had hung onto the rails of the helicopter, and dropped onto the speeding train, run along its roof and hammered on the drivers door after shimmying along the sides of the engine - That would have been impressive!!!!”

“Well done Oscar 99. I would recomment train drivers are equiped with work mobiles. No brainer. Also, it might be worth developing a red light signal from police choppers to trains - means stop! I guess the signals weren't of use on this occasion? And the lady can fly my plane anytime she want! Dead right JLC lookalike.”

“The police stopped a car on a railway line? Could the patrol cars have pushed the vehicle off the line? Don't train drivers have a radio or some means of communications "Stop the train fella there's a car parked on the track ahead"”

“Its a pity the train didnt run over this piece of dirt”