Does anyone know the cause of the "dewirement" between Reading(?) and Paddington(?)

[farmerbarleymow]

All of this has reminded me of the splendid footage of the TGV speed record feat a few years ago. 5m 40s mark for those who can’t be bothered with the whole thing

Not been on TGV, but when I used to travel to London a lot I remember during winter when it was sub-zero outside the vivid blue glow as the wires didn't quite make contact with the pantograph as they were so taut causing the power arc across. It was brilliant to see when you were going through the countryside at 125mph in the dark, like some weird alien thing glowing above the train that you could see reflected in the windows when the train whizzed past random stations.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

it all seems to have gone wrong again today

 

[platinumsage]

You'd think with the widespread use of overhead wires on railways for many decades in scores of countries around the world that it actually wouldn't be especially hard to install a functioning system in the UK that wasn't liable to such disasters. There's only so far the typical excuse of "we built the railways first so everything is old" will cut it.

Here's a pantograph disaster unfolding.

In this case it's caused by a faulty component in the wiring hanging down, which in turn damages the pantograph, which then gradually disintegrates and starts damaging the wiring further along.

"Perhaps we should design the pantograph so that if it breaks it retracts, a kind of 'fail safe' if you will"
"No fuck that"
"OK"

 

[T & P]

Not related to the pantograph issue but still within the subject of disruption to the service from overhead cables…

Obviously there are far fewer miles of overhead cables in it here than in the Continent, so correspondingly there will be far fewer cases of cable theft than in France or Spain. But is it a thing in here at all? In the Continent there seem to be very regular interruptions of service, however brief, due to cable theft…

 

[Chilli.s]

Just have this in my earworm for the whole thread, happy to share

 

[teuchter]

Not related to the pantograph issue but still within the subject of disruption to the service from overhead cables…

Obviously there are far fewer miles of overhead cables in it here than in the Continent, so correspondingly there will be far fewer cases of cable theft than in France or Spain. But is it a thing in here at all? In the Continent there seem to be very regular interruptions of service, however brief, due to cable theft…

It's not the overhead cables that get stolen. And yes cable theft is a thing here.

Haven't we had this exact discussion on here very recently

 

[T & P]

It's not the overhead cables that get stolen. And yes cable theft is a thing here.

Haven't we had this exact discussion on here very recently

Yes, I was just thinking that, and I might have been involved myself in a similar way. I’m starting to be concerned about my memory…

 

[T & P]

But since I’ve clearly forgotten the answer already from the previous conversation, what is it that gets nicked if not the overhead cables? If you don’t mind my asking?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Copper nicking from tracks and such was in the news a lot a few years ago, blamed on austerity and (according to the Mail the polish as always) so yeah happens here.

 

[davesgcr]

You'd think with the widespread use of overhead wires on railways for many decades in scores of countries around the world that it actually wouldn't be especially hard to install a functioning system in the UK that wasn't liable to such disasters. There's only so far the typical excuse of "we built the railways first so everything is old" will cut it.



"Perhaps we should design the pantograph so that if it breaks it retracts, a kind of 'fail safe' if you will"
"No fuck that"
"OK"

The pantographs have an "ADD" feature - which if the smooth run encounters problems , they automatically drop down , trouble is at any speed once the pans drop , the damage has been done. Even a 5 mph pan drop in a siding can cause significant damage ,so imagine what a 125 mph run does.

All sorts of things around - some newish trains has "Panchex" which report back by GSMR on the state of the overhead , the newish Thameslink trains have cameras and a light on the pan area so that checking can be done easily. There are overhead line and other infrastructure checking trains that cover the network regularly and try and pre-empt issues. So not as if nothing is done. (and as an ex Operator , not an engineer by any means ,I approve of this)....

Dealt with all sorts of pan issues - back in the day , with a stalled train , an emergency ladder would be used , mindful of the 9ft rule of live overheads , (25kV is unforgiving and can flash over) - found branches , dead birds and one one never to be forgotten incident at Wembley , some allotment covering sheets which had blown over and got entangled , damaged badly the OLE , flashed over, and the burning sheets then landed on an unprotected cable run , started a fire and knocked out the signalling as well.

I believe just as many issues overseas as well. The Netherlands had a bad one the other day where a train load of eco-cars for shipment via Vlissingen had a car boot burst open , hit the live overheads ,brought the lot down and arcing started a fire which burnt out about 50 cars and shut the line for an eon.

 

[davesgcr]

You'd think with the widespread use of overhead wires on railways for many decades in scores of countries around the world that it actually wouldn't be especially hard to install a functioning system in the UK that wasn't liable to such disasters. There's only so far the typical excuse of "we built the railways first so everything is old" will cut it.



"Perhaps we should design the pantograph so that if it breaks it retracts, a kind of 'fail safe' if you will"
"No fuck that"
"OK"

Hmm - that pan should have dropped , but when a damaged pan hits a neutral section , the damage can be catastrophic. (every few miles , depending on where the feeder stations are , you have a neutral section for maybe 200 yards - there are all sorts of interface issues and if the neutral section gets damaged on say a 4 track line , the immediate attempt at keeping the juice on 2 lines vice 4 is kyboshed , and the repairs can be difficult)

 

[Puddy_Tat]

the newish Thameslink trains have cameras and a light on the pan area so that checking can be done easily.

ah

thought i saw a thameslink train with a light on the roof a little while ago and wondered wtf

although this was somewhere south of the river so didn't have this silly electric string in the sky

a train load of eco-cars for shipment via Vlissingen had a car boot burst open , hit the live overheads ,brought the lot down and arcing started a fire which burnt out about 50 cars and shut the line for an eon.

 

[WouldBe]

But since I’ve clearly forgotten the answer already from the previous conversation, what is it that gets nicked if not the overhead cables? If you don’t mind my asking?

Isn't it signalling cables that run alongside the tracks?

 

[teuchter]

ah

thought i saw a thameslink train with a light on the roof a little while ago and wondered wtf

although this was somewhere south of the river so didn't have this silly electric string in the sky

Yeah, I watch the Thameslink trains from my kitchen window, definitely in 3rd rail land and they all have the (quite bright) pantograph lights on regardless.

 

[teuchter]

But since I’ve clearly forgotten the answer already from the previous conversation, what is it that gets nicked if not the overhead cables? If you don’t mind my asking?

I think it's usually signalling comms cables that run alongside tracks at ground level. And power cables, that might carry power to signals or point motors and things like that. You'll see concrete trunking alongside many rail lines, the cables are usually contained in this if they are not buried.

I think I remember reading, a popular method is to drag some loops of cable out of the trunking, and lay them across the tracks. Wait for the first train of the day to cut them for you, and then make off with the goods.

 

[davesgcr]

I think it's usually signalling comms cables that run alongside tracks at ground level. And power cables, that might carry power to signals or point motors and things like that. You'll see concrete trunking alongside many rail lines, the cables are usually contained in this if they are not buried.

I think I remember reading, a popular method is to drag some loops of cable out of the trunking, and lay them across the tracks. Wait for the first train of the day to cut them for you, and then make off with the goods.

All sorts of security things done to protect signal cabling. Which I ain't going to mention.

It is an international problem , I recall a conversation with an Indian Railways operator from the Mumbai area , who indicated that they buried their signal cables in trenches. About 6 feet deep - hand dug.......