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Post by snoggle on Oct 10, 2017 22:54:50 GMT
I hope nobody minds me asking, but what are Rail Adhesion trains? What is their function? Still got a lot to learn about trains A Rail Adhesion Train (RAT in LU parlance) is a specially converted train that has hoppers inside the carriage with chutes down to track level. They can apply a material on the top of the rails to afford greater grip during Autumn. This is because leaves fall off trees, land on the rail and are compressed by passing trains forming a thin slippery mulch on the railhead. This causes trains to lose grip and to "skid" with the result being that the round metal "tyre" on the train wheel is flattened. You can tell trains with "flats" because of the clunking noise they make. Clearly it is not good practice to run such trains in service as they damage the wheelsets and rails. The other problem with slippery rails is that trains don't stop in the right place and make pass signals at danger (SPAD) if there is such a signal at the platform end. This is often the case on LU given the short signal sections. On the Picc Line this year they have temporarily converted two units to be RATs as the line has traditionally not had a RAT. The Sub Surface lines, Met in particular, have the higher instances of leaf fall. The Central has a specially retained 1962 stock RAT which can work with the automatic signalling. On the Northern and Jubilee the trains' operation is amended by the computer to run slower and brake more gently during Autumn. The Met also has a leaf fall timetable allowing more time for trains to run. The same applies on the main line where special leaf fall timetables apply. In Winter regular trains are filled with de-icing fluid and spray this as they run in service in the open sections where there is an ice risk. Ordinary cars on trains are designed as de-icers and the timetable is scheduled in such a way that de-icers run regularly to a pre-planned frequency when there is an ice risk. Some stocks also have brushes at the ends of the trains at rail height to brush falling snow out of the way rather than have it compressed on the rail head and turn to ice. LU can also suspend engineering hours and run trains all night when snow is forecast to prevent the lines being snow bound for morning service. Every year special plans are prepared for each season to cope with the different adverse weather conditions (heat, wind, rail, snow, ice) that can affect railway operation. HTH. Picc Line RAT press release
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Post by sid on Oct 11, 2017 8:31:36 GMT
I hope nobody minds me asking, but what are Rail Adhesion trains? What is their function? Still got a lot to learn about trains There are a few of them out and about on Network Rail at this time of year, combating the effects of the dreaded leaves on the line.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 11, 2017 10:15:04 GMT
Why would they have not saved some of the Victoria line stock to do this instead of converting actual service passenger trains that would be needed, very silly of them to do this imo. Backward thinking. they have been installed in such a way when the leaf fall season is over they will be reconfigured back to passenger use until next years leaf fall timetable kicks in the ex vic line stock would have needed reconfiguring and thus would cost more as it would be non standard on the picc Well they could have used ex Victoria line stock, there are no restrictions, and at times IIRC they transferred trains via Piccadilly line. They could have then not need to take two trains out of service. It would not cost the world to do.
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Post by paulsw2 on Oct 11, 2017 10:56:05 GMT
they have been installed in such a way when the leaf fall season is over they will be reconfigured back to passenger use until next years leaf fall timetable kicks in the ex vic line stock would have needed reconfiguring and thus would cost more as it would be non standard on the picc Well they could have used ex Victoria line stock, there are no restrictions, and at times IIRC they transferred trains via Piccadilly line. They could have then not need to take two trains out of service. It would not cost the world to do. only 1 train is missing as the RATs are each formed of 3 cars plus they return to service at end of leaf fall the vic stock would have cost money to fit out be non standard with the rest of the fleet (in the event of a failure and needing assistance) and would sit idle for 9 months of the year
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Post by snowman on Oct 11, 2017 11:38:36 GMT
Well they could have used ex Victoria line stock, there are no restrictions, and at times IIRC they transferred trains via Piccadilly line. They could have then not need to take two trains out of service. It would not cost the world to do. only 1 train is missing as the RATs are each formed of 3 cars plus they return to service at end of leaf fall the vic stock would have cost money to fit out be non standard with the rest of the fleet (in the event of a failure and needing assistance) and would sit idle for 9 months of the year It was actually a lack of foresight, for decades LU used withdrawn stock for service cars. However they thought they didn't need any so scrapped the old stock. The Jubilee mark 2 stock would have been even better than Victoria line motor cars as it was newer and had cab doors. Better not to remove passenger stock as it's cheaper to do a proper conversion once than keep changing every season. The temporary hoppers probably need filling by hand as there is no loading hatch in roof to fill by gravity. Will never be as acurate as a controlled sand nozzle. I suspect current solution is a short term fix. The report also mentions only 2 tree climbers for whole line so some tube gauge cherry pickers to cut the overhanging branches would have been useful.
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Post by M1199 on Oct 11, 2017 18:27:04 GMT
S Stock 21047 was sat at Uxbridge this lunchtime as #444 with its destination set for Croxley! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/36968927053/in/dateposted-public/A Stock RAT related, is there a timetable published online anywhere that might show it's diagrammed runs? I know over at District Dave, they don't like posting stuff like that and I know it'll only run if and when required. But as this years leaf fall is to be it's last before it's fully replaced by the D Stock RAT, I would like to get to see it at least once more 'out where they belong'
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Post by MoEnviro on Oct 11, 2017 19:30:04 GMT
S Stock 21047 was sat at Uxbridge this lunchtime as #444 with its destination set for Croxley! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/36968927053/in/dateposted-public/A Stock RAT related, is there a timetable published online anywhere that might show it's diagrammed runs? I know over at District Dave, they don't like posting stuff like that and I know it'll only run if and when required. But as this years leaf fall is to be it's last before it's fully replaced by the D Stock RAT, I would like to get to see it at least once more 'out where they belong' The A-stock has scheduled runs in the Autumn timetable notice available on the TfL website in the working timetables section, just look for Train 710.
