Following on from your post
@Bald Rick and #289, again what might seem a daft question. How do fallen trees get removed? Does a gang arrive on a slowly driven train then pull it off with ropes (with or without the train’s power), or is it all cut up into bits with chainsaws and cast to the side?
How a tree or branch is dealt with depends on how big it is, where it has fallen and who attends first.
Sometimes a train driver can manage to move a small tree or branch clear of the line just enough so that trains can pass (often at reduced speed).
Obviously this is not practical for larger trees or branches.
Often the on duty P.Way team or the on-call P.Way team will attend first. But a MOM or S&T fault team may also attend. Some of these staff may have hand saws to cut the small and medium tree branches.
Off track staff being sent to deal with the larger trees/branches (off track are the department responsible for vegetation). Off track staff have all the appropriate tools (such as chain saws) to deal with trees and other vegetation.
It’s not normal practice to try to use the train to try to move a fallen tree.
The biggest problem with a large storm, is the sheer number of incidents. Not just trees, but everything else that the wind and weather does. Every report of an obstruction has to be followed up if there is any change of it causing danger to trains. Plus all the other problems, such as debris causing point failures, problems with level crossing equipment (barriers) due to the weather etc.
The number of incidents can quickly exceed the capacity of the number of staff available to deal with these incidents. The on duty staff will be working hard going from one problem to the next. Often experiencing problems on the road network. And having to work in extreme weather conditions.
and luckily she's on her way now. Bad night to be travelling!
