Our Railways Under Nuclear Attack

[Logan Carroll]

How would today’s railway’s cope with the impeding threat of a nuclear attack from a major superpower and what if any service would resume afterwards?

 

[JonathanH]

How would today’s railway’s cope with the impeding threat of a nuclear attack from a major superpower and what if any service would resume afterwards?

How do you think the general population would cope? Let's hope we never have to go there.

Interesting to note that there is some archive material on the subject.

How would British Railways survive nuclear attack? - National Railway Museum blog

Archivists normally hate the media describing archives as “lost” and “discovered”. My only excuse for using such tired clichés is that this collection actually was lost and discovered.

blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk

HOW WOULD BRITISH RAILWAYS SURVIVE NUCLEAR ATTACK?
Archivists normally hate the media describing archives as “lost” and “discovered”. My only excuse for using such tired clichés is that this collection actually was lost and discovered.
During the recent rebuilding of King’s Cross, workers found a large, locked trunk. When opened, the trunk contained files and papers on civil defence – how the Eastern Region of British Railways would have kept the railways operating if there had been a nuclear attack on Britain.

These documents are probably unique – the other regions of British Railways would have kept records on their own preparations for World War 3, but it is not believed that material from any other region has survived.

Almost all the files in the collection are described as “Secret” or “Top Secret”

Plans for emergency control shelters, from where operations could be directed in the aftermath of a nuclear attack, were also drawn up

The files include a lot of material on staff training. This poster was used to promote civil defence to Eastern Region employees:

Two workers were sent to the army camp at Longmoor, Hampshire, on a training course in how to repair track and bridges in emergency, wartime conditions. The photos these trainees took on the course are also in the collection:

Regional headquarters built up a large back catalogue of various civil defence magazines:

The bulk of the material is from the 1950s. There is significantly less from the early 1960s and only a couple of drawings from after 1964. It is interesting to speculate about why the files stop at this time – they don’t in themselves give any answer. Perhaps it was thought that as nuclear weapons got ever more powerful, planning how to keep the railway network functioning after an attack was pointless – everything would be destroyed beyond repair in the first few minutes.[1] As it is, the collection stands as a grim reminder of what could have been.

The full list of this archive collection can be found on our research and archive pages . See these pages for information about visiting search engine including opening hours.

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[1] Context: 1961 saw the detonation of the “Tsar Bomba”, a Soviet hydrogen bomb which remains the largest man-made explosion in human history. It produced a fireball 8 kilometres in diameter, and destroyed everything in a radius 35km across.

This is the American guidance https://www.ready.gov/nuclear-explosion

Nuclear Explosion
Nuclear explosions can cause significant damage and casualties from blast, heat, and radiation but you can keep your family safe by knowing what to do and being prepared if it occurs.

A nuclear weapon is a device that uses a nuclear reaction to create an explosion.

Nuclear devices range from a small portable device carried by an individual to a weapon carried by a missile.

A nuclear explosion may occur with or without a few minutes warning.

Fallout is most dangerous in the first few hours after the detonation when it is giving off the highest levels of radiation. It takes time for fallout to arrive back to ground level, often more than 15 minutes for areas outside of the immediate blast damage zones. This is enough time for you to be able to prevent significant radiation exposure by following these simple steps:

GET INSIDE
Get inside the nearest building to avoid radiation. Brick or concrete are best.

Remove contaminated clothing and wipe off or wash unprotected skin if you were outside after the fallout arrived. Hand sanitizer does not protect against fall out. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, if possible. Do not use disinfectant wipes on your skin.

Go to the basement or middle of the building. Stay away from the outer walls and roof. Try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask if you’re sheltering with people who are not a part of your household. Children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and those who are unable to remove masks on their own should not wear them.

STAY INSIDE
Stay inside for 24 hours unless local authorities provide other instructions. Continue to practice social distancing by wearing a mask and by keeping a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who not part of your household.

Family should stay where they are inside. Reunite later to avoid exposure to dangerous radiation.

Keep your pets inside.

STAY TUNED
Tune into any media available for official information such as when it is safe to exit and where you should go.

Battery operated and hand crank radios will function after a nuclear detonation.

Cell phone, text messaging, television, and internet services may be disrupted or unavailable.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

Prepare NOW
Identify shelter locations. Identify the best shelter location near where you spend a lot of time, such as home, work, and school. The best locations are underground and in the middle of larger buildings.

