Thick cloud of smoke coming from the tracks?

[martin2345uk]

So this morning as I was driving past Ilford I saw a load of smoke/steam up ahead, around one of the Electric (Crossrail) lines. I thought there must be a steam engine about or something as there were crowds on the usually unused platform on the Main line. But then I saw Crossrail was running on the main lines, hence that crowd, and as I got to the smoke I saw it was billowing from one very specific point on the track itself.. I was about to call the signaller when I saw through the smoke that a network rail bod was there observing it from up close.

What could it have been? The smoke was thick and really billowing from a very small source, couldn’t for the life of me work out what it was.

 

[ComUtoR]

So this morning as I was driving past Ilford I saw a load of smoke/steam up ahead, around one of the Electric (Crossrail) lines. I thought there must be a steam engine about or something as there were crowds on the usually unused platform on the Main line. But then I saw Crossrail was running on the main lines, hence that crowd, and as I got to the smoke I saw it was billowing from one very specific point on the track itself.. I was about to call the signaller when I saw through the smoke that a network rail bod was there observing it from up close.

What could it have been? The smoke was thick and really billowing from a very small source, couldn’t for the life of me work out what it was.

Old wooden kickboards ?

You can get some smoke coming off kickboards where you tend to get a bit of arching. It's not unusual to see this in the summer as the wood dries out and you get embers building on the corners.

 

[GB]

Smouldering sleepers following rail grinder work

 

[High Dyke]

Old wooden kickboards ?

You can get some smoke coming off kickboards where you tend to get a bit of arching. It's not unusual to see this in the summer as the wood dries out and you get embers building on the corners.

OLE there, not 3rd rail. Though, yes arcing could cause a fire on kickboards.

As mentioned, smouldering sleepers following grinding work. The train has the ability to douse a fire, but some pockets may continue.