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De-icer trains

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > De-icer trains

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De-icer trains 06/01/2010 at 09:39 #482
northroad
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872 posts
Just picked up this quote on the BBC web page

"Train operators are running revised timetables as they cope with the freezing conditions.

These include East Coast, East Midlands, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western, National Express East Anglia, South West Trains, Southeastern, Southern and First Capital Connect.

However, special de-icer trains ran through the night to try to keep tracks and overhead cables free of snow and ice".

Can anyone enlighten me as to what consist these are.

Over here in Kazahkstan we are suffering with minus 10 but no snow. The local train service (twice a week to Atyrau) suffers with camels on the line occassionally but not what you guys are having to put up with.
I am glad I am not on my home rotation back in North London at the moment although I had a brush with Kings Cross last night....brrrrrrrr.

Geoff

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De-icer trains 06/01/2010 at 09:39 #5548
northroad
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872 posts
Just picked up this quote on the BBC web page

"Train operators are running revised timetables as they cope with the freezing conditions.

These include East Coast, East Midlands, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western, National Express East Anglia, South West Trains, Southeastern, Southern and First Capital Connect.

However, special de-icer trains ran through the night to try to keep tracks and overhead cables free of snow and ice".

Can anyone enlighten me as to what consist these are.

Over here in Kazahkstan we are suffering with minus 10 but no snow. The local train service (twice a week to Atyrau) suffers with camels on the line occassionally but not what you guys are having to put up with.
I am glad I am not on my home rotation back in North London at the moment although I had a brush with Kings Cross last night....brrrrrrrr.

Geoff

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De-icer trains 06/01/2010 at 14:21 #5553
GMac
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71 posts
I seem to recall NR having specialist stock for 3rd rail de-icing duties on the Southern region (converted from old 4-SUB motor coaches) based at major depots. Elsewhere, ordinary light locos or EMEs running empty are used to keep the snow & ice off the OHLE (the departmental Class 86 mobile load banks were often used on the ECML, albeit towed by a diesel loco).

GM

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De-icer trains 06/01/2010 at 16:22 #5554
Noisynoel
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989 posts
Right, most of the ANTi-icing (They prevent ice forming as opposed to removing ice) that are operated on the Southern region are MPV's , all the old SUB/EPB conversions were withdrawn few years back. For those who don't know the MPV's can carry a number of different modules and the ones on the Southern get changed from sandite & water modules to anti-ice modules come winter. They are currently owned by NR and operated by DBS.
In addition to these there are 4 GLV's (Gatwick Luggage vans) that have been converted to DE-icers. Of these 1 is currently in service, whilst a 2nd is being released to traffic today or tomorrow after overhaul at Eastleigh. It's unclear if the remaining 2 will return to traffic. These are also owned by NR, but operated by GBRF utuilising their Class 73's.
As for the other routes, I cannot say, however, I did hear 2 days ago that the Class 86 icebrakers have been mothballed by NR.

Noisynoel
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De-icer trains 07/01/2010 at 11:29 #5564
northroad
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872 posts
I seem to remember reading an old article in Rail magazine or the likes that they used Class 86's at night out of Liverpool St especially to clear the huge icicles that were common on the inside of the tunnel at Ipswich years ago. Do you know if they still have any of the old DMU units still doing this de-icing work (Cravens/Birmingham's etc.)or is it me showing my age.

northroad

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De-icer trains 09/02/2010 at 15:50 #6557
button_pusher
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56 posts
After watching some of the sleepers pass Preston box, I think these are the West Coast Equivalent. Looks like someone trying to MIG weld!
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De-icer trains 09/02/2010 at 17:37 #6566
Underwood
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748 posts
I read in the current edition of Railways Illustrated mag (that has an article on how NR deals with snow and ice) saying that the 86s were mothballed as the weather didn't really affect the OHLE wires
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De-icer trains 09/02/2010 at 19:44 #6568
UKTrainMan
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1803 posts
I realise that this is slightly off-topic but when it is really badly raining you should watch/follow the Pantograph of any passing electric trains.

I've seen it many times on the ECML with the Class 91s and the fast FCC trains (Class 317s, Class 321s & Class 365s) and it's really good to see, the pantograph sorta 'scrapes' water off the contact wire and creates a nice looking spray effect.

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
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De-icer trains 12/02/2010 at 20:29 #6640
mfcooper
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707 posts
I know that LOROL have run the normal units (313's or 378's) as empties the length of the North London Line to de-ice the OVerheads/3rd Rail.
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De-icer trains 16/02/2010 at 20:16 #6759
Essexgirl
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42 posts
Dont run anything specific on the Thameslink north route, but then we do have all night passenger service (albeit 1 an hour). Its quite interesting watching the light show though with the first train past the box on the lines that were in a T3 overnight.
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