Far North Line in the snow

[swaldman]

Hi folks,

As you know the north of Scotland has had heavy snow over the last few days. The A9 was closed for days, and no trains ran from Wick or Thurso, meaning the north was cut off.

Various people have gotten nice photos of 37s travelling to Wick and back during this time, on "proving runs". Light engine, sometimes with plough blades, but no independent plough. But no passenger trains have run.

So... Firstly, given that the 37s are getting through, how come no passenger trains? I'm guessing maybe a combination of "a 158 can't cope with what a 37 can" and "we'll accept a higher risk of a couple of staff being stuck than a whole train of passengers"?
And secondly, since there are no passenger trains running, what's the point of sending the 37s up and down the line?

Thanks.

 

[styles]

They are planning to restore services.

If they're not running to Inverness on the 16th January it will cause some of the locals some disruption.

 

[Morayshire]

Quick glance at Scotrails journey check says they are planning to resume passenger services today to/from Wick/Thurso. But the Kyle of Lochalsh line remains shut.

 

[cats_five]

Lots of photos on FB yesterday of independent ploughs attached to 37s.

 

[CW2]

Reported elsewhere that a 37 with miniature ploughs tried to clear the Inverness - Kyle route yesterday, but turned back at Achnasheen due to excessive snow, i.e. more than the miniature ploughs could clear.

Until the route is sufficiently clear of snow, you can't attempt to run a passenger service.

 

[mpthomson]

There was a photo on Instagram this morning of the Kyle line past Achnasheen. There's been so much snow that it's difficult to make out the route of the track even, so a lot more work needed to get it operational for passengers or any other train. Apologies for the image quality, but you get the idea.

 

[DarloRich]

"we'll accept a higher risk of a couple of staff being stuck than a whole train of passengers"?

that seems sensible

what's the point of sending the 37s up and down the line?

To keep the line clear of snow/check the line is unobstructed so that services can restart - not much fun if you send the first 158 out and it runs into a snowbank no one knew about!

 

[Falcon1200]

what's the point of sending the 37s up and down the line?

To keep the line clear of snow/check the line is unobstructed so that services can restart

Indeed, passenger trains cannot just be sent out into the unknown, especially on such a long and remote route.

 

[The exile]

that seems sensible

Indeed - while it can’t be much fun for the crew concerned if they do get stuck, they are very unlikely to be aged over 80, be 8 and a half months pregnant or have a medical condition which could make getting stuck for a few hours in a snowdrift fatal. They’re also getting paid for it… (I don’t mean that that justifies reckless treatment of crew - but it does make a bit of a difference if your train is stuck in a drift at Achanalt or somewhere.

 

[EveningStar]

Saw various photos yesterday of class 37 plus ploughs and immediate thought was that whoever authorised the purchase of class 37 over 60 years ago gifted the railway a 'Really Useful Engine' ... such a versatile design.

 

[12C]

And secondly, since there are no passenger trains running, what's the point of sending the 37s up and down the line?

Surely better to try to clear the daily snowfall with a 37 in readiness for opening, rather than letting it build up for days to the point it’s impossible to clear.

 

[43096]

Reported elsewhere that a 37 with miniature ploughs tried to clear the Inverness - Kyle route yesterday, but turned back at Achnasheen due to excessive snow, i.e. more than the miniature ploughs could clear.

Until the route is sufficiently clear of snow, you can't attempt to run a passenger service.

It was also reported that the issue was a fallen tree beyond Achnasheen.

 

[swaldman]

Shots of the Kyle line are beside the point, although pretty - the locos *have* been arriving in Wick. I take the point about keeping it clear(ish) rather than letting it get worse. Thanks.

 

[Class83]

37s with drift ploughs seemed to start at Inverness, work to Aberdeen then down to Dundee. Presumably they need to go back up HML then do Kyle line now. Change in wind direction should help in NE, but may mean higher central and western routes are more of a challenge.

Was surprised that south of Aberdeen got closed, would have though with a few extra overnight 37s patrolling it should be busy enough to stop huge drifts developing. Far North and Kyle lines have far fewer services so longer between them for drifts to form.

 

[Essan]

Saw various photos yesterday of class 37 plus ploughs and immediate thought was that whoever authorised the purchase of class 37 over 60 years ago gifted the railway a 'Really Useful Engine' ... such a versatile design.

My thought was "what would we do if we didn't still have them running?"

What other - more recent - locos are there that could do their job, just as well or better, in these conditions?

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I thought one of the major reasons given in the 1960s for keeping these lines open was that they would be able to operate when roads were blocked by snow?

 

[Flange Squeal]

If they're not running to Inverness on the 16th January it will cause some of the locals some disruption.

