NZ: Seal on wrong side of tracks
Posted: 15 Jul 2012, 22:11
Seal on wrong side of tracks
KERRY MCBRIDE
Dominion Post
Last updated 10:40 18/06/2012
A wayward seal called Albert caused trouble for train staff when it made a "mad dash" on to the train tracks.
Maintenance staff near the Wellington rail yards found themselves being observed by the seal from under the motorway over pass.
Traction electrician Caleb Scott said the team was busy working when they spotted the seal watching from a distance on Friday.
"As we moved along the track doing our work it followed our path from the other side of the tracks. We notified Train Control to let them know just in case the seal made a mad dash onto the tracks."
While at first it stayed put, the seal soon made its way across four sets of train tracks, forcing the staff to use a broomstick to guide it back to safety.
"As we were doing this we hand signalled a couple of trains to slow down and around three passenger trains had to stop briefly while he made it over the tracks," Mr Scott said.
"Albert, as we named him, then lay down under the underpass and feel asleep. We reckon he must have been tired after all that activity."
KiwiRail said the seal did not cause any delays.
Kent Clark, of Wellington Seal Coast Safaris, said it was not uncommon for seals to come right into the coast during bad weather.
"The last week or so with this rough weather means there would have been quite a few seals around the place trying to find somewhere nice to settle in.
"If this seal has found a good spot I expect he would be there for at least a couple of days."
However even though seals might be spotted around the Wellington waterfront while the weather was rough, it was not advisable to approach them, Mr Clark said.
"If you get close enough they can certainly take a bite out of you. And trust me, that's not pleasant."
KERRY MCBRIDE
Dominion Post
Last updated 10:40 18/06/2012
A wayward seal called Albert caused trouble for train staff when it made a "mad dash" on to the train tracks.
Maintenance staff near the Wellington rail yards found themselves being observed by the seal from under the motorway over pass.
Traction electrician Caleb Scott said the team was busy working when they spotted the seal watching from a distance on Friday.
"As we moved along the track doing our work it followed our path from the other side of the tracks. We notified Train Control to let them know just in case the seal made a mad dash onto the tracks."
While at first it stayed put, the seal soon made its way across four sets of train tracks, forcing the staff to use a broomstick to guide it back to safety.
"As we were doing this we hand signalled a couple of trains to slow down and around three passenger trains had to stop briefly while he made it over the tracks," Mr Scott said.
"Albert, as we named him, then lay down under the underpass and feel asleep. We reckon he must have been tired after all that activity."
KiwiRail said the seal did not cause any delays.
Kent Clark, of Wellington Seal Coast Safaris, said it was not uncommon for seals to come right into the coast during bad weather.
"The last week or so with this rough weather means there would have been quite a few seals around the place trying to find somewhere nice to settle in.
"If this seal has found a good spot I expect he would be there for at least a couple of days."
However even though seals might be spotted around the Wellington waterfront while the weather was rough, it was not advisable to approach them, Mr Clark said.
"If you get close enough they can certainly take a bite out of you. And trust me, that's not pleasant."