While commuting, identify appropriate shelters to seek in the event of a detonation. Due to COVID-19, many places you may pass on the way to and from work may be closed or may not have regular operating hours.

Outdoor areas, vehicles, mobile homes do NOT provide adequate shelter. Look for basements or the center of large multistory buildings.

Make sure you have an Emergency Supply Kit for places you frequent and might have to stay for 24 hours. It should include bottled water, packaged foods, emergency medicines, a hand-crank or battery-powered radio to get information in case power is out, a flashlight, and extra batteries for essential items. If possible, store supplies for three or more days.

If you are able to, set aside items like soap, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfecting wipes, and general household cleaning supplies that you can use to disinfect surfaces you touch regularly. After a flood, you may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets. Obtain extra batteries and charging devices for phones and other critical equipment.
Being prepared allows you to avoid unnecessary excursions and to address minor medical issues at home, alleviating the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals.
Remember that not everyone can afford to respond by stocking up on necessities. For those who can afford it, making essential purchases and slowly building up supplies in advance will allow for longer time periods between shopping trips. This helps to protect those who are unable to procure essentials in advance of the pandemic and must shop more frequently. In addition, consider avoiding WIC-labeled products so that those who rely on these products can access them.

Survive DURING
If warned of an imminent attack, immediately get inside the nearest building and move away from windows. This will help provide protection from the blast, heat, and radiation of the detonation.

When you have reached a safe place, try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask if you’re sheltering with people who are not a part of your household. Children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and those who are unable to remove masks on their own should not wear them.

If you are outdoors when a detonation occurs take cover from the blast behind anything that might offer protection. Lie face down to protect exposed skin from the heat and flying debris. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, if possible. If you are in a vehicle, stop safely, and duck down within the vehicle.

After the shock wave passes, get inside the nearest, best shelter location for protection from potential fallout. You will have 10 minutes or more to find an adequate shelter.

Be inside before the fallout arrives. The highest outdoor radiation levels from fallout occur immediately after the fallout arrives and then decrease with time.

Stay tuned for updated instructions from emergency response officials. If advised to evacuate, listen for information about routes, shelters, and procedures.

If you have evacuated, do not return until you are told it is safe to do so by local officials.

Make plans to stay with friends or family in case of evacuation. Keep in mind that public shelter locations may have changed due to COVID-19. Check with local authorities to determine which public shelters are open.

If you are told by authorities to evacuate to a public shelter, try to bring items that can help protect yourself and your family from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, cleaning materials, and two masks per person. Children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and people who cannot remove masks on their own should not wear them.

Review the CDC’s guidelines for “Going to a Public Disaster Shelter During the COVID-19 Pandemic."

Be Safe AFTER
Immediately after you are inside shelter, if you may have been outside after the fallout arrived.

Remove your outer layer of contaminated clothing to remove fallout and radiation from your body. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, if possible.

Take a shower or wash with soap and water to remove fallout from any skin or hair that was not covered. If you cannot wash or shower, use a wipe or clean wet cloth to wipe any skin or hair that was not covered. Hand sanitizer does not protect against fall out. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, if possible. Do not use disinfectant wipes on your skin.

Clean any pets that were outside after the fallout arrived. Gently brush your pet’s coat to remove any fallout particles and wash your pet with soap and water, if available.

It is safe to eat or drink packaged food items or items that were inside a building. Do not consume food or liquids that were outdoors uncovered and may be contaminated by fallout.

If you are sick or injured, listen for instructions on how and where to get medical attention when authorities tell you it is safe to exit. If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for instructions. If you are at a public shelter, immediately notify the staff at that facility so they can call a local hospital or clinic. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and let the operator know if you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If you can, put on a mask before help arrives.

Engage virtually with your community through video and phone calls. Know that it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed. Take care of your body and talk to someone if you are feeling upset. Many people may already feel fear and anxiety about the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The threat of a nuclear explosion can add additional stress. Follow CDC guidance for managing stress during a traumatic event and managing stress during COVID-19.

Hazards related to nuclear explosions
Bright FLASH can cause temporary blindness for less than a minute.

BLAST WAVE can cause death, injury, and damage to structures several miles out from the blast.

RADIATION can damage cells of the body. Large exposures can cause radiation sickness.

FIRE AND HEAT can cause death, burn injuries, and damage to structures several miles out.

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE (EMP) can damage electrical power equipment and electronics several miles out from the detonation and cause temporary disruptions further out.

