Bird Strike between Knebworth and Stevenage 12/2/20

malc-c · 12 Feb 2020

Hi Guys,

I noticed a Azuma twin set with 801 109 at the front held at a signal about 1k south of Stevenage for over 20 minutes around lunchtime today. Local newspaper website reported that trains were delayed after a bird caused damage to a train this morning which was stabled at Stevenage whilst temporary repairs were made.

Does anyone know if this was the train that was involved or if it was simply held up in the queue (Thameslink and GN trains were still using the down slow and I didn't see any express trains diverted to the slow line)

RailUK Forums

skyhigh · 12 Feb 2020

That was the involved set. Terminated at Stevenage and went empty to the depot.

bramling · 12 Feb 2020

malc-c said:
Hi Guys,

I noticed a Azuma twin set with 801 109 at the front held at a signal about 1k south of Stevenage for over 20 minutes around lunchtime today. Local newspaper website reported that trains were delayed after a bird caused damage to a train this morning which was stabled at Stevenage whilst temporary repairs were made.

Does anyone know if this was the train that was involved or if it was simply held up in the queue (Thameslink and GN trains were still using the down slow and I didn't see any express trains diverted to the slow line)

Yes that was it. I got a passing glimpse on my way home, quite a bit of (no doubt superficial) damage visible.

Caused quite a bit of blocking back through Stevenage, and a Horsham-Peterborough service was diverted via Hertford in consequence and unusually went via the up line from Hertford North to Stevenage in order to pass a freight train. (Needless to say the same train also ran non-stop Hitchin to Peterborough to make up the time!).

The Azumas seem in danger of picking up a repuatation for not being particularly robust!

43066 · 12 Feb 2020

Anyone got any idea what breed of bird was involved?

A pheasant has been my largest so far, hit at around 65mph, which made quite a bang but caused no damage to the unit I was driving at the time.

Saperstein · 12 Feb 2020

LNER just described it as “a large bird” on Twitter so am guessing a pheasant.

https://twitter.com/lner/status/1227602015804690432?s=21

Service involved was 1D13 1203 KGX - LDS.

Saperstein.

malc-c · 13 Feb 2020

Thanks guys... Just from watching it was soon apparent just what an impact it had on services.

malc-c · 13 Feb 2020

bramling said:
Yes that was it. I got a passing glimpse on my way home, quite a bit of (no doubt superficial) damage visible.

Where was the damage. I had a fairly good view of the front end and left hand side and it seemed in good shape from where I was standing.

HSP 2 · 13 Feb 2020

I wouldn't call a pheasant a large bird about 1-1/2lb. What I would call a large bird is a goose or swan about 10lbs.

43066 said:
A pheasant has been my largest so far, hit at around 65mph, which made quite a bang but caused no damage to the unit I was driving at the time.

If the unit was the one in your avatar it looks like it did a bit of readjusting to the front end. :lol:

_toommm_ · 13 Feb 2020

HSP 2 said:
If the unit was the one in your avatar it looks like it did a bit of readjusting to the front end.

That's the powercar from the HST/Azuma argument just outside Neville Hill Depot in Leeds

43066 · 13 Feb 2020

HSP 2 said:
I wouldn't call a pheasant a large bird about 1-1/2lb. What I would call a large bird is a goose or swan about 10lbs.

If the unit was the one in your avatar it looks like it did a bit of readjusting to the front end.

That level of damage would take a bird of truly gargantuan proportions. The common ostrich, perhaps?

They can weigh up to 320lbs, if Wikipedia is to be believed

.

Bird Strike between Knebworth and Stevenage 12/2/20

malc-c

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skyhigh

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bramling

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43066

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Saperstein

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malc-c

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malc-c

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HSP 2

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_toommm_

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43066

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