'Tis the season to be jolly - Leaf-fall time Folks!!!

[causton]

At least National Rail still has last year's information up, and is still waiting for some it seems!

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/57826.aspx

I thought Thameslink didn't have one last year as the trains are so unreliable anyway people wouldn't notice if leaves added an extra minute or ten

 

[infobleep]

At least National Rail still has last year's information up, and is still waiting for some it seems!

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/57826.aspx

I thought Thameslink didn't have one last year as the trains are so unreliable anyway people wouldn't notice if leaves added an extra minute or ten [emoji38]

So with no leaf fall timetable changes does that mean no changes to the timetable implemented during the leaf fall season or no changes to the standard timetable that operates regardless of leaf fall?

Before anyone explains, I do know what they mean.

The above list at least gives some idea as to which lines are more affected by leaf fall.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/Pocket-timetables1505.aspx

 

[FordFocus]

One day they might retrofit some units with a 'Sand Low/Empty' in the cab somewhere.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

444/450 tells you via TMS & you have a sight glass too.

The worst ones are 455/456 which you can't see into. The sandboxes on those need redesigning to have a sight glass like Desiros.

 

[Minilad]

Oh what a luxury it would be to have sanders

 

[redbutton]

Thank god for the new GSMR update \o/

What update? Management at my place are terrible at briefing things. We don't even get WONs some weeks.

 

[156441]

Get a berth activated message on the GSMr and provided you acknowledge it the signaller won't stop you to advise.

If you fail to acknowledge you'll be stopped and cautioned as normal.
That's my understanding anyway.

 

[redbutton]

Get a berth activated message on the GSMr and provided you acknowledge it the signaller won't stop you to advise.

If you fail to acknowledge you'll be stopped and cautioned as normal.
That's my understanding anyway.

Interesting. I haven't heard a peep about anything like that, and given how reluctant signallers are to use general broadcasts around here I wonder if it'll get used.

 

[ComUtoR]

Interesting. I haven't heard a peep about anything like that, and given how reluctant signallers are to use general broadcasts around here I wonder if it'll get used.

I really hope so.

FYI it should be briefed as its a rollout for the v3.5 update.

It's a decent change and already in use. I have had triggered messages before warning me of a few things as I've come into a cell. Not being brought down onto a red makes me a happy puppy. Everyday between now and Christmas I'm 100% expecting slippery conditions. Not sure I need a Signaler to tell me its gonna be slippery into station x

Drive safe

 

[hassaanhc]

10-15 minute delays since first train on the Virginia Water-Reading line. It was windy all night along with fine drizzle on-and-off (well, around Hounslow anyway). At every station on the Hounslow Loop the railhead has burnt leaf residue and when trains pull away you can see it burning underneath the wheels .

 

[cf111]

The 1828 Inverness - Wick was over 100 minutes late yesterday because of slippery rails:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G88290/2015/11/09/advanced

 

[Tracked]

Went into Leeds the weekend before last on a 321/9, everything was ok until Sandall & Agbrigg. Thought it seemed to slow down to stop a lot earlier, far enough to wonder if there was a train in front. Didn't think it was the rails until leaving, and being in the carriage with the engine in it became obvious that it was slipping. It did a bit around Outwood too, this was the first train of the day though, and I'm not sure how much it added to the journey as due to a drunken passenger it was already several minutes late

 

[Class 466]

I captured this over the weekend. 465920 was struggling in the poor conditions: http://youtu.be/bqQ1qtmYxOU

 

[Panupreset]

Anyone know if hand notching will work in a 321?

Unpredictable is how I would describe the business of rail adhesion at this time of year. You have your known areas but every now and then you hear of trouble somewhere where it wouldn't be expected. Then you have the problem that if you get stopped out of course somewhere where trains are not usually stopped, stopping and starting away again is a good game, good game!

Low Adhesion policy across TOC's seems to be step 2 to allow WSP and sanding to come into play. Often though you go for step 2 from speed and your straight into speedo doing a dance, WSP and no slowing down. Step 1 further back followed by step 2 once the speed comes down can be a more pleasant ride. Problem is in this age if you do it different from what the powers that be say and something happens your in a pickle.

Train length plays a part too. 4 car you got no chance when it's slippery. I have heard a school of thought that 8 car is the best train length. The first 4 cars clean the rails then the second 4 car has some grip. 12 car you end up with too much braking from the back 8 and your sliding at the other end of the spectrum. There will be those that disagree with that though I reckon. Plus side of a 4 car though is that you got 12 cars of platform if you need it. 12 car you got no room for error, especially if your stopping against a red platform starter.

 

[tsr]

Capacity and punctuality has taken a real beating, and will continue to do so today, on routes via Purley and via Oxted. Can't say I'm surprised. Many trains were having significant acceleration and sliding issues yesterday. There is indeed no room for error with, say, a 12 car with SDO 9 at Riddlesdown!

 

[LAX54]

Get a berth activated message on the GSMr and provided you acknowledge it the signaller won't stop you to advise.

If you fail to acknowledge you'll be stopped and cautioned as normal.
That's my understanding anyway.

