if a train goes over something and bangs underneath but the driver's controls doesn't indicate any problem does a driver have to get out and check the train or does he continue
99% of the time its a Pigeon or a Pheasant .
Haha, funny you say that. A month or so ago I knew I'd hit a pheasant and shortly after heard some air leak. At next station I had a look and by some magical contortion the pheasant had partially moved an isolation cock and hot its head stuck behind , with neck drooping over the IC. Fair to say as I pulled on its feathers , it came apart in lots of pieces......looked fresh!
To be fair a good instructor will get your attention and make learning interesting so you learn. The more implausible or interesting the story the better you remember itI remember a cracking story from an old instructor of his 333 slamming on and coming to a stand with a dead desk, turns out a pigeon went into the coupler and put the unit into couple-mode, hell of a shot to get a pigeon in a pigeon-sized hole at 90mph.
It was verified by many others, but thanks for yourTo be fair a good instructor will get your attention and make learning interesting so you learn. The more implausible or interesting the story the better you remember it
Many years ago when Central trains operated the 170's in to Man Picc, I noted a pheasant sticking out of the horn pipes with just tail and feet showing.
Apologies if it came across in other than an informative way i never do condescending on purpose yes i do realize i am human and make mistakes but spend my life trying to be helpful to others and try never to be judgemental or condescendingIt was verified by many others, but thanks for yourcondescensionreply.
I'm not sure if this was serious enough to get reported at the time, but I thought I'd share this experience.
I was on a (class 50) loco hauled service from Coventry to Birmingham sometime in the 80s when I was aware of a lot of loud clunking under the coach. This was in the cutting near Adderley Park (a well-known vandalism trouble spot). The driver immediately applied the brakes. It was dark at the time. Some young lads at the end of the coach leant out of the window and reported that "the engine is on fire". I took a look and could see a red glow below the locomotive as it was braking. This could have been leaking diesel oil on hot brake blocks, as when the train had come to a stop, there was no longer a glow.
I saw the driver get out and phone the signalman. Remarkably, after only a few minutes, the train limped into Birmingham New Street. I went up to see the locomotive. There was a strong small of diesel and there was diesel oil gushing onto the trackbed from broken pipes underneath. The driver said that some kids had put concrete sleepers on the line.
Fortunately the train did not derail. If it had been a lightweight EMU things may have been very different. I'm sure that if a similar thing happened today, the train would not be allowed to continue into New Street after such a short delay. There would probably be a much longer delay and services would be cancelled.
I didn't bother to make a note of the loco name/number other than that it was a class 50. It was one of the early evening services from Paddington, Brighton or Poole to the North West via Birmingham (forerunner of Cross Country). It left Coventry around 18:30 and it was dark, so it was probably winter time. It may have been around 1985.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the incident or which loco it was?
Terrifying really.Similar story, I remember being on a WCML loco hauled service late 80s/early 90s that hit a sleeper across the track. No major damage but a significant stop while it was checked out.
Looking at the undergubbins of a GA Flirt there seemed to be quite a few bits and pieces held in place by flimsy-looking brackets and I suspect these units may be especially prone to damage when hitting something. Perhaps in Switzerland they don't worry about such things, as every piece of ballast is individually manicured and the social cohesion means they don't have vandals?Objects bouncing beneath trains can take out all sorts of systems, often in ways that are hard to comprehend. The strangest but without any consequence has to be a space hopper that wedged itself inside a bogie between frame and bolster.... additional suspension!
As mentioned WSP faults are common due to impact damage, more so on a 350 than a 185 due to the routing of the cables. Axle earth cables are also in a vulnerable position, if detached can be potentially dangerous especially if it's the traction return!
AWS / TPWS receivers are in prime position which I imagine will be common to any kind of stock.
They do, however, have many 'unfall' when road vehicles end up on the track in front of trains as reported in the Swiss rail media.Looking at the undergubbins of a GA Flirt there seemed to be quite a few bits and pieces held in place by flimsy-looking brackets and I suspect these units may be especially prone to damage when hitting something. Perhaps in Switzerland they don't worry about such things, as every piece of ballast is individually manicured and the social cohesion means they don't have vandals?