Water trains

[GB]

Really the only options are.

Water jetting/sandite train used during leafall (we are not at that point so can't be that)
De-icing train (we are not at that point so can't be that)
Weed killing train (coming up to that point if not already)
Rail grinder (might carry some water but not a water train)
High Output Ballast Cleaner (doesn't carry any water but perhaps someone is mislead by the "cleaner" bit?)

 

[AlterEgo]

i have spoke to somebody at southeastern trains about it before (a miracle even getting hold of them on the phone if you ask me) and they said the water is being used partly to test the tracks, but also in the creation of a large reservoir which a friend tells me is not far from devils dyke. i'm also waiting on more information and am happy to share.

Right, so the water train is both testing the tracks *and* also filling a reservoir?

And someone at SouthEastern customer services, a passenger operator, was able to tell you this? (They don't serve anywhere near Devil's Dyke anyway...)

Okay, I was patient at the beginning, but I think this is surely a wind up.

 

[GusB]

If you could give us a location and a date it would help immensely. "East Sussex" is far too vague! We're not asking for your full postal address - a nearby station would suffice.

 

[tsr]

i have spoke to somebody at southeastern trains about it before (a miracle even getting hold of them on the phone if you ask me) and they said the water is being used partly to test the tracks, but also in the creation of a large reservoir which a friend tells me is not far from devils dyke. i'm also waiting on more information and am happy to share.

I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank regarding your remark about Devil's Dyke. Firstly, are you referring to the land in the area near this link? https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8856769,-0.2141989,14z

If so, there are no relevant rail freight facilities near here. The closest railway line is the Brighton Mainline between Preston Park and Hassocks, which in this area is a passenger line which passes through two tunnels and a deep cutting. There is no real reason I can see why a freight train solely used to carry large volumes of water would run near here, let alone an exceptionally noisy one. The nearest source of noticeable freight activity would probably be Ardingly, which is nearer to Haywards Heath (just about in West Sussex), some way to the north. Ardingly has a reservoir, but not a new one.

As for creation of a reservoir, you'd probably need so many trains' worth of water to even begin to properly test/fill it that it would be hopelessly unsustainable to do it that way, both from a practical and ecological point of view. The reservoir would need a significant permanent water source anyway.

Lastly, Southeastern don't run freight trains, and their network is also mostly focussed on Kent, so any information you get from them will be most intriguing. The "testing the tracks" comment probably relates to track maintenance or water-jetting trains (see my comment about RHTTs earlier in the thread), and if this is the case, then I'm afraid you have little to no chance of influencing these operations. They will be tightly controlled to specific schedules for all lines, which of course vary by how heavily they are used and the risks involved in running trains, and given the intensity of train services around the south-east, you can expect overnight track works and the movements of associated freight trains to continue for the foreseeable...

 

[tsr]

Here is the only freight train schedule currently available online for Ardingly, for weekdays. Often this schedule isn't used (ie. the train does not run). But does this fit with any times/locations you've noticed?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H15818/2017/04/10/advanced



Or perhaps... here's something which might fit, but only in the longer-term future. South East Water are planning a reservoir extension at Arlington, near Berwick on the East Coastway rail route through Sussex. What I would add is that I can't see any specific statement about use of the railway, though more digging might uncover something.

http://www.southeastwater.co.uk/our-environment/our-reservoirs/extension-of-arlington-reservoir

 

[Darandio]

and given the intensity of train services around the south-east, you can expect overnight track works and the movements of associated freight trains to continue for the foreseeable...

However, the opening post claims these services are in East Sussex. Although I see from your later post that it could mean services are heading through there?

I'm with AlterEgo here, this seems to be wind up.

 

[tsr]

However, the opening post claims these services are in East Sussex. Although I see from your later post that it could mean services are heading through there?

East Sussex is in the south-east of England, and some routes (or adjoining routes) are rather busy during the day! Traffic from adjoining routes is indeed one of my ideas.

Additionally, although some of what I said does not apply to East Sussex, it could relate to other areas nearby, which could be of interest to people in the area.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Quite a few years ago there was a programme of spoil or construction material trains in connection with a flood relief or similar scheme at Hastings IIRC.
Alternatively winter snow and ice treatment trains (SITT) involve frozen water.

