Snowploughs, Railhead Treatment Trains and much else besides – with one eye on the weather forecast, TIM SHACKLETON looks at some of the specialised vehicles that keep Network Rail running.
Above: Railhead Treatment Trains have become a popular subject amongst railway photographers and modellers. On December 1 2011 DRS Class 37 37087 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway 40th Anniversary 1968-2008, with 37688 at the rear, passes through Chelmsford working a Shenfield-Clacton RHTT. The external condition of the locomotive and wagons is typical of these sandite trains. John Day/Railphotoprints.uk.
The British climate impacts on railway operation in all kinds of ways – from the day-to-day effects of rain, high winds, heat and extreme cold to perennial grumbles such as ‘leaves on the line’ and the disruption caused by periodic heavy snowfall.
Mundane matters such as keeping lineside vegetation in check also tie up a lot of budget, as does dealing with cumulative wear and tear occasioned by the elements.
Many of the problems associated with weather management are seasonal. Coping with them involves significant investment in resources that may only be used for part of the year, if at all.
Track and lineside structures bear the brunt of th…
