Blue Trackside Fencing

[DaleCooper]

Watching this video I wondered what is the purpose of the blue metal fencing seen at 31:20?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

It identifies a work site. It means P-Way staff can work behind the fence without needing to block the line, they are (almost?) always blue to make them easily identifiable.

 

[DaleCooper]

It identifies a work site. It means P-Way staff can work behind the fence without needing to block the line, they are (almost?) always blue to make them easily identifiable.

Thank you.

 

[perkin]

I believe fencing is blue to provide a high contrast with the orange hi-vis worn by trackworkers versus the orange fencing previously used.

 

[edwin_m]

I believe fencing is blue to provide a high contrast with the orange hi-vis worn by trackworkers versus the orange fencing previously used.

Certainly orange would cause this problem - for that reason I don't believe it has ever been used for this purpose. And red, yellow and green might be confused at a distance with signal flags, black brown and grey would be harder for the workers to see. So blue is the only colour left!

 

[perkin]

Orange was used at one point for fencing off 'safe working zones' (apologies if terminology is incorrect, it is a long time since my PTS lapsed!) - I was told the change to blue was done after feedback from drivers who were seeing workers later than they would have preferred.

 

[Trackman]

Great video, I didn't hear the AWS, I wonder if the camera was attached to the outside.
Also, I keep hearing a strange sound now and again, 35:30 is an example. Any ideas?

 

[swt_passenger]

Great video, I didn't hear the AWS, I wonder if the camera was attached to the outside.
Also, I keep hearing a strange sound now and again, 35:30 is an example. Any ideas?

In the video comments it's suggested it's not actually a live soundtrack, but a loop of generic background noise.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

It's called Vortok fencing and provides a barrier between the staff working and the track. A fenced green zone. Each of the arms has a strong magnet which attaches to the web of the rail, the blue fiberglass poles clip on to the arms.

 

[Trainman40083]

It's called Vortok fencing and provides a barrier between the staff working and the track. A fenced green zone. Each of the arms has a strong magnet which attaches to the web of the rail, the blue fiberglass poles clip on to the arms.

If I recall from my days of letting supply contracts, the Vortok fencing was a lot more expensive than the original version of rigid fencing, but when you took into consideration the time taken to assemble and dismantle, made the whole job cheaper and quicker to do. In terms of the blue plastic fencing , that indeed did replace orange because of what the driver saw . I suspect it also went out of favour, with having to drive metal stakes into the ground. Of course if you were not 100% sure what was under the ground, there could be more damage. The original style plastic fencing seemed very flimsy, held on with cable ties.

 

[alex17595]

There is also a variation which clips underneath the foot of the rail. And absolute night to put in if there's a massive shoulder.

 

[edwin_m]

If I recall from my days of letting supply contracts, the Vortok fencing was a lot more expensive than the original version of rigid fencing, but when you took into consideration the time taken to assemble and dismantle, made the whole job cheaper and quicker to do. In terms of the blue plastic fencing , that indeed did replace orange because of what the driver saw . I suspect it also went out of favour, with having to drive metal stakes into the ground. Of course if you were not 100% sure what was under the ground, there could be more damage. The original style plastic fencing seemed very flimsy, held on with cable ties.

You'd need at least a line block and possibly a possession to put up and take down the fencing, because by definition the workforce are not in a protected green zone. So being able to do that quickly is very helpful.

 

[Magicake]

If I recall from my days of letting supply contracts, the Vortok fencing was a lot more expensive than the original version of rigid fencing, but when you took into consideration the time taken to assemble and dismantle, made the whole job cheaper and quicker to do. In terms of the blue plastic fencing , that indeed did replace orange because of what the driver saw . I suspect it also went out of favour, with having to drive metal stakes into the ground. Of course if you were not 100% sure what was under the ground, there could be more damage. The original style plastic fencing seemed very flimsy, held on with cable ties.

The old-style netlon fencing with the stakes is still a permitted option but also has to be blue now. You're quite right to say it's all but gone because of the issue of hitting a service with the stakes.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Scientifically, blue and orange does provide high contrast which is great from a safety point of view.

 

[Railsigns]

You'd need at least a line block and possibly a possession to put up and take down the fencing, because by definition the workforce are not in a protected green zone.

Anyone working inside a line block or a possession is by definition in (what used to be termed) a safeguarded green zone.

 

[edwin_m]

Anyone working inside a line block or a possession is by definition in (what used to be termed) a safeguarded green zone.

Yes indeed, I wasn't making myself very clear. The people putting out or taking up the fencing would need train movements stopping on the nearest track, unlike the people working on the "safe" side of the fencing while it is in place.

 

[najaB]

Great video, I didn't hear the AWS, I wonder if the camera was attached to the outside.

The field of view, with the running line towards one side of the screen rather than in the middle, makes me suspect that it was indeed on the outside on the right-hand side.

 

[Spartacus]

It's always reminded me of the Hornby clip on fencing (below), so much so that I'd be surprised if it wasn't inspired by it. I wonder if Hornby's ever considered doing a blue version?!

R537 Lineside Fencing

R537, Lineside Fencing, Hornby, Crossing, Signals & Accessory Packs, 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge, OO

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