This is not from "The Onion" satire site:
"Train services across the East were cancelled because light diesel trains were being damaged by mulched leaves, a rail expert said."
Is it fair to say that if your light diesel trains are being impacted by leaves, they may be just too light?
I presume there won't be any fall foliage excursions along those lines.
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Although I didn't bother to read the BBC article, I know that such problems with wet leaves is not uncommon in GB. I remember when EMD had to demonstrate the high adhesion capabilities of the Foster Yeoman units (essentially an SD50) with their "Super Series" controlled wheel creep system. The British Rail folks wanted to see how well the units would handle heavy wet leaves on the rails, so in order to duplicate such a problem right there in the Foster Yeoman terminal, shredded office printer paper and slippery waterless hand cleaner were mixed, and spread in the rails. The big six axle Yeoman units handled a loaded stone train through the "goop", on the grade with no problems. The British Rail managers were totally amazed! Thus, the Yeoman units never had a problem with wet leaves on the rails, as did all the other BR units.
I left the UK 22 years ago and those same headlines were in the newspapers then.
ChipR
I had always wondered why some Brit railfans I have known who came to the US to watch normal freight operations were completely blown away with the sizes and weights of trains here. Now I guess I partially understand why that was the case.
From October to December each, year, Network Rail, the owner and operator of the British network infrastructure, runs what are known as Rail Head Treatment Trains. An RHTT uses water jets to clean rail heads of leaves and leaf residue followed by the application of a sand based gel designed to increase traction. RHTTs typically consist of purposely built "wagons" between a locomotive at each end of the train. Self propelled equipment known as Multi Purpose Vehicles can be employed in RHTT service as well. I've posted pictures of a few RHTTs below.
A day of RHTT service can really weather the equipment. Check out the picture of the Direct Rail Services Class 20 in the last picture. It's all part of British operations every Autumn.
Bob
Same problem in New Jersey with slippery leaves on the NJ Transit Rails
If those leaves were from Ironwood trees would they increase traction?
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