Strange looking freight routes

[noddingdonkey]

On RealTime Trains, it shows a freight working (runs as required) 2310 Hall Royd Jn to Ilkley

What I can't understand is why it goes from Sowerby Bridge to Halifax then takes a trip to Huddersfield then goes back to Halifax and on to Bradford Interchange.

Can anybody offer a suggestion for the purpose of the detour through Huddersfield? Does Huddersfield still have the facilities to run a loco around its train? Could it be done using Platform 4 and Platform 8?

 

[Tomnick]

Sounds more like some sort of RHTT path, running to Huddersfield and back to treat that route too. As a side note though, it should be possible to run round in the middle platform at Huddersfield.

 

[Freightmaster]

As Tomnick says, it's an RHTT (Water Cannon) train,
which runs during October and November each year.

To be able to reverse quickly and easily at places
such as Hudderfield, Hall Royd Junction, Ilkley, etc,
this train is 'top and tailed' - in this case by DRS 20s:

MARK

 

[cmjcf]

Most strange-looking freight paths on RTT will be engineering workings of some kind.

 

[55018ballymoss]

No, not an engineering train!
It is the Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT), which runs top and tailed around West Yorkshire treating the railhead to try and avoid the problems of poor adhesion that units sometimes have in autumn.

There are several, which all have interesting routes.
At Hellifield we are part of the Cumbrian curcuit which starts and ends at Carlisle, and covers the Cumbrian coast, East Lancs, Clitheroe line, S&C and most other branches in the area.
Plus there are different schedules, and routings for different days, so as a signaller, you need to be on your toes and route it wrongly!

 

[cmjcf]

I can't speak for anyone else but in my mind the RHTT gets lumped in with various other workings such as the UTUs, NMT and SGT under the heading "engineering workings". Substitute for whatever you think the right word should be.

 

[Ploughman]

The RHTT are Network Operations trains.
Engineering staff curse them due to the delays they cause in getting possessions granted.
Cannot start work until the Sandite train has passed.

 

[Tomnick]

... as a signaller, you need to be on your toes and route it wrongly!

Speak for yourself .

 

[noddingdonkey]

Thanks for that - I hadn't considered that the train was going to seemingly random places on purpose but that makes perfect sense.

 

[55018ballymoss]

No, not an engineering train!
It is the Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT), which runs top and tailed around West Yorkshire treating the railhead to try and avoid the problems of poor adhesion that units sometimes have in autumn.

There are several, which all have interesting routes.
At Hellifield we are part of the Cumbrian curcuit which starts and ends at Carlisle, and covers the Cumbrian coast, East Lancs, Clitheroe line, S&C and most other branches in the area.
Plus there are different schedules, and routings for different days, so as a signaller, you need to be on your toes and route it wrongly!

I seem to be missing NOT in the route it wrongly part!

 

[armadillomaste]

Used to live in Guiseley, always heard a train late at night which was diesel. This seems the obvious choice.

 

[Boothby97]

Used to live in Guiseley, always heard a train late at night which was diesel. This seems the obvious choice.

You would have only heard it in the autumn months though, as RHTT services run from late September/early October to late November/early December
Thanks, Sam