What's the significance of 16th January locally?

 

[8ace]

Any nice 37 pics then?

 

[Highlander1]

Hi folks,

As you know the north of Scotland has had heavy snow over the last few days. The A9 was closed for days, and no trains ran from Wick or Thurso, meaning the north was cut off.

Various people have gotten nice photos of 37s travelling to Wick and back during this time, on "proving runs". Light engine, sometimes with plough blades, but no independent plough. But no passenger trains have run.

So... Firstly, given that the 37s are getting through, how come no passenger trains? I'm guessing maybe a combination of "a 158 can't cope with what a 37 can" and "we'll accept a higher risk of a couple of staff being stuck than a whole train of passengers"?
And secondly, since there are no passenger trains running, what's the point of sending the 37s up and down the line?

Thanks.

The point is to clear the line of snow. Various reports via Network Rail social media of snow drifts being blown back onto the line as soon as the 37 has cleared them. Until that stopped passenger trains couldn't run as it's risked them being stranded in some very remote places. Running the 37 at least stops the accumulation of snow until the line is fit for passenger service.

 

[D1511]

What's the significance of 16th January locally?

I think that's when our friends from a certain station house are required to travel to court.....

 

[Steddenm]

What's the significance of 16th January locally?

See this thread for the reasons why.

Altnabreac station and the various legal disputes around it

No trains calling at Altnabreac for the foreseeable future. A quote from the Friends of the Far North Line facebook page A very concerning situation has been developing for a while at Altnabreac Station on the Far North Line. The station is in a remote part of Caithness and there is no road...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[styles]

See this thread for the reasons why.

Altnabreac station and the various legal disputes around it

No trains calling at Altnabreac for the foreseeable future. A quote from the Friends of the Far North Line facebook page A very concerning situation has been developing for a while at Altnabreac Station on the Far North Line. The station is in a remote part of Caithness and there is no road...

www.railforums.co.uk

This, though they are actually due in Wick Sheriff Court tomorrow at 10am as well.

Looks like the line has been reopened today but with delays.

 

[Sealink]

I was in Cairhness until today.
The 1041 from Inverness operated, arriving Wick at 1531.


The 1600 is planned to run too, albeit with no catering .


As I'm on the sleeper I couldn't risk waiting in case it's cancelled so got a lift to Tain then x25 to Inverness (£14 for the bus!).

Ember E6 and Stagecoach X99 cancelled today.

 

[185143]

They are planning to restore services.

If they're not running to Inverness on the 16th January it will cause some of the locals some disruption.

Very good!

Surprised they haven't kicked off about the noisy 37s rumbling past recently.

 

[farci]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1061400939453125 Snowplough locomotive heading West through Achnasheen on the Kyle line this morning.

 

[Taunton]

I seem to remember that in BR days the one proper rotary snowplough they had was based in Inverness, which would have made short work of what is pictured above. Quite modern, I believe it was manufactured by Beilhack from Germany. Chris Green knew of it from his ScotRail days, when he moved to Network SouthEast and they were overwhelmed with snow in Kent once he arranged for it to come down the WCML at 40mph to dig them out. Given it was used just a few days a year, whatever happened to it?

 

[DesDobramento]

The NSE one lived in the Southeast (Stewarts Lane?), lying unused for very many years before, I believe, moving to Scotland (? perhaps Perth ?)

 

[hexagon789]

I seem to remember that in BR days the one proper rotary snowplough they had was based in Inverness, which would have made short work of what is pictured above. Quite modern, I believe it was manufactured by Beilhack from Germany. Chris Green knew of it from his ScotRail days, when he moved to Network SouthEast and they were overwhelmed with snow in Kent once he arranged for it to come down the WCML at 40mph to dig them out. Given it was used just a few days a year, whatever happened to it?

There are two snowblowers parked at Rutherglen, both are kept notionally operational.

The newer one you mention was last used in 2019 though. The other older one, goodness knows when.

 

[Sealink]

I seem to remember that in BR days the one proper rotary snowplough they had was based in Inverness, which would have made short work of what is pictured above. Quite modern, I believe it was manufactured by Beilhack from Germany. Chris Green knew of it from his ScotRail days, when he moved to Network SouthEast and they were overwhelmed with snow in Kent once he arranged for it to come down the WCML at 40mph to dig them out. Given it was used just a few days a year, whatever happened to it?

They sent a Class 37 up the line, which admittedly did the job (eventually) as trains are running again, but not the massive snowplough attached to the front of the engine that they were showing off on other lines.

 

[6Gman]

I thought one of the major reasons given in the 1960s for keeping these lines open was that they would be able to operate when roads were blocked by snow?

In the 1960s it was probably true.