"Object caught on the overhead wires"

[chrisp37]

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston. Out of interest, and apologies if it's a silly question, but just what kind of objects generally do get caught on the overhead wires and cause delays? For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind? Or is it generally something more substantial than that?

 

[norbitonflyer]

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston. Out of interest, and apologies if it's a silly question, but just what kind of objects generally do get caught on the overhead wires and cause delays? For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind? Or is it generally something more substantial than that?

Could be anything. I have known trains stopped because someone thought it amusing to drop a piece of tinsel onto the OHLE, causing a flashover. And at the other exterme, a garage roof got blown onto the wires. Quite often it's a pantograph.

 

[zwk500]

Depends on the wind - not unknown for Trampolines and Sheds to end up in/on/around the wires and stanchions in big storms.

Quite often though it is lighter things as you say, plastic bag or even a bit of tape. But get a piece of plastic tape wrapped around the pantograph at 100mph+ and the forces can rip a wire down.

 

[DarloRich]

For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind?

absolutely - from that to a shed! literally anything. Sometimes the train

 

[chrisp37]

Interesting, thanks! Wonder what the object is that's currently causing the Wigan-Preston delays.

 

[Leyland Bus]

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston. Out of interest, and apologies if it's a silly question, but just what kind of objects generally do get caught on the overhead wires and cause delays? For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind? Or is it generally something more substantial than that?

Interesting you've posted that, the 1621 i'm waiting for from Bolton is delayed for the same reason and I thought it odd...

 

[Recessio]

I had a delay once because a birthday party had accidentally let go of some big "50" helium balloons (which I think are a sort of metallicised plastic?) that the wind picked up and then got caught in the OHLE. Luckily nobody was injured or shocked, which is the most important thing, but it ruined the peak service.

 

[Boilinthebag]

I had a delay once because a birthday party had accidentally let go of some big "50" helium balloons (which I think are a sort of metallicised plastic?) that the wind picked up and then got caught in the OHLE. Luckily nobody was injured or shocked, which is the most important thing, but it ruined the peak service.

Was it these....

 

[mangyiscute]

I've heard of someone having helium balloons in the platforms at Heathrow and they let go of one which went into the overheads.

 

[Unobrow]

I had red and white plastic barrier type tape wrapped around my pan a few weeks back. It had come free from an old shunters cabin that had been taped off. Caused quite a few diversions n the West Coast for a couple of hours before we got it free. Whilst it may seem a trivial and irrelevant, it could very easily get wrapped around the wires at the same time and bring them down.

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston. Out of interest, and apologies if it's a silly question, but just what kind of objects generally do get caught on the overhead wires and cause delays? For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind? Or is it generally something more substantial than that?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I've heard of someone having helium balloons in the platforms at Heathrow and they let go of one which went into the overheads.

Happened at New St a few years ago, unfortunately was still being held when it touched the OHLE.

I regularly have to make announcements and remind passengers that helium balloons and electricity do not mix well and almost all of them are unaware of the risks.

 

[Undiscovered]

I think a pigeon caused an issue at New Street, a couple of years ago. Collided with the wires at 4C and stopped trains for a couple of hours.

 

[High Dyke]

Oddly enough, there's been an incident at Grantham involving plastic caught on the overhead wires. In this case the contact wire is thought to be alright, but the catenary wire is affected.

The issue arises if the object caught should get tangled in the pantograph on the train, which could then lead to a dewirement.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I think a pigeon caused an issue at New Street, a couple of years ago. Collided with the wires at 4C and stopped trains for a couple of hours.

Ha, yeah I remember that day! North Tunnel was out for a while.

 

[Magdalen Road]

The OHLE near Waterbeach got wrapped in plastic sheeting from a nearby farm, two days in a row last year.

 

[Horizon22]

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston. Out of interest, and apologies if it's a silly question, but just what kind of objects generally do get caught on the overhead wires and cause delays? For example, could it be something as light/small as a plastic bag blown onto the wires by the wind? Or is it generally something more substantial than that?

Builder's bags, parts of tents/trampolines, balloons, wire (of varying types), plastic sheeting, parts of trees. Quite a mix.

 

[edwin_m]

I think a pigeon caused an issue at New Street, a couple of years ago. Collided with the wires at 4C and stopped trains for a couple of hours.

The effect on the pigeon would have been more permanent.

I read something a few years ago about a campaign in that area to block off possible perching sites that were too close to the wires.

 

[IanXC]

Oddly enough, there's been an incident at Grantham involving plastic caught on the overhead wires. In this case the contact wire is thought to be alright, but the catenary wire is affected.