 

[6Gman]

i have spoke to somebody at southeastern trains about it before (a miracle even getting hold of them on the phone if you ask me) and they said the water is being used partly to test the tracks, but also in the creation of a large reservoir which a friend tells me is not far from devils dyke. i'm also waiting on more information and am happy to share.

Look forward to some more information but there are a couple of odd things about this.

1. Southeastern trains are a passenger operator so not sure how anybody there would know anything about freight trains.
2. Filling a reservoir with water brought in by train would be a bizarre thing to do - slow, complex, expensive. Not even sure there are wagons to carry such a load.

It would help if you could tell us:

a) where this train passes - don't need your postal address, just what route we are talking about;
b) what night, and about what time, this train passes.

Thanks.

 

[DarloRich]

i have spoke to somebody at southeastern trains about it before (a miracle even getting hold of them on the phone if you ask me) and they said the water is being used partly to test the tracks, but also in the creation of a large reservoir which a friend tells me is not far from devils dyke. i'm also waiting on more information and am happy to share.

I smell a rat

 

[Parham Wood]

A late April Fool in my opinion!

 

[fergusjbend]

Utter balls.

 

[theironroad]

I smell a rat

Tbh, if it came from a toc Twitter feed or customer services, they probably believe it as well.

 

[ExRes]

Maybe it's a top secret holding site for water smuggled out of the EU before Brexit takes effect and we all die of thirst ........







Sent from my pretentious GPO telephone kiosk using Button A

 

[zaax]

Clayton tunnel goes under the Devils dyke. Is there track work there?

 

[theironroad]

Maybe it's a top secret holding site for water smuggled out of the EU before Brexit takes effect and we all die of thirst ........







Sent from my pretentious GPO telephone kiosk using Button A

Well there used to be ec butter mountains and wine lakes so who knows.....

 

[Carntyne]

What a brilliant thread. Zero information from the OP and already 6 pages. Nailed on wind up.

 

[Cowley]

hi. sorry, i'm not able to reply as soon as everybody else seems to be. i'm trying to read all these replies but i don't understand why some of you are being so angry. i was only asking a question because i was pretty angry at the time. i think it just goes to show that if you so much as say something these days you'll be instantly attacked. so much for a society that supposedly cares about people.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

 

[aye2beeviasea]

i have spoke to somebody at southeastern trains about it before (a miracle even getting hold of them on the phone if you ask me) and they said the water is being used partly to test the tracks, but also in the creation of a large reservoir which a friend tells me is not far from devils dyke. i'm also waiting on more information and am happy to share.

If it's running up the line from Aldrington to Devils Dyke I'm not surprised in the least that it's making a racket

 

[kentman]

There's one mentioned here :

Rail freight industry and Network Rail collaborate to increase railway capacity

Water train from Dollands Moor to Wembley was a Class 66 and changed to electric traction using a Class 92. This allowed a 200 tonnes increase in weight from 1,600 to 1,800 tonnes, an increase of 11.9 per cent

 

[33056]

There's one mentioned here :

Rail freight industry and Network Rail collaborate to increase railway capacity

Think that one has already been mentioned and it a) doesn't pass through the area in question and b) runs during the day anyway.

Also, the loco was switched from a class 92 to a 66 some time ago and I'm reasonably sure that there are no plans to switch back.

 

[TimboM]

Think that one has already been mentioned and it a) doesn't pass through the area in question and b) runs during the day anyway.

Also, the loco was switched from a class 92 to a 66 some time ago and I'm reasonably sure that there are no plans to switch back.

Aye - this particular "water train" is Danone bottled water I believe and not engineering / reservoir water. As DB only have 6 operational 92s in the U.K. and they're not able to work anywhere other than through the tunnel and HS1 these days, then you're right about no current plans to switch back.

 

[Bantamzen]

As the OP seems unwilling to give any details as to the location of these "water trains", and as they are a self-confessed Express reader, may I suggest we just give them what they want to read? So here goes.....

Yes, its disgusting, trains running up and down in the middle of the night are a sure sign of "Broken Britain". I blame "The Liberal Left", no doubt this train is some "politically correct" service dreamt up by some "quango" to use up more of our hard earned money in taxes, and they probably run them past the OP's house so as not to pass by any council estate where the dole scroungers will be watching their Sky TV and playing on their Playstations paid for by our taxes, they should bring back Thatcher, she'd sort them blumming well out I can tell you......

