• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Broken windscreen on KGX to Newcastle

Status
Not open for further replies.

Bakerbloke

Member
Joined
18 Oct 2010
Messages
105
Location
Derbyshire
Just seen the windscreen of the EC train that has caused the line south of Stevenage to close a short while. It has lots of cracks coming from a central area where you can imagine something substantial has hit it. Train pulled in very slowly to Stevenage and will be going nowhere for a while.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I noticed when it was coasting to the platform that its headlughts were operating at a very powerful beam that I had not seen before. maybe the only way for the driver to see the platforms throught the damaged windscreen.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Anyone know what caused it?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

ushawk

Established Member
Joined
5 Nov 2010
Messages
1,965
Location
Eastbourne
Wouldnt be surprised if something was thrown for a bridge - it has happened a fair bit on the southern section of the ECML recently.
 

John55

Member
Joined
24 Jun 2011
Messages
800
Location
South East
Could a bird strike really cause much damage to toughened glass? unless, of course, it was a frozen turkey.

Imagine a fat pigeon hitting you in the face at 125mph, it would be a severe impact. The glass will be at least laminated not toughened.

I have seen ballast thrown up take out most of the glass on the side of a Mk 2 so it doesn't have to be a brick to do some serious damage.
 

dk1

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Oct 2009
Messages
15,822
Location
East Anglia
Bird strike is a regular cause of broken windscreens. Have had two bad ones so far this year then the 20mph crawl to the next suitable point to terminate.
 

michael769

Established Member
Joined
9 Oct 2005
Messages
2,006
Could a bird strike really cause much damage to toughened glass? unless, of course, it was a frozen turkey.

I had a car windscreen badly cracked as a result of a seagull strike at 60mph :( I was glad it was a laminated windscreen - I fear that had it just been toughened it would have got through the glass! :shock:
 

jopsuk

Veteran Member
Joined
13 May 2008
Messages
12,771
A toughned windscreen would badly, badly injure the driver if it was broken- there's a good reason they're laminated, a bit like your car- the windscreen is laminated, the side windows (in a car) are toughned.
 

Cherry_Picker

Established Member
Joined
18 Apr 2011
Messages
2,796
Location
Birmingham
I've never known a bird strike to break the windscreen of a train, I've hit some pretty heavy birds (Red Kites, Pheasants) at 100mph too. Makes a hell of a bang and an even bigger mess. Not saying it cant happen, but just based on personal experience of a few broken windscreens it always seems to be harder things like bricks and stones which crack the glass rather than a squishy bird. That said, it is pheasant season now and those things do love getting killed by trains.

As for the strength of windscreens? They are ridiculous, I think modern ones are at least a five layer composite (plastic film, toughened glass, plastic film, toughened glass, plastic film) and even if one has been hit by a house brick on the outside the inside layer can still be as smooth as a babies bottom.
 

Flywaver

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2009
Messages
190
Chaps i hit a Pheasant.My speedo was just nudging 90. Windscreens are tough yes.. But if the Angle is right.Its not tough anymore. I was out of service at Oakham.
 

broadgage

Member
Joined
11 Aug 2012
Messages
1,094
Location
Somerset
I doubt that a bird would break the windscreen of a modern train.
I was on a FGW HST that hit a goose at full speed, the driver had a nasty fright, but the window was not damaged, an extra stop was made to examine the train for any other damage, and remove bits of goose from the window.

Most modern trains have "day" and "night" headlights, and in the case refered to by the O/P I consider it probable that whatever struck the winscreen also broke one of the headlights, thereby requireing that the wrong one be used as a short term measure.

The "day" headlight is intended to shine directly ahead, so as to make an approaching train as visable as possible to persons on or near the track.
The "night" headlight is directed slightly downwards so as to better light trackside signs, and obstructions on the track.
 

rf_ioliver

Member
Joined
17 Apr 2011
Messages
854
Birds...we get some serious stuff over here :)

http://vaunut.org/kuva/66862

Mind you, birds and other small animals make a hell of mess when they do hit...I remember picking bits of rabbit out of my car's radiator in the middle of the night somewhere in the middle of Wales and that was at a relatively low speed too...

t.

Ian
 

Flywaver

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2009
Messages
190
I doubt that a bird would break the windscreen of a modern train.
I was on a FGW HST that hit a goose at full speed, the driver had a nasty fright, but the window was not damaged, an extra stop was made to examine the train for any other damage, and remove bits of goose from the window.

Most modern trains have "day" and "night" headlights, and in the case refered to by the O/P I consider it probable that whatever struck the winscreen also broke one of the headlights, thereby requireing that the wrong one be used as a short term measure.

The "day" headlight is intended to shine directly ahead, so as to make an approaching train as visable as possible to persons on or near the track.
The "night" headlight is directed slightly downwards so as to better light trackside signs, and obstructions on the track.

