Yet More Weed Killing Trains

[iands]

A couple more photos showing the internal gubbins, both are stamped "British Railways (Southern Region) Public Relations and Publicity Department, Waterloo Station. SE1., and dated 17th April 1961.

 

Another "Human side of the Railway" qualifier (G/Harris/NI/Spray Train/E), quite probably one of the most important jobs (if not the most important job?) on the train - preparing a meal in the mess coach. Not a few "ready meals in a microwave" like it would be today, but a proper roast joint!

 

[iands]

I've done a bit more searching on eBay and found a few more photos associated with all the various postings above. For today, I'll post a couple more of the WR trolley. First, a close up what must be the pump.

 

.... and another shot of the operators. Still none the wiser for the roof mounted bracket thing, maybe in the fullness of time.

 

I'll post some more tomorrow when I've scanned and labelled them.

 

[phil-b259]

On 10/09/2020 at 10:18, Bill Radford said:

I wondered why I could no longer get Sodium Chlorate!

 

Slightly OT - do weedkilling trains still run?

 

I ask because of the state of the weeds evident at Crewe on all the RailCam cameras especially at the end of platform 6.

Yes they do - but admittedly not as often as they need to be given modern restrictions*. There also seems to be a reluctance to send out people with backpacks to treat areas trains find hard to reach, plus a complete inability to consider weeds growing out of brickwork (which could be controlled with spaying said surfaces regularly in the same manor as some people pressure wash their drives.

 

 

*Please remember that the ONLY weed killers which are permitted to be used MUST:-

 

(1) Be sprayed directly onto the leaf structure of the plant you wish to kill

(2) Not be washed off said leaf structure by rain within the following 4hrs or so (allowing time for it to be absorbed by the plant)

(2) Have zero effect in preventing plant growth if sprayed onto bare soil)

(3) Have zero effect if mixed with water (e.g. line side ditches, streams, ponds, etc)
(4) Weedkilling trains are limited to 40mph when spraying - a big issue on busy / fast main lines.

[73c]

I was told ( when I used to live there ) that this was a long term siding for this weed killing train, made up of CCT/PMV and L1 tenders.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bb0363-Blackheath-Railway-Station-London-in-1962-photograph-6x4/362986794337?hash=item5483b2ed61:g:l7UAAOSwSzdXBLue

[iands]

Somewhat later than anticipated, due to a bit of model making for the garden railway that took up more time than expected. These next four photos are of the internal workshop area and living quarters of the ER Spray Train that may be of interest.

 

The workshop - handy little adjustable wrench propped up on the right!

 

.... a couple of shots of the living area ...

 

And finally the sleeping area.

 

Quite a little home-from-home, if you like that sort of thing.