The issue arises if the object caught should get tangled in the pantograph on the train, which could then lead to a dewirement.

Of course these kinds of incidents typically occur in high winds, so when an item is caught by the catenary wire or a dropper for instance, there can be a significant risk that when the wind speed reduces the item ceases to be caught by the wind, swings down and does impact the contact wire.

 

[saismee]

Builder's bags, parts of tents/trampolines, balloons, wire (of varying types), plastic sheeting, parts of trees. Quite a mix.

Tarps are also quite common.

Basically anything that the wind can pick up and launch into the OHLE. Doesn't have to be substantial, if it gets caught in a train's pantograph it could be catastrophic (dewirement) or just cause a train to fail.

Some incidents can have a lot of possible messages to customers. For example, a branch touching the OHLE can be labelled as any of: "Tree blocking the railway," "Problem with the overhead line equipment," or "A lineside fire" in the likely event that the branch bursts into flames from arcing.

 

[Spartacus]

Had a new one the other day, an inflatable sex doll.....

 

[Harpo]

I think a pigeon caused an issue at New Street, a couple of years ago.

Many bird related incidents. In one at Leigh-On-Sea a pair of pigeons tripped the power and then caused a lineside fire where the burning bodies landed. At one point on the GE, so many incidents were being blamed on pigeons that it was suggested OHLE staff kept pigeon corpses in the van. (Case not proven.)

 

[chrisp37]

I did wonder what the cause of all the lineside fires was!

 

[jamster47]

I got off the train at Southend Victoria a few weeks ago and spotted a white usb lead that I guess someone has chucked onto the wires, just in front of the pantograph. It was fairly tangled.

I reported to a driver and they must have sorted it as, from checking realtime trains, the train left 6 minutes late.

I would always have reported it but wondered if it would have just fallen off after contact with the panto, if it had been left or not seen, or whether I saved Greater Anglia/NR and passengers a lot of grief and delay.

 

[Whisky Papa]

In 2015 I witnessed a pigeon meet its maker at Clapton, when it bridged the gap between the wire and the underside of the overbridge. I was on the Down platform, and happened to be looking right at the spot - an intense point of white light, followed by a huge boom a split second later, and a few feathers fluttering to the ground. Brutal.

The pigeon had hit the Up wire, but I don't know if this caused any further issues. Our Down train was not affected, fortunately.

 

[ChilliSauce]

In 2015 I witnessed a pigeon meet its maker at Clapton, when it bridged the gap between the wire and the underside of the overbridge. I was on the Down platform, and happened to be looking right at the spot - an intense point of white light, followed by a huge boom a split second later, and a few feathers fluttering to the ground. Brutal.

The pigeon had hit the Up wire, but I don't know if this caused any further issues. Our Down train was not affected, fortunately.

Normally the Up and Down OLE is coupled at the TSC or FS .. So if the "roast" bird had caused a tripping it would of taken power from both lines.

But fear not the standard procedure after a tripping is to try a reclose of the breakers ..

 

[GordonT]

I frequently see the above given as the reason for delays. I can see for example that this is currently causing delays between Wigan North Western and Preston.

Hopefully your thread isn't invoking such occurrences but I noticed from nationalrail.co.uk just now:

An object being caught in the overhead wires between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly means some lines are blocked. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 60 minutes or cancelled.

Major disruption is expected until 18:30.

Perhaps someone "in the know" will be along later to advise if it was a pigeon, a sex doll or something more prosaic.

 

[GW43125]

I think a pigeon caused an issue at New Street, a couple of years ago. Collided with the wires at 4C and stopped trains for a couple of hours.

I recall one on the Western a few years ago (Ealing?) where the effect on the pigeon dislodged some concrete off the bridge and shut the job down

 

[Leyland Bus]

Hopefully your thread isn't invoking such occurrences but I noticed from nationalrail.co.uk just now:

Perhaps someone "in the know" will be along later to advise if it was a pigeon, a sex doll or something more prosaic.

The screen at Bolton this afternoon... Almost de ja vous...

 

[Bald Rick]

I reported to a driver and they must have sorted it as, from checking realtime trains, the train left 6 minutes late.

The driver wouldn’t have sorted it, drivers don’t have the formal competence to do so.

It is possible the driver assesed it as being clear of the contact wire, spoke to the signaller to report it, and went on their way. Also possible is that the cable dislodged itself somehow. A further possibility is that the Southend Mobile Operations Manager (MOM) was on site and attended to the cable.