FALLOUT is radioactive, visible dirt and debris raining down from several miles up that can cause sickness to those who are outside.

Seems to me like you get inside and stay there.

 

[Logan Carroll]

How do you think the general population would cope? Let's hope we never have to go there.

Interesting to note that there is some archive material on the subject.

How would British Railways survive nuclear attack? - National Railway Museum blog

Archivists normally hate the media describing archives as “lost” and “discovered”. My only excuse for using such tired clichés is that this collection actually was lost and discovered.

blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk

This is the American guidance https://www.ready.gov/nuclear-explosion



Seems to me like you get inside and stay there.

Fascinating watching old government information films describing the dangers of a nuclear explosion like it’s a chip pan fire.

 

[brad465]

There was an episode of QI where they talked about who they believed was "the unluckiest man in the world", a man who was around both atom bombings in Japan (although survived both so not completely unlucky). He was in Hiroshima on business and got burned by the first bomb, then after treatment got a train to Nagasaki where he was around the second bombing (they didn't say his immediate outcome then, only that he eventually lived to 93).

In other words despite what happened the trains were somehow still working.

 

[Logan Carroll]

There was an episode of QI where they talked about who they believed was "the unluckiest man in the world", a man who was around both atom bombings in Japan (although survived both so not completely unlucky). He was in Hiroshima on business and got burned by the first bomb, then after treatment got a train to Nagasaki where he was around the second bombing (they didn't say his immediate outcome then, only that he eventually lived to 93).

In other words despite what happened the trains were somehow still working.

The two bombs used in anger are nothing compared to the bombs currently stockpiled.

 

[trebor79]

The two bombs used in anger are nothing compared to the bombs currently stockpiled.

Yes and no. There was a trend for larger and larger bombs, until it was realised that actually there's a point at which a bigger bang isn't really all that useful (other than for global willy waving - the ultimate example being the Soviet "Tsar Bomba" which yielded 50MT with a lead tamper to deliberately downgrade it from the design 100MT yield). It's actually more miltiarily useful to have a larger number of smaller bombs - hence MIRV missiles. I think a lot of todays stockpile is actually of the same order of magnitude as the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombs in terms of yield.
The biggest problem for railways (and pretty much all of modern life today) would be the EMP pulse which would destroy electronic devices over a wide area. So even if the physical infrastructure was still there, the computers and other electronics that make it all work would be inoperative.

 

[MarkyT]

There was an episode of QI where they talked about who they believed was "the unluckiest man in the world", a man who was around both atom bombings in Japan (although survived both so not completely unlucky). He was in Hiroshima on business and got burned by the first bomb, then after treatment got a train to Nagasaki where he was around the second bombing (they didn't say his immediate outcome then, only that he eventually lived to 93).

In other words despite what happened the trains were somehow still working.

As the first and as far as we know only nuclear weapons ever to have been used in anger, these were fairly small in comparison to later thermonuclear devices that were the nightmares of the cold war mutually assured destruction period. I recall in a Michael Portillo travelogue episode the presenter rode a vintage tram in one of the cities that had survived the bombing and an interviewee explained that the tram network was brought back into use very quickly afterwards. The people involved probably had little understanding of the radiation dangers though so perhaps took risks entering contaminated areas.

 

[AngusH]

EMP is definitely an issue even if one were lucky (?) enough
to avoid immediately being killed by the bomb.


Looking around after reading some of the earlier links, I found this:

http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf

(See page 106)

That section talks about the expected effects on railroads of electromagnetic pulse attack
(US practice though)

Essentially older electro-mechanical equipment seems less susceptible,
newer computer controlled equipment seems more susceptible.

There may be less damage if equipment is switched off.

Earlier parts discuss power and communication networks.

It certainly seems to be that the case that if the power and
communication grids go down completely, the situation could become
difficult to fix quickly.




Preserved Diesel and Steam locomotives with mechanical signalling perhaps?

 

[bluenoxid]

I would expect a relatively small number of cancellations to the service and a thread of comments on railforums about how certain users would deal with it better.

