It is worth noting that on "Southern" there were two stretches that were closed. Tonbridge to Redhill and Keymer to Lewes. All other routes were absolutely fine. The 377s coped quite well everywhere else. The first train over Keymer from Lewes was some 130" late and that was achieved with hand de- icing of the live rail taking place by staff walking in front of the unit. The ice was just that, ice, not frost, sheet ice.
Both routes suffered a lack of overnight trains with shoegear which may well have helped. Additional E.C.S. were operated elsewhere (West Coast / Arun) as well as some de-icers. Keymer to Lewes was part of a planned possession so the first train over was the first train for some hours.
I gather that the SET issues were on similarly untreated routes, but I have no details. It is actually quite likely that had the temperature been much lower the problem would not have existed as there would be less moisture and less chance of a sheet of ice building up, just a nice crisp frost that Ice Mode on 377s copes with quite well.
As for older stock coping better, that's a fair comment, but, and it's a big but, the days after would see huge amounts of stock laid up with burnt out grids waiting to be fixed. Yes they got through the ice, snow and frost, but the lack of protection of electrical equipment meant it just kept heating up and eventually it went pop. The 442s will cope very well and have been used in the past on snowy days to route prove and keep lines open but this comes at a cost days later. At least with 377s the ice mode protects the electronics and in the days after you have no difference in availability.
And just to add to the micro-climate debate, I think I have probably posted before, but travelling from Croydon in my car I witness quite amazing temperature differences as I come South through Purley and Hooley and onto the M23. I have on a number of occasions left home 5 /6C, got to Hooley and the yellow warning comes on and at Redhill the red light comes on as I hit zero. Thursday was one of these days, although it never hit zero every car in the car park had a lovely sheet of ice and yet the roads and paths looked like there had been a normal dewy night.
Hope this helps a bit . . .
Both routes suffered a lack of overnight trains with shoegear which may well have helped. Additional E.C.S. were operated elsewhere (West Coast / Arun) as well as some de-icers. Keymer to Lewes was part of a planned possession so the first train over was the first train for some hours.
I gather that the SET issues were on similarly untreated routes, but I have no details. It is actually quite likely that had the temperature been much lower the problem would not have existed as there would be less moisture and less chance of a sheet of ice building up, just a nice crisp frost that Ice Mode on 377s copes with quite well.
As for older stock coping better, that's a fair comment, but, and it's a big but, the days after would see huge amounts of stock laid up with burnt out grids waiting to be fixed. Yes they got through the ice, snow and frost, but the lack of protection of electrical equipment meant it just kept heating up and eventually it went pop. The 442s will cope very well and have been used in the past on snowy days to route prove and keep lines open but this comes at a cost days later. At least with 377s the ice mode protects the electronics and in the days after you have no difference in availability.
And just to add to the micro-climate debate, I think I have probably posted before, but travelling from Croydon in my car I witness quite amazing temperature differences as I come South through Purley and Hooley and onto the M23. I have on a number of occasions left home 5 /6C, got to Hooley and the yellow warning comes on and at Redhill the red light comes on as I hit zero. Thursday was one of these days, although it never hit zero every car in the car park had a lovely sheet of ice and yet the roads and paths looked like there had been a normal dewy night.
Hope this helps a bit . . .