Scottish rockfall detection video

[pdq]

Just thought I'd post this YouTube video I've just watched. It's only a few minutes long and gives an interesting, brief insight into the challenges of rockfall detection. There's some stunning drone footage even if the technicalities aren't of interest.

 

[Freightmaster]

Just thought I'd post this YouTube video I've just watched....

Even before I clicked on it, I thought to myself "this is right up Tom Scott's street!"





MARK

 

[Ashley Hill]

An interesting video. 140 years and still nothing to replace it,if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

 

[InOban]

There is no indication of how often it has been activated over the past 140 years.

Certainly the last time a train was derailed by rocks in this area the material had come off the cutting wall, I believe and so hadn't activated the wires. Hence the pinned wire netting., and I think that there are sensors listening for rocks falling onto the track. It's certainly a fascinating piece of railway history - hence the plaque - but I'm not sure if it's safety critical anymore.

 

[McRhu]

Was it installed as far up the line as Glen Ogle?

 

[Acfb]

I learnt about this on All the Stations - the Glasgow to Corrour episode but they didn't actually show the signal so its good to see this in detail.

 

[D6130]

One potential problem with this system seems to be that the lattice posts signals seem to be rapidly rusting away....not surprisingly, given their age, location and the local climatic conditions. When I lived in Scotland in the '70s and '80s they were repainted on a regular basis. At this rate, they'll soon need replacing with something more robust.

 

[matchmaker]

Was it installed as far up the line as Glen Ogle?

No. It was only installed in the Pass of Brander and at another short location near Loch Lubnaig. Known as "Anderson's Piano".

Anderson's Piano

Some more information.

 

[Trackman]

He did a video about rockfalls in a small town in Switzerland that used radar, but that for the road and looked a lot more dangerous!

 

[Ashley Hill]

One potential problem with this system seems to be that the lattice posts signals seem to be rapidly rusting away....not surprisingly, given their age, location and the local climatic conditions. When I lived in Scotland in the '70s and '80s they were repainted on a regular basis. At this rate, they'll soon need replacing with something more robust.

They could easily be replaced by tubular steel posts if they’re that bad.

 

[pdq]

He did a video about rockfalls in a small town in Switzerland that used radar, but that for the road and looked a lot more dangerous!