Trackside Vandalism

[TheMysticEgg]

Recently I was travelling back from Wales with a few mates when we were on our final leg of the journey (Hereford-Worcester) at about 22:40 on a Sunday night. We were pretty weary after three days of not much sleep (plus a few drinks ) and the 7 hour journey from Pembroke.

We were on an empty LM 150 with all the windows open doing around 60-70mph with the next stop being Ledbury, when suddenly deafening banging noises started coming from underneath the train making everyone jump. Something was getting a pretty severe mangling under the train. With all the windows open you could hear a large amount of ballast being sprayed outwards from the train and a very strong smell of burning as the brakes were slammed down hard drifted in. The first thought that came to my head was I hope we haven't just had a 'one-under'. Everyone on the coach was looking very concerned and the train continued to roll slowly and we fortunately made it into Ledbury station. Some alarmed passengers sitting nearby actually got off the train refusing to go any further - the smell and sound had really concerned them despite us explaining the smell was just the brakes. The guard looked pretty worried and headed up to the platform to have a chat with the driver and inspected the front of the train. He then returned back down the platform and explained that someone had laid a metal bar or similar object across the track. It was most likely a case of vandalism, and a pretty serious one at that! By the sounds of the impact under the train and the amount of ballast it moved it must have been a pretty substantial object.

I just wondered how common trackside vandalism like this is? Is there a procedure train staff must carry out when they're train falls victim to vandalism (eg. stoning, objects on tracks etc.)? Do they have to report the incident at the end of their shift even if the damage isn't severe and would the train I was on gone in for an exam after that incident? Does anyone else have accounts of vandalism like this? I also saw pics of that Pendo recently that had a load of windows smashed in from a severe stoning! Thanks

 

[Tottenham Flyer]

Recently I was travelling back from Wales with a few mates when we were on our final leg of the journey (Hereford-Worcester) at about 22:40 on a Sunday night. We were pretty weary after three days of not much sleep (plus a few drinks ) and the 7 hour journey from Pembroke.

We were on an empty LM 150 with all the windows open doing around 60-70mph with the next stop being Ledbury, when suddenly deafening banging noises started coming from underneath the train making everyone jump. Something was getting a pretty severe mangling under the train. With all the windows open you could hear a large amount of ballast being sprayed outwards from the train and a very strong smell of burning as the brakes were slammed down hard drifted in. The first thought that came to my head was I hope we haven't just had a 'one-under'. Everyone on the coach was looking very concerned and the train continued to roll slowly and we fortunately made it into Ledbury station. Some alarmed passengers sitting nearby actually got off the train refusing to go any further - the smell and sound had really concerned them despite us explaining the smell was just the brakes. The guard looked pretty worried and headed up to the platform to have a chat with the driver and inspected the front of the train. He then returned back down the platform and explained that someone had laid a metal bar or similar object across the track. It was most likely a case of vandalism, and a pretty serious one at that! By the sounds of the impact under the train and the amount of ballast it moved it must have been a pretty substantial object.

I just wondered how common trackside vandalism like this is? Is there a procedure train staff must carry out when they're train falls victim to vandalism (eg. stoning, objects on tracks etc.)? Do they have to report the incident at the end of their shift even if the damage isn't severe and would the train I was on gone in for an exam after that incident? Does anyone else have accounts of vandalism like this? I also saw pics of that Pendo recently that had a load of windows smashed in from a severe stoning! Thanks

We get quite a bit of trackside vandalism over on the NXEA network. The usual thing for us is having ballast placed onto the tracks.

I recall an incident (it was either last year or the year before) where 360101 smashed into a shopping trolley (a metal one like you get at the supermarket). It caused substantial damage to the train and plenty of disruption as the train was unable to move under it's own power and had to be assisted back to Ilford. And of course, the train behind wasn't another 360.

In 2008, 317723 (The Tottenham Flyer ) ran over a push bike that had been put on the tracks near Broxbourne.

 

[Rugd1022]

We get quite a bit of trackside vandalism over on the NXEA network. The usual thing for us is having ballast placed onto the tracks.