 

[Bevan Price]

Well - the major targets would be industry and big cities. I would expect to lose 90-95% of the population, including those killed subsequent to the bombs by radiation & starvation.
Most of the oil refining & power generation capacity would probably be lost.
Much railway infrastructure would probably survive away from the big cities, but there would be few people with the knowledge or equipment to repair / maintain it.
Mining techniques would largely be reduced to "pick & shovel" level for many years, so the easiest source of fuel would probably be wood.
As much of the rest of the world would probably be equally badly affected, it would probably take at least 50 to 100 years before conditions were restored to anywhere near what we consider "normal" life -- and we might have had to endure years of oppressive rule by opportunists who managed to seize power, declaring that "they knew best what was good for us".

As for trains -- well initially not much more than horse power, and maybe a few surviving preserved steam locos performing very inefficiently on wood fuel -- and largely confined to short distance freight workings. .

 

[JB_B]

How would today’s railway’s cope with the impeding threat of a nuclear attack from a major superpower and what if any service would resume afterwards?

If we have a major exchange of nuclear weapons down here on the planet then I don't think the functioning of the railways would be at forefront of anyone's concerns - the survivors would have very different priorities.

EMP is definitely an issue even if one were lucky (?) enough
to avoid immediately being killed by the bomb.


Looking around after reading some of the earlier links, I found this:

http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf

(See page 106)

That section talks about the expected effects on railroads of electromagnetic pulse attack
(US practice though)

Essentially older electro-mechanical equipment seems less susceptible,
newer computer controlled equipment seems more susceptible.

There may be less damage if equipment is switched off.

Earlier parts discuss power and communication networks.

It certainly seems to be that the case that if the power and
communication grids go down completely, the situation could become
difficult to fix quickly.




Preserved Diesel and Steam locomotives with mechanical signalling perhaps?

If you are worried about the effect of a putative nuclear HEMP weapon then this might be worth a listen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pm0h

To summarize: most people actually responsible for protecting critical power and communications networks don't rate HEMP as a serious threat but a large body of fiction has evolved around it and it is a very popular idea with right-wing Preppers and gun enthusiasts.

 

[Horizon22]

Well presuming it was C. London a significant amount of terminals would be vaporised which provides most of the opportunity to turnback most trains and has the capacity to do so. So a highly reduced service of course, if it hadn't already been suspended. But signals / track / infrastructure would be destroyed and maybe signaling centres within London too. EMP threat as others have mentioned would pose an increasing risk especially with the type of rolling stock increasingly in use.

 

[JamesT]

As the first and as far as we know only nuclear weapons ever to have been used in anger, these were fairly small in comparison to later thermonuclear devices that were the nightmares of the cold war mutually assured destruction period. I recall in a Michael Portillo travelogue episode the presenter rode a vintage tram in one of the cities that had survived the bombing and an interviewee explained that the tram network was brought back into use very quickly afterwards. The people involved probably had little understanding of the radiation dangers though so perhaps took risks entering contaminated areas.

My understanding is also that as both bombs were airbursts, there was actually comparatively little long lived contamination. A ground burst throws up and contaminates lots of material that is spread around, whereas much of the nuclear material ended up in the atmosphere. There were also significant fires started by the explosions, by the time those had died down and people were able to return to the area, much of the radioactivity had dissipated.

 

[PeterC]

I would imagine that in the 50s they were planning for Hiroshima level attacks on a number of major centres rather than the level of anihilation that quickly became possible.

 

[Gloster]

If we have a major exchange of nuclear weapons down here on the planet then I don't think the functioning of the railways would be at forefront of anyone's concerns - the survivors would have very different priorities.

There will always be somebody using some charcoal and a piece of scorched bark to complain to the Telegraph that their train was 11 minutes late.

 

[Journeyman]

Was there any mention of the S******** R****** in that archive material?

 

[Domh245]

I would expect a relatively small number of cancellations to the service and a thread of comments on railforums about how certain users would deal with it better.

And inevitably, a comparison to the Swiss or German railways, who'd have somehow done it all better, with a more punctual restoration of services to their smouldering crater(s)

 

[Journeyman]

And inevitably, a comparison to the Swiss or German railways, who'd have somehow done it all better, with a more punctual restoration of services to their smouldering crater(s)

There would be a lot of discussion over where to go and see the Strategic Reserve 9Fs in action.

 

[randyrippley]

The thing to remember is that except for direct strikes, legacy non-electronic equipment such as steam engines and semaphore signals would have been relatively unaffected by a nuclear attack. Even structures such as bridges and viaducts would have been relatively immune. It needs a direct hit or near miss to destroy railway track. The main risk is from the EMP which would destroy modern signalling, communications, and train control systems. Even some simple diesels such as a class 20 may have been unaffected by EMP, a modern loco would have its electronics fried.

