Unusual Track Vehicle

[wimbledonpete]

Hi

This morning at 02.45 something that sounded like a huge vacuum cleaner inched its way along the down slow of the South Western main line at Raynes Park.

It was obviously doing something to the track - anyone know what it was please?

Thanks!

 

[gavinjustice]

It could have been a MPV

 

[bronzeonion]

Stoneblower?

 

[iandelg]

Could it have been a huge vacuum cleaner?

http://www.rail.co/2012/02/15/railcare-bridgeway-consulting-sign-maintenance-agreement/

 

[oversteer]

The HOBC was at Willesden this morning, coming from North Pole toward Euston. Maybe that?

 

[ushawk]

Either a stoneblower or a tamper - did see a tamper late Tuesday night on the SWML at Clapham so its in the area.

 

[wimbledonpete]

Either a stoneblower or a tamper - did see a tamper late Tuesday night on the SWML at Clapham so its in the area.

Cheers all. It was going dead slow and moving forward a couple of feet at a time then stopping. Does that sound like tamping?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Hi

This morning at 02.45 something that sounded like a huge vacuum cleaner inched its way along the down slow of the South Western main line at Raynes Park.

It was obviously doing something to the track - anyone know what it was please?

Thanks!

Och aye - the Noo Noo.

 

[ushawk]

Cheers all. It was going dead slow and moving forward a couple of feet at a time then stopping. Does that sound like tamping?

Sounds like it - does sound like a hoover too. Fairly sure there has been overnight work going on this week through Raynes Park anyway - perhaps someone else could clarify if there has/what has been done.

 

[miikey]

Tamper.

 

[30 common]

It's probably the track cleaners they are maintained in the old engine shed at Effingham junction.

 

[DarloRich]

It's probably the track cleaners they are maintained in the old engine shed at Effingham junction.

track cleaners?

One of these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6284243851/ (RHTT)

or one of these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/7404515246/ (MPV)

or these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6238216503/ or http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6238739794/ (HOBC)

or these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/8012953125/ (Stoneblower)

or these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6042540041/ (Tamper)

or these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6978890032/in/photostream (Regulator)

or these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/7517368358/ (Rail Grinder)

we ought to find it now!

 

[Ploughman]

Maybe he means "Ballast Cleaners"
Doubtful that these would be the cause though.
Tamper would be a better bet.

 

[DarloRich]

Maybe he means "Ballast Cleaners"
Doubtful that these would be the cause though.
Tamper would be a better bet.

Although if it is Effingham i would suspect an MPV

(added a few more choices above!)

 

[wimbledonpete]

Thanks for posting those photos! I'd say the closest would be the tamper. It was the middle of the night on a dark railway so difficult to be sure! (And I was half asleep.) Definitely wasn't anything with class 20 on it.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks for posting those photos! I'd say the closest would be the tamper. It was the middle of the night on a dark railway so difficult to be sure! (And I was half asleep.) Definitely wasn't anything with class 20 on it.

I think down your way it would be the MPV fitted with an RHTT module for seasonal work ( It could also wear a de icer or weed spray module) rather than a loco hauled train.

I was trying to work out what track cleaner was as well!

if it had lights in the middle it could well be a tamper or regulator - I assume it was a single car unit and not a long train lit up like a Christmas tree so we can discounter the Rail Delivery Train or a ballast drop.

 

[wimbledonpete]

I think down your way it would be the MPV fitted with an RHTT module for seasonal work ( It could also wear a de icer or weed spray module) rather than a loco hauled train.

I was trying to work out what track cleaner was as well!

if it had lights in the middle it could well be a tamper or regulator - I assume it was a single car unit and not a long train lit up like a Christmas tree so we can discounter the Rail Delivery Train or a ballast drop.

It was definitely something unusual - I've lived by the SWML for years now and never heard anything like it or seen anything move like it. De-icers and RHTTs seem to whoosh past regularly in the season but not at that sort of time, AFAIK.