Did not think that was authorised yet ? The GSM-T terminals I have seen where we work have no facility to 'caution'
General Broadcast, yes, although the personal touch by the Signallers is always nice

 

[RichJF]

Related to the leaf fall, I was doing a check on the trains at East Croydon & I genuinely came across this reason for cancellation on RTT.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Delays to Huddersfield line locals and Calder Valley services earlier today, saw one of the RHTTs blasting all lines through Mirfield which I don't think is a planned move. It passed through the platform three line Westbound at about 1230 (seen from the allotment!), came back through platform 1 (guessing it reversed at HUD) at about 1330, then my Wakefield train was held at Mirfield East while the RHTT cleared the bi-directional line to Thornhill LNW junction heading back West.

 

[tds42]

Capacity and punctuality has taken a real beating, and will continue to do so today, on routes via Purley and via Oxted. Can't say I'm surprised. Many trains were having significant acceleration and sliding issues yesterday. There is indeed no room for error with, say, a 12 car with SDO 9 at Riddlesdown!

This morning an engineering train broke down in the East Grinstead area

Was this an RHTT and did this mean not everywhere got treated overnight? Combined with high winds and what seems to be nature's last push to drop leaves, was it no surprise things were sliding today?

 

[ungreat]

When I was a freight driver (BR days) we used to get sent out light engine to sand some of the worst slippy areas so the Sprinters had a chance of stopping!

 

[MichaelAMW]

Unpredictable is how I would describe the business of rail adhesion at this time of year. You have your known areas but every now and then you hear of trouble somewhere where it wouldn't be expected. Then you have the problem that if you get stopped out of course somewhere where trains are not usually stopped, stopping and starting away again is a good game, good game!

Low Adhesion policy across TOC's seems to be step 2 to allow WSP and sanding to come into play. Often though you go for step 2 from speed and your straight into speedo doing a dance, WSP and no slowing down. Step 1 further back followed by step 2 once the speed comes down can be a more pleasant ride. Problem is in this age if you do it different from what the powers that be say and something happens your in a pickle.

Train length plays a part too. 4 car you got no chance when it's slippery. I have heard a school of thought that 8 car is the best train length. The first 4 cars clean the rails then the second 4 car has some grip. 12 car you end up with too much braking from the back 8 and your sliding at the other end of the spectrum. There will be those that disagree with that though I reckon. Plus side of a 4 car though is that you got 12 cars of platform if you need it. 12 car you got no room for error, especially if your stopping against a red platform starter.

Goodness! What about drivers out here in the provinces trying to handle a single 153! I presume they don't have WSP? Or much of a chance.

 

[infobleep]

I wasn't too delayed on South West Trains this morning despite the leaf fall issues reported. I did however travel in slightly later than usual which I think helped.

However tonight they had non leaf related issues which caused delays and last minute rerouting of trains and cancellations.

The North Downs Line was suffering with delays this morning too.

Be interesting to see how things are tomorrow.

 

[Groningen]

Leafes fall in the Netherlands on the railways:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZphiFY4ASxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0WIoQNq2Fs

 

[SpacePhoenix]

What's the top 10 unit/loco classes for handling leaves on the line and what's the bottom 10?

 

[HLE]

Goodness! What about drivers out here in the provinces trying to handle a single 153! I presume they don't have WSP? Or much of a chance.

A 153 has tread brakes which help by scrubbing the tyre of any contamination when you put the brake in. Don't get me wrong they still slide all over the place at times, but would be a lot worse if they had disc brakes.

It's getting going again which usually proves trickier than stopping.

They don't have conventional WSP although if the wheels spin too much under power, it does cut it until the wheels stop spinning.

 

[cossie4i]

What's the top 10 unit/loco classes for handling leaves on the line and what's the bottom 10?

395s are the best train I have driven in poor rail head conditions.
The WSP is very good on them, you could brake in your normal fair weather area and still stop but always give yourself a margin for error.
Traction is hardly a problem either with 16 traction motors, you do get some wheel spin but you will out accelerate any other type of traction over the same section of line.

 

[Class 466]

395s are the best train I have driven in poor rail head conditions.
The WSP is very good on them, you could brake in your normal fair weather area and still stop but always give yourself a margin for error.
Traction is hardly a problem either with 16 traction motors, you do get some wheel spin but you will out accelerate any other type of traction over the same section of line.

Whereas (I'd imagine) Class 465/2/9s & 466s are nearer the bottom of the pile!

 

[infobleep]

How do steam trains cope with leaf fall? I know in the past it wasn't an issue with such great numbers running but what about now when it's only the occasional one?

 

[Ash Bridge]

How do steam trains cope with leaf fall? I know in the past it wasn't an issue with such great numbers running but what about now when it's only the occasional one?

The other thing with past of course is that they didn't have to run through as many green tunnels like in these days, a few years back I travelled from Stockport to Buxton on a special hauled by a Stanier 8F, the train was formed of around 5 or 6 mk1s if my memory serves correct, on the climb up to Middlewood we slipped to a complete standstill and eventually after much manual sanding by the crew we very slowly got on the move but it was touch and go all the way up to Buxton, I think they abandoned the planned final trip.