RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 2, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2018 They were the class 40 bogies ploughs, possibly got them again tomorrow 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapland Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) Thanks Jim, More excellent video from Twitter of the Independent Snow Ploughs https://twitter.com/ThankertonBarry/status/969561732560703489 Edited March 2, 2018 by flapland 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu from EGDL Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Hi Jim, Love the shots of the signal boxes. Later, Stu from EGDL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JDW Posted March 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) Thanks Jim, More excellent video from Twitter of the Independent Snow Ploughs https://twitter.com/ThankertonBarry/status/969561732560703489 Saw that at work earlier (we monitor Traffic Scotland, Scotrail, etc on Twitter to try and predict demand and delays, I wasn't just skiving!) and had to wonder how the driver could see where he was going Edited March 2, 2018 by JDW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted March 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2018 Saw that at work earlier (we monitor Traffic Scotland, Scotrail, etc on Twitter to try and predict demand and delays, I wasn't just skiving!) and had to wonder how the driver could see where he was going Similar to driving in the dark or dense fog I'd have thought. Knowing the road and relying on AWS for signals. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted March 2, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2018 Some more from earlier, finally made the Cambrian You can see the importance of extra running brake tests when the bogies ice up Ready for the off I rode in the back can down to macc, it wasn’t that bad most of the way, to be honest it was worsening on the way back with a lot more drifts, this was tallerddig from the rear cab At macc the locos we’re split and the lead one headed off to Aberystwyth to clear fallen trees with a p-way gang while I collected a tamper from the sidings A cold damp job uncoupling them! Tamper dragged into the platform And run round to wait for the other loco to return from Aberystwyth to head back to shrewsbury Out with the beilhacks tomorrow to Buxton all being well 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted March 4, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2018 More snowplough duties today.... Started off in crewe and over to gresty to pick up the ploughs Shunted into place with a 68 As you can there there is absolutely no snow in crewe at all! Into Stockport Then over to chinley, waiting for the NR track staff to get on board, still only a smattering of snow here Then it was round to peak forest, great rocks and into buxton, the tunnel at peak forest was horrendous for icicles, had to creep through breaking them off slowly with the loco, only a few drifts to contend with Happy traincrew It was then into the station area for a run back down to hazel grove I back cabbed it to hazel grove then took it back to buxton, just before the station we did a left and headed up to Hindlow as there had been reports of some ‘serious drifts’ which sure enough we found, probably half a dozen or so, 10-20ft deep and fairly long in places, plenty of power and not too much speed saw us get through without issue all the way to the stopboards at Hindlow quarry Back into buxton sidings Then away to peak forest again, this is the tunnel entrance all iced up just to get an idea of what we were having to deal with! Similarly in the tunnel, 20ft icicles in places It was then back to chinley, new mills, guide bridge, Stockport and back to gresty bridge to drop the ploughs off and leave the locos for collection on Sunday Later today I’m either heart of wales or Stratford upon Avon route proving with a 97! 38 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium iands Posted March 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2018 More snowplough duties today.... Started off in crewe and over to gresty to pick up the ploughs Shunted into place with a 68 As you can there there is absolutely no snow in crewe at all! Into Stockport Then over to chinley, waiting for the NR track staff to get on board, still only a smattering of snow here Then it was round to peak forest, great rocks and into buxton, the tunnel at peak forest was horrendous for icicles, had to creep through breaking them off slowly with the loco, only a few drifts to contend with Happy traincrew It was then into the station area for a run back down to hazel grove I back cabbed it to hazel grove then took it back to buxton, just before the station we did a left and headed up to Hindlow as there had been reports of some ‘serious drifts’ which sure enough we found, probably half a dozen or so, 10-20ft deep and fairly long in places, plenty of power and not too much speed saw us get through without issue all the way to the stopboards at Hindlow quarry Back into buxton sidings Then away to peak forest again, this is the tunnel entrance all iced up just to get an idea of what we were having to deal with! Similarly in the tunnel, 20ft icicles in places It was then back to chinley, new mills, guide bridge, Stockport and back to gresty bridge to drop the ploughs off and leave the locos for collection on Sunday Later today I’m either heart of wales or Stratford upon Avon route proving with a 97! Hi Jim, Many thanks for posting yet more fantastic photos. Ballast train one week, ETRMS/ETCS another week, and now snow ploughing and knocking off icicles with a loco in tunnels! A great variety of jobs and routes. With perhaps the "unsocial" hours aside, I bet you really look forward to your next shift as it most likely will be completely different from the last one! Regards, Ian. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 4, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4, 2018 It’s been a fun few days, it’s either Stratford upon Avon or the heart of wales later!