You can doubt what you like.Damage is damage. I admit 90% hits don't do anything but as I said if the Angle is right and its an Angry Bird lol. It's goodnight windscreen.
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,182
Location
Fenny Stratford
Just seen the windscreen of the EC train that has caused the line south of Stevenage to close a short while. It has lots of cracks coming from a central area where you can imagine something substantial has hit it. Train pulled in very slowly to Stevenage and will be going nowhere for a while.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I noticed when it was coasting to the platform that its headlughts were operating at a very powerful beam that I had not seen before. maybe the only way for the driver to see the platforms throught the damaged windscreen.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Anyone know what caused it?

I would imagine a bird strike caused it
 

oversteer

Member
Joined
26 Jan 2011
Messages
725
I've hit some pretty heavy birds (Red Kites, Pheasants) at 100mph too.

Despite its large wingspan, a red kite only weighs about a kilo! Or about a quarter of the weight of your average goose.

(Although I am sure at 100mph any impact is dramatic)

I remember a few dead pheasants on the tracks at Marylebone last year. They were there for many days before the Westminster foxes had them away.
 

NHG66

Member
Joined
30 Aug 2012
Messages
102
Reading the original post, the Op stated that the line south of Stevenage was closed for a while. Would this not point to someone throwing an object off a bridge and needing aprehending? or perhaps the detail was the northbound line was closed due to this withdrawn train until the line was cleared.

Whatever the reason, must of been a brown trouser moment for the driver.
 

TDK

Established Member
Joined
19 Apr 2008
Messages
4,155
Location
Crewe
Could a bird strike really cause much damage to toughened glass? unless, of course, it was a frozen turkey.

yes a bird strike depending on the bird can cause a broken train windscreen had a pheasant on the 2nd mans seat once in bits
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I would imagine a bird strike caused it

Imagining does not answer any questions
 
Last edited:

A-driver

Established Member
Joined
9 May 2011
Messages
4,482
If this was today that you are talking about then it was caused by a ballast train spilling its load in the path of the EC train through one of the tunnels. Only glanced at it but was in the FCC GN log when I was reading it earlier.

Would Imagen if the headlight was bright it would be because the casing cracked like the windscreen did so it was a bare bulb shining at you.
 

TDK

Established Member
Joined
19 Apr 2008
Messages
4,155
Location
Crewe
Reading the original post, the Op stated that the line south of Stevenage was closed for a while. Would this not point to someone throwing an object off a bridge and needing aprehending? or perhaps the detail was the northbound line was closed due to this withdrawn train until the line was cleared.

Whatever the reason, must of been a brown trouser moment for the driver.

No not necessarily, the driver may have needed a competent person or was shocked and needed a deep breath or anything else, I cannot understand why some of the popsters on here just 2nd guess at what has happened with an incident
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If this was today that you are talking about then it was caused by a ballast train spilling its load in the path of the EC train through one of the tunnels. Only glanced at it but was in the FCC GN log when I was reading it earlier.

Would Imagen if the headlight was bright it would be because the casing cracked like the windscreen did so it was a bare bulb shining at you.

Hey, someone with some facts, so not someone throwing a brick off a bridge then that needed aprehending and this is why the line was shut?????
 

A-driver

Established Member
Joined
9 May 2011
Messages
4,482
It is why the line was shut. As I say I only glanced at the log whilst waiting for a train but that is what broke the windscreen. Don't think there is any more confirmed info yet as to why the ballast was spilt etc.
 

A-driver

Established Member
Joined
9 May 2011
Messages
4,482
Also there was a bridge strike at hitchin this morning causing delays and something stuck in the OHLE near bayford on the branch so quite an eventful day!
 

VP185

Member
Joined
13 Feb 2010
Messages
344
I've recently hit a pheasant at around 70mph with a 166 and ended up with a lap full of glass. It depends on how and where they strike the windscreen

A red kite weighs so little you hardly hear it hit the windscreen...... leaves a right mess though!
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    103.2 KB · Views: 102

GB

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2008
Messages
6,457
Location
Somewhere
As far as I can tell, the line wasn't shut at all. Some services were cautioned and the MOM patrolled Welwyn north tunnel (after close of service) but nothing is being listed as closed on CCIL.
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,182
Location
Fenny Stratford
yes a bird strike depending on the bird can cause a broken train windscreen had a pheasant on the 2nd mans seat once in bits
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Imagining does not answer any questions

Well i dont know for certain but it will almost certianly have been that. Frankly i cant be ar*ed to look it up. if it was something bigger there wouldnt be a cracked windscreen. There would be no windscreen!

Flying ballast is also a possibility.
 

Crossover

Established Member
Joined
4 Jun 2009
Messages
9,247
Location
Yorkshire
I recall a couple of years ago my boss hitting a pheasant in his new Merc after it flew across the road. Luckily it hit the bumper and didn't cause any damage but it made a heck of a noise!
 

DXMachina

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2011
Messages
652
My plan for free-range Ostrich farming near the ECML isnt going to please you then?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top