Phew! That ought to cover it!

P.S. To the original poster, this was what we call humour. In the absence of any details the members of this forum are really unable to offer any explanation as to what these trains are, and why they run when they do. This forum isn't a political one, and as such if you are looking simply for people to agree with you then you are probably in the wrong forum. However if you'd like to tell us the stretch of track involved, then I'm sure one of us will be able to assist further.

 

[Tracked]

Yes, its disgusting, trains running up and down in the middle of the night are a sure sign of "Broken Britain". I blame "The Liberal Left", no doubt this train is some "politically correct" service dreamt up by some "quango" to use up more of our hard earned money in taxes, and they probably run them past the OP's house so as not to pass by any council estate where the dole scroungers will be watching their Sky TV and playing on their Playstations paid for by our taxes, they should bring back Thatcher, she'd sort them blumming well out I can tell you......

Surely it's because they're taking the tears of all those "Remoaners" (© 1954 - The Daily Express) and burying them in a new landfill called "Suck it Up, Snowflakes"?

Anyway, everyone knows that water trains will evaporate in the heat ...

 

[theironroad]

As the OP seems unwilling to give any details as to the location of these "water trains", and as they are a self-confessed Express reader, may I suggest we just give them what they want to read? So here goes.....

Yes, its disgusting, trains running up and down in the middle of the night are a sure sign of "Broken Britain". I blame "The Liberal Left", no doubt this train is some "politically correct" service dreamt up by some "quango" to use up more of our hard earned money in taxes, and they probably run them past the OP's house so as not to pass by any council estate where the dole scroungers will be watching their Sky TV and playing on their Playstations paid for by our taxes, they should bring back Thatcher, she'd sort them blumming well out I can tell you......

Phew! That ought to cover it!

P.S. To the original poster, this was what we call humour. In the absence of any details the members of this forum are really unable to offer any explanation as to what these trains are, and why they run when they do. This forum isn't a political one, and as such if you are looking simply for people to agree with you then you are probably in the wrong forum. However if you'd like to tell us the stretch of track involved, then I'm sure one of us will be able to assist further.

I'm afraid you've missed out the essential points about an Express story, especially a front headline:

- something about Diana or Maddie
- something about house prices
- something about extreme hot,cold or stormy weather
Can't remember the fourth one,might be to do with miracle cures or or wine/chocolate is good/bad for you etc.

 

[Bantamzen]

I'm afraid you've missed out the essential points about an Express story, especially a front headline:

- something about Diana or Maddie
- something about house prices
- something about extreme hot,cold or stormy weather
Can't remember the fourth one,might be to do with miracle cures or or wine/chocolate is good/bad for you etc.

I hang my hed in shame. Back to the Daily Mail comments section it is.......

 

[trac]

The railway runs a water train ---- to be a good neighbour and keep gardens fresh and green in time for daffodil season.

(edit I was thinking of a water train fitted with sprinklers)

 

[Deepgreen]

I'm afraid you've missed out the essential points about an Express story, especially a front headline:

- something about Diana or Maddie
- something about house prices
- something about extreme hot,cold or stormy weather
Can't remember the fourth one,might be to do with miracle cures or or wine/chocolate is good/bad for you etc.

The fourth one concerns school places. BTW, house prices in Sussex are doomed to plummet after it was revealed that noisy night-time water trains are to run.

 

[snowball]

I seem to remember seeing the phrase "water trains" somewhere in the media in the last week or two and wondering what a water train was. I'd never seen or heard the phrase before so it's probably related.

I don't normally read the Mail or the Express.

It was in a UK context. Something about they are going to run again.

Doing a web search now only finds items about India.

I think the news item I saw was based on the one linked by kentman in #81. That still doesn't explain what those water trains are, but TimboM's #83 does. So that's my personal mystery solved. Thanks to both.

 

[ExRes]

BTW, house prices in Sussex are doomed to plummet after it was revealed that noisy night-time water trains are to run.

Thank goodness I moved to Devon before this potential financial disaster, what we have down here of course, is a train that doesn't run with water aboard, it's called a Voyager .......