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapland Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Love the photos of the ploughs doing the job they are designed for. I was on IZ57 The Yorkshireman behind Oliver Cromwell and the first and possible only train east bound all day over Harringworth Viaduct. Lots of snow all day but especially to the east of the viaduct. Great day despite slow return most likely caused by dragging dead 47 at the front and 37 on the rear of the train. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 4, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4, 2018 Stood down for the day but may be in this evening, someone else doing Stratford though with a 97 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouser Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Well done Jim, and all of the other hardy folk out there with you. Great job! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigherb Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 The snow plough coud do with an icicle knocker off framework over the top. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 4, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4, 2018 The ISP’s have those, I think that’s what they are trying to get back up there to do exactly that as the icicles are more of a hazard than snow now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 Brilliant stuff Jim - many thanks for posting these fascinating photos! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
25901 Posted March 4, 2018 Share Posted March 4, 2018 (edited) We have had problems on the Calder Line at Summit Tunnel. The two ISP's are dumped round the back of Holgate and they using Beilhacks out of York which are useless for clearing the tunnels. Some may remember TPE having one of there units strike ice in Summit a few years ago Edited March 4, 2018 by 25901 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted March 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2018 I was told yesterday that a 37 has had an extra piece of steel added above a cab to act as an icicle breaker but that was just a conversation in the dinner queue at Kettering Gog show. The guy seemed to know what he was talking about but I've no independent verification. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted March 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2018 I was told yesterday that a 37 has had an extra piece of steel added above a cab to act as an icicle breaker but that was just a conversation in the dinner queue at Kettering Gog show. The guy seemed to know what he was talking about but I've no independent verification. Jamie It's called a roof mounted air horn......... Saw the S&C pair of DRS 66 through Settle earlier today. Lots of snow on the lead plough. They went and cleared the Rylstone branch before doing the Little NW to Carnforth. They were due to tackle the down S&C after that. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted March 4, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2018 It's called a roof mounted air horn......... Saw the S&C pair of DRS 66 through Settle earlier today. Lots of snow on the lead plough. They went and cleared the Rylstone branch before doing the Little NW to Carnforth. They were due to tackle the down S&C after that. Cheers, Mick Thanks Mick They came back and reversed at Settle Junction and are now north of Blea Moor heading back to Carlisle. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Are the snow ploughs set at a fixed height above the rail or are they lowered when required to clear snow? Gordon A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted March 5, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 5, 2018 This has just been posted on another thread. Brilliant stuff but I can't spot Jim there. Jonathan 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 5, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2018 Hopefully It will be a bit clearer than that tonight down the Cambrian, back to normality (hopefully) taking a ballast from cemmaes rd to crewe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Stewart Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Oh, Jim, "terminological inexactitude" in post 4631 02/03/2018! Macc = Macclesfield in Cheshire (usually good exhibition this weekend 10/11 03/2018) Mach = Machynlleth in Wales. The Sons of Glyndwr have been informed. Crackin' tales & photos of your travels. To Buxton. On the "Wessy" you'd have been @100 yards from my previous front garden, through Disley tunnel a bit further away from my previous back garden. Did you also break the ice on The Peak Forest Canal? I remember some years ago photographing on Disley Station in similar conditions. I was on the platform end taking "meaningful" shots of the icicles in the tunnel, when a 37 came light engine down from Buxton scattering the icicles. I got the shot, quickly turned my back and waited for the icicles to impale themselves. I lived to tell the tale. We appreciate your and colleagues hard work in such conditions. You must sign for the Cambrian Coast, it's beautiful, although raining for your trip down here tonight. Please continue your adventures & excellent reports & photographs. What "Big Jim did next" is required reading. Ian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Border Reiver Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 This has just been posted on another thread. Brilliant stuff but I can't spot Jim there. Jonathan My mother in law was brought up on Bleath Gill farm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted March 6, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted March 6, 2018 Back to normality again, ballast drop near Machynlleth Relieved the other driver at commins coch as the line runs next to the road and as we were close it was as easy to do it there then at cemmaes road And a couple from cemmaes road under the spotlights in the access yard 97302 leading to Machynlleth And after the ballast drop heading back the other way, 97303 this time Slightly in the shadow of a track machine, hopefully I can try for the same shot tomorrow morning but move it forward a bit And into Basford hall Same again tonight 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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