Icicles in the Kilsby Tunnel

[Mutant Lemming]

I remember some years back when trains were diverted via Northampton due to icicles in the Kilsby Tunnel. I haven't heard of it being a problem since then. What did they do to eradicate the problem and are there any other places where trains are diverted or delayed due to icicles?

 

[Smudger105e]

Used to be delays when I commuted on the Brighton Main Line(was back in the 1980s 1990s) with icicles in both Clayton and Balcombe Tunnels, apparently one year they were 5 feet long in places!

 

[The Planner]

Beechwood between Birmingham International and Coventry is a pretty safe bet for icicles.

 

[Mugby]

In BR days, the P Way men used to walk through with a pole to knock them off.

Don't know if they still do, or if they have a more modern method now.

 

[GB]

A class 90 freightliner loco did a couple of runs along part of the GEML the other night to help stop ice forming.

 

[Ploughman]

The hoop over the cab on this snowplough is designed to break icicles.
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photz/965206.jpg

In the United States different methods are used.
I have seen one film clip were a shotgun is used from a slow moving plough train.

 

[Boodiggy]

Tunnels will be patrolled by overhead line staff, when the snow thaws and there is a significant amount of water there will probably be more icicles. Also when the line is blocked for engineering works etc and there and no trains running they will build up a lot bigger than he do than when there are trains running.

 

[table38]

There have been a few incidents with 185s and ice in Morley and Summit Tunnels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/sets/72157631193095712/

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=39706

 

[Trog]

I remember some years back when trains were diverted via Northampton due to icicles in the Kilsby Tunnel. I haven't heard of it being a problem since then. What did they do to eradicate the problem and are there any other places where trains are diverted or delayed due to icicles?

For years there were piles of coal at the bottom of the big shafts at Kilsby. The remains of a failed attempt to prevent the formation of the icicles by having fires burning down there 24/7. Must of been a fun job spending eight hours on your own in the tunnel with nothing but the trains for company.

 

[sprinterguy]

A class 90 freightliner loco did a couple of runs along part of the GEML the other night to help stop ice forming.

The select band of "ice breaker" locos are used to keep frost and ice off the overhead line equipment though, rather than smashing through icicles hanging off tunnel roofs.

 

[HSTEd]

With more modern gas type heaters wouldn't it be possible to do short "bursts" of heat in the tunnel to get it sufficiently far above freezing that the icicles mostly weaken and drop off the ceiling of the tunnel?

Perhaps an hour a day during the winter or some such.

Or would that be too expensive?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I believe Ipswich Tunnel has gas heater installed to counteract this.

In my day , Northchurch Tunnel used to be an ice problem area , neccesitating extra attention.

 

[Johnuk123]

The hoop over the cab on this snowplough is designed to break icicles.
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photz/965206.jpg

In the United States different methods are used.
I have seen one film clip were a shotgun is used from a slow moving plough train.

Why am I not surprised that Americans choose guns to get rid of icicles.

Anyway it will all be irrelevant soon as global warming will mean no icicles any more.

 

[calc7]

Why am I not surprised that Americans choose guns to get rid of icicles.

Anyway it will all be irrelevant soon as global warming will mean no icicles any more.

Actually, "global warming" (cynicism intentional) could mean hotter summers and colder winters - weather becomes more extreme.

 

[Wyvern]

Especially if the Gulf Stream stops.

 

[Ploughman]

With more modern gas type heaters wouldn't it be possible to do short "bursts" of heat in the tunnel to get it sufficiently far above freezing that the icicles mostly weaken and drop off the ceiling of the tunnel?

Perhaps an hour a day during the winter or some such.

Or would that be too expensive?

In general Tunnels are considered to have a fairly static temperature range.
Which is why CWR is only stressed approx 40m into tunnels.
The icicles form in the wind chill.
It would take too much energy to up the ambient temp within any tunnel.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The long Bramhope tunnel (2m. 241yds) between Weeton and Horsforth is one that would cost a small fortune to ensure an ambient temperature, notwithstanding the many other features in that tunnel that also militate against it.

 

[ole man]

As prevoiusly mentioned the NWR maintainance teams will patrol tunnels under line blocks and get icicles down using insulated poles with various attachments that can be clipped on and off depending on size and shape.
NWR used to use Class 86's on the WCML to get rid of icicles on the Contact wire.

 

[sprinterguy]

NWR used to use Class 86's on the WCML to get rid of icicles on the Contact wire.

The Network Rail 86/9s have also been used on the East Coast as ice breakers in previous years.

Speaking of which, if the BR blue liveried 86 and 87 are over at Carlisle at the moment performing ice breaking duties on the West Coast, is there also a loco or two on the ECML performing similar duties this year?

 

[Stephen55a1960]

The long Bramhope tunnel (2m. 241yds) between Weeton and Horsforth is one that would cost a small fortune to ensure an ambient temperature, notwithstanding the many other features in that tunnel that also militate against it.

Wouldn't the same problems feature in Totley,Standedge and Severn tunnels?

 

[Bernard Dodd]

Been reading these Posts, Icicles are not necessarily the problem in Kilsby tunnel, the ice can form on the floor in the south end, where the water flows, up to 3 or 4 feet deep. It also forms in some of the air shafts 10 to 15 feet thick, A fall crushed Class 86 City of Lancaster in the 1980s, it stood in Rugby Depot for some time awaiting repairs.

 

[Trog]

There is always a cold wind through Kilsby, the tunnel is probably the UK's largest walk in fridge.