 

[Purple Orange]

Like cockroaches, Pacers would still be running around on the network.

 

[Wolfie]

There was an episode of QI where they talked about who they believed was "the unluckiest man in the world", a man who was around both atom bombings in Japan (although survived both so not completely unlucky). He was in Hiroshima on business and got burned by the first bomb, then after treatment got a train to Nagasaki where he was around the second bombing (they didn't say his immediate outcome then, only that he eventually lived to 93).

In other words despite what happened the trains were somehow still working.

A lot less electronics around the railway in 1945. I suspect that EMP would be a major issue.

 

[MarkyT]

There would be a lot of discussion over where to go and see the Strategic Reserve 9Fs in action.

Presumably, those discussions would not take place via any kind of electronic media, and if anybody did manage to get that kind of gen out there by whatever means they'd probably be summarily shot for espionage activity!

 

[Journeyman]

Presumably, those discussions would not take place via any kind of electronic media, and if anybody did manage to get that kind of gen out there by whatever means they'd probably be summarily shot for espionage activity!

Simply by mentioning the S******** R******, you end up on a government list...

 

[MarkyT]

Simply by mentioning the S******** R******, you end up on a government list...

Oh no and I quoted your post. That's me doomed!

 

[GusB]

Was there any mention of the S******** R****** in that archive material?

Sixteen posts before this was mentioned! What's wrong with you people?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd say the Albanian railway gives you a very good impression of what a no-money, no-tech railway would look like, which is what might emerge from something that serious. Run-down and vandalised, running at low speed (25mph I think) using simple, old locomotives and classic coaching stock, with no signalling (a ticket based system is used for the many single lines). Hardly any staff, cash only, tickets stamped by hand. No service to the centre of the capital city, just a single platform station on the edge (in this thread's case because it isn't there any more, in Albania's case because they built a road on it).

 

[BananaRepublic]

I'd say the Albanian railway gives you a very good impression of what a no-money, no-tech railway would look like, which is what might emerge from something that serious. Run-down and vandalised, running at low speed (25mph I think) using simple, old locomotives and classic coaching stock, with no signalling (a ticket based system is used for the many single lines). Hardly any staff, cash only, tickets stamped by hand. ...........

That reminds me of BR.


z

 

[Bletchleyite]

That reminds me of BR.

Other than the vandalism (very bad - I'm talking literally every window broken and every seat torn, for example) it's probably very reminiscent of something like the Far North Line in the 1980s.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

You might find the "Transition to War" plans interesting on Wikipedia-it tells you how the railways will change up to a nuclear exchange. Its from the Cold War, but considering it mentions the Channel Tunnel, I assume its still relevant today-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_to_war

To summarise, at stage 8 of the transition, the Channel Tunnel operation taken over by government and normal railway service suspended. Railways will be used for mobilisation of tanks and evacuating civillians before nuclear attack. Apparently, the Railways Act 1976 allows railways to be taken over by the government in wartime-doesn't look like its been repealed although you might find something in the Civil Contingencies Act 2002 about them.

After attack-well trains won't work because of EMP, and any rails not blown away would probably be warped by heat from a nuclear blast, so expect mass delays and cancellations!

 

[Vespa]

Not all nuclear bombs are created equal.
Some are high blast low radiation others are low blast maximum radiation output, the rest are max EMP output.

Advantage of low blast high radiation is you can preserve as much of the infrastructure rails, building road etc but devoid off population after a few weeks with radiation poisoning, any lucky survivors in shelters are not in a podition to fight back, but that's assuming you got in first and eliminated enemy counterstrike capability, which is why we keep nuke responses submarines at sea at all times to enable destructive counterstrike several times the scale of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, each missile has multiple warheads that can knock Russia or anyone else back into the stone age.

This is why no one has pressed the button, you would inflict the same level of destruction on yourself, you would have to be completely insane to do it.

This has ensured peace (ish) as nobody has a clear advantage under the Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) principle.

You will get a wild cards like Israel, Iran and North Korea.

Israel especially, if Arab nations were on the verge of succesfully taking over Israel entirely, they will rain down destruction on themselves and Arab neighbours resulting in Iranian Nuke counterattacks, I do firmly believe Iran already have Nukes.

So in short our railways or indeed the country will not survive a nuclear strike intact, we will effectively be going back 700 years in society and technology.