I recall an incident (it was either last year or the year before) where 360101 smashed into a shopping trolley (a metal one like you get at the supermarket). It caused substantial damage to the train and plenty of disruption as the train was unable to move under it's own power and had to be assisted back to Ilford. And of course, the train behind wasn't another 360.

In 2008, 317723 (The Tottenham Flyer ) ran over a push bike that had been put on the tracks near Broxbourne.

I had a push bike thrown at my cab off a bridge on the Knighton Jcn - Burton Line a few years back, it bounced off and went straight under the loco and the twenty loaded stone hoppers I had in tow. The little scrotes do it because they know nine times out of ten they can get away with it. I made an emergency brake application, reported it to Leicester Panel and had to go back and inspect my train whilst waiting for an RST examiner. Luckily the bike had virtually split in two and hadn't damaged any of the brake gear or pipework. It happened during the Christmas holidays and no doubt the little darlings had nicked some poor kid's prezzie, it looked brand new. I was on the same job the following week and saw the shiny but very mangled front wheel in the cess on one side of the line and part of the frame on the other side.

A few years ago now, a Bescot driver called Joe Paxton had part of a bridge parapet dropped onto him (near Kidderminster I believe), it came through the windscreen and landed in his lap, poor chap was in a right state, it was featured on Midlands Today as I recall. Luckily Joe was alright and I think the culprits were caught and punished.

A couple of years previously, my mate was driving 37 667 over the Sutton Park line and had a large piece of concrete come through the centre window whilst he was stood at a signal next to one of the overbridges, it narrowly missed him as seconds before he was stood by that window stretching his legs before getting on the phone to Saltley 'box.

There are countless stories like these from drivers at most depots you care to name. My brother has been bricked twice from the same bridge in the space of two weeks whilst driving his 170. I don't think anything will change until one of these evil little scrotes is charged with manslaughter.

 

[driver9000]

I ran over several large blocks of wood, metal poles, stones, couple of breeze blocks and a traffic cone all in one go approaching a viaduct. Luckily the Lifeguards pushed them out of the way so they didn't get under the wheels apart from getting the cone wedged under the leading wheel. I made an emergency brake application on sighting them but was still unable to stop. One of the obstacles opened the drain cock for the brake reservoir causing me to lose all the air. I reported it to the box immediately, closed the cock and pulled the cone out. I never heard of anyone being caught.

 

[exile]

As a car driver I have come across the "sports" of dropping things off motorway bridges in front of cars and playing "chicken" by running across dual carriageways. At least the latter offers the opportunity of removing the offenders from the gene pool.

 

[strange6]

I ran over several large blocks of wood, metal poles, stones, couple of breeze blocks and a traffic cone all in one go approaching a viaduct. Luckily the Lifeguards pushed them out of the way so they didn't get under the wheels apart from getting the cone wedged under the leading wheel. I made an emergency brake application on sighting them but was still unable to stop. One of the obstacles opened the drain cock for the brake reservoir causing me to lose all the air. I reported it to the box immediately, closed the cock and pulled the cone out. I never heard of anyone being caught.

What if that had happened at night? Would you have hit it at full speed assuming this occured during the day and you had scrubbed some speed off during the EBA?

 

[michael769]

There have been a spate of incidents near me. One involving a wheely bin (which I understand resulted in a window on the train being broken) and the other a bicycle.

The areas around Livingston North station on the Bathgate line and near Winchburgh on the Falkirk lines are hotspots of both trespassing and such deliberately obstructing the lines. I always wonder to what extent such incidents are deliberate attempts to derail trains....

They always seem to peak during the school holidays.

 

[TheMysticEgg]

Seems collisions with large objects are more common than I thought! Unbelievable that it doesn't to cross their minds that something like a bike on the tracks could spell disaster for a train full of people, yet there aren't any accidents! Cheers fellas very informative

 

[codenamecuebal]

this is the extent of trackside vandalism here.

 

[NightatLaira]

Was once a passenger on a Voyager going between Wakefield Westgate and Sheffield when we had a brick lobbed at the train's roof. I was in First Class (leading car) - it made a hell of a bang, and the driver emergency stopped - but there was no harm done, and we carried on...

Scary though!