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Post by snoggle on Oct 11, 2017 19:34:47 GMT
S Stock 21047 was sat at Uxbridge this lunchtime as #444 with its destination set for Croxley! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/36968927053/in/dateposted-public/A Stock RAT related, is there a timetable published online anywhere that might show it's diagrammed runs? I know over at District Dave, they don't like posting stuff like that and I know it'll only run if and when required. But as this years leaf fall is to be it's last before it's fully replaced by the D Stock RAT, I would like to get to see it at least once more 'out where they belong' Just look for train 710 in this leaf fall Met Line temporary timetable. The train is supposed to run daily according to the introductory notes to the timetable. Whether it does or not is part of the gamble of going out to try to see it. It's published on the TfL website like all LU Working Timetables are.
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Post by M1199 on Oct 11, 2017 20:32:12 GMT
S Stock 21047 was sat at Uxbridge this lunchtime as #444 with its destination set for Croxley! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/36968927053/in/dateposted-public/A Stock RAT related, is there a timetable published online anywhere that might show it's diagrammed runs? I know over at District Dave, they don't like posting stuff like that and I know it'll only run if and when required. But as this years leaf fall is to be it's last before it's fully replaced by the D Stock RAT, I would like to get to see it at least once more 'out where they belong' Just look for train 710 in this leaf fall Met Line temporary timetable. The train is supposed to run daily according to the introductory notes to the timetable. Whether it does or not is part of the gamble of going out to try to see it. It's published on the TfL website like all LU Working Timetables are. Cheers snoggle MoEnviro Guess I can start planning!
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Post by capitalomnibus on Oct 11, 2017 22:04:09 GMT
Well they could have used ex Victoria line stock, there are no restrictions, and at times IIRC they transferred trains via Piccadilly line. They could have then not need to take two trains out of service. It would not cost the world to do. only 1 train is missing as the RATs are each formed of 3 cars plus they return to service at end of leaf fall the vic stock would have cost money to fit out be non standard with the rest of the fleet (in the event of a failure and needing assistance) and would sit idle for 9 months of the year It seems very strange after all these years where we have had RAT trains on Central line etc. nothing was done for the Piccadilly line which has plenty of open sections. There should have been a RAT train for the Pic line years ago and they missed the chance to use 67 stock, 83/86 stock, 59/62 stock. It surely wont cost the end of the earth to convert, if not it would not have been done for the Central line that had a 62 stock converted to run along modern 92 stock with ATO trains.
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Post by astock5000 on Oct 12, 2017 1:18:20 GMT
S Stock 21047 was sat at Uxbridge this lunchtime as #444 with its destination set for Croxley! www.flickr.com/photos/62959794@N06/36968927053/in/dateposted-public/A Stock RAT related, is there a timetable published online anywhere that might show it's diagrammed runs? I know over at District Dave, they don't like posting stuff like that and I know it'll only run if and when required. But as this years leaf fall is to be it's last before it's fully replaced by the D Stock RAT, I would like to get to see it at least once more 'out where they belong' Just look for train 710 in this leaf fall Met Line temporary timetable. The train is supposed to run daily according to the introductory notes to the timetable. Whether it does or not is part of the gamble of going out to try to see it. If the times I've been out to see it over the past few years are anything to go by, it will usually run but not always to the times in the timetable (or may just be early or late) so you have to be prepared to wait around somewhere - Harrow on the Hill is best as almost all trips it does pass through there. I've certainly had a lot more luck seeing the Met's RAT than the Central line's 1962 stock ones, I once managed to see the 8-car unit at the east end of the line but never the 5-car one which does the west.
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Post by COBO on Oct 19, 2017 21:14:21 GMT
Rail adhesion Train on platform 2 at White City Tube Station
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Post by COBO on Oct 25, 2017 11:49:59 GMT
Yesterday I was on a Epping bound Central Line that was coming from Northolt / West Ruislip that went to platform 2 instead of the platform 3 as usual.
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Post by MoEnviro on Oct 25, 2017 18:20:19 GMT
"Russian-themed train to launch on London Underground:London Underground has unveiled a Russian-themed train showcasing the country’s cultural achievements. ‘The Heart of Russia’ was launched at Baker Street station as part of a partnership between the Moscow Metro and the Tube, teaching passengers about each country in the field of science and education. Moscow’s deputy mayor Maxim Liksutov said the project will show that the UK and Russia have many things in common. He added: “The train will have seven carriages, each carriage concentrating on a separate subject, including ballet, graphic arts, literature, cinema, architecture, space exploration and science. “We hope that the Tube’s passengers will like the Heart of Russia project, and that it will allow everyone to get to know the our country’s history and culture better.” Russia and the UK have jointly declared 2017 as the Year of Science and Education, which this project is a part of. London Underground launched ‘The Heart of Russia’ on October 25. The Moscow Metro is to launch a themed train on UK science and education before the end of 2017." (Source: Global Rail News) I wonder if this means the return of Advert livery tube trains??
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Post by routew15 on Oct 26, 2017 20:10:53 GMT
Does anyone know the scope of these works ?
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