 

[tirphil]

Being bricked, ballast on the railhead, having golf balls thrown at me whilst on the SPT, scrap rail laid across the track, wheely bin left in the four foot. Things like that are a daily occurence during the school holidays in Yorkshire. Absolute worst thing though was a breeze block suspended from an over bridge by rope/twine smashing through the secondmans windscreen. Don't mind admitting that made me jump just a bit to put it mildly.

Thankfully I'm away from all that crap now.

 

[Nym]

Funny you mention it's during the school holidays, not when the're occupied..

 

[fsmr]

last year, some nutter(s) decided to take the square culvert grid covers from the side of the Oakham to Manton junction and place them on the track, as well as removing the farm crossing gate and placing that across the line. Fortunately, the single coach DMU on the late evening Spalding to Nottingham service stayed on her feet but is could have been much worse. The grids have now been secured and painted blue, to make it easier to spot them
The amazing thing is that Oakham is an afluent rural location and in all the years i have crossed this farm crossing which is also a bridleway, a mile away from any homes with my dogs, often at that time in the evening, I have never seen anyone let alone nerdowells hanging around.

Another sign of the times, i remeber the first time i visted Switzerland and was amazed how express trains ran along side an unfenced road

" Why do we need a fence said my Swiss colleague, we know its dangerous to walk on the track? "

 

[9K43]

For 3 decades I have roamed the rails from all quarters of the compass.
I have been shot at, bricked, cross bowed , bottled, beer canned and many more incidents to make the mind worry.
This is all in a days work on the big iron road, have stood for hours by blank signals at Meadowhall Junction waiting for the S and T to weave the cable back together, and at Hare Park cos some luny has nicked a couple yards of OHL.
I have seen a wall topping demolish the cab of a Peak at the bridge just before Diggle Jct signal box when we were on the News Papers from Man Vic to York
Scares you a bit but the show must go on.
Also had a brick through a Dining Car window of the Northern Belle approaching Ashburies on route to Sheffield and beyond.
All very upsetting but this is summat that thas got to live with ol lad in these modern times we live in.
Just ask them lot who have been burnt out in London for just being there at the wrong time.

 

[bb21]

The amazing thing is that Oakham is an afluent rural location and in all the years i have crossed this farm crossing which is also a bridleway, a mile away from any homes with my dogs, often at that time in the evening, I have never seen anyone let alone nerdowells hanging around.

This doesn't really have much correlation with how wealthy they are though. I think that the parents have to take the majority of the blame for not properly educating their offsprings, but that said, some of the parents are not exactly what I would call good citizens of this free world. :?

Another sign of the times, i remeber the first time i visted Switzerland and was amazed how express trains ran along side an unfenced road

" Why do we need a fence said my Swiss colleague, we know its dangerous to walk on the track? "

This symbolises what is wrong with the current youth sub-culture in this country. The sub-culture where doing something wrong and challenging authority is seen at cool and to be respected amongst the peers. Some people claim that it's because some of them are bored, yet if you to many other countries, young people know how to find themselves meaningful and fun things to do without having to resort to criminal damage, even without the presense of youth centres, etc.

 

[robschopper]

A few years ago now, a Bescot driver called Joe Paxton had part of a bridge parapet dropped onto him (near Kidderminster I believe), it came through the windscreen and landed in his lap, poor chap was in a right state, it was featured on Midlands Today as I recall. Luckily Joe was alright and I think the culprits were caught and punished.

Two youths were convicted of this and got six years each.

 

[fsmr]

This doesn't really have much correlation with how wealthy they are though. I think that the parents have to take the majority of the blame for not properly educating their offsprings, but that said, some of the parents are not exactly what I would call good citizens of this free world. :?



This symbolises what is wrong with the current youth sub-culture in this country. The sub-culture where doing something wrong and challenging authority is seen at cool and to be respected amongst the peers. Some people claim that it's because some of them are bored, yet if you to many other countries, young people know how to find themselves meaningful and fun things to do without having to resort to criminal damage, even without the presense of youth centres, etc.

The point i was making is that most kids in this area are well educated as well a their parents as opposed to some sink estate where challenging authority is a birth right. Certain estates bordering the NWR lines through Leicester spring to mind