What do the Germans get instead of leaves on track

[mercalia]

we all know why UK trains run late at this time of year seems like in Germany its a bit different

https://www.thelocal.de/20171115/high-speed-train-from-munich-to-berlin-abandoned-after-it-hits-wild-boar

[Cyril Haearn]

There are plenty of leaves on the line and branches on the catenary in Germany too, and many wild wolves, they are spreading all over and they do like killing and eating sheep. Lucky they can't swim the channel

[661-Pete]

You weren't to know, of course, but this incident awakens sad memories for me.

Back in 1984, a friend of mine was on board an Edinburgh-Glasgow train which struck a stray cow on the line, at Polmont, near Falkirk. He was one of 13 passengers killed.

[landsurfer]

Rubbish ... the UK train operators spend millions of £'s on traction control systems to stop lack of adhesion being an issue .... but the press love a leaves on the line story ... accuracy or truth have no part in it ....
Me, Alex and Graham designed a fully variable sand based traction control system, currently fitted to 6 major fleets, that stops trains sliding under any circumstances.
Imput from WSP, TMS and the driver prevent slides caused by leaves, low adhesion, ice ...etc .....
But the press ..... just want a negative "leaves on the track' story.........

[Cyril Haearn]

Just saw the newspaper, the lead story:
Entgleisung [derailment] in Elmshorn, it is some way from here and there is no convenient alternative, not like along the Rhein for example
I guess it is a story because it happens so seldom

Mind, the engine drivers sometimes forget to stop at Wolfsburg

At Colwyn Bay station (up platform) I saw a sign for the drivers: *are you stopping at Abergele*? Can anyone explain?

[PDQ Mobile]

Just saw the newspaper, the lead story:
Entgleisung [derailment] in Elmshorn, it is some way from here and there is no convenient alternative, not like along the Rhein for example
I guess it is a story because it happens so seldom

Mind, the engine drivers sometimes forget to stop at Wolfsburg

At Colwyn Bay station (up platform) I saw a sign for the drivers: *are you stopping at Abergele*? Can anyone explain?

It's a bit like saying, "you have reached the end of the world"!

Only joking, I love dearly, really!

[softlips]

Rubbish ... the UK train operators spend millions of £'s on traction control systems to stop lack of adhesion being an issue .... but the press love a leaves on the line story ... accuracy or truth have no part in it ....
Me, Alex and Graham designed a fully variable sand based traction control system, currently fitted to 6 major fleets, that stops trains sliding under any circumstances.
Imput from WSP, TMS and the driver prevent slides caused by leaves, low adhesion, ice ...etc .....
But the press ..... just want a negative "leaves on the track' story.........

Can't blame the press when the operators give it as a reason for delays.

[[XAP]Bob]

Rubbish ... the UK train operators spend millions of £'s on traction control systems to stop lack of adhesion being an issue .... but the press love a leaves on the line story ... accuracy or truth have no part in it ....
Me, Alex and Graham designed a fully variable sand based traction control system, currently fitted to 6 major fleets, that stops trains sliding under any circumstances.
Imput from WSP, TMS and the driver prevent slides caused by leaves, low adhesion, ice ...etc .....
But the press ..... just want a negative "leaves on the track' story.........

Can't blame the press when the operators give it as a reason for delays.

And it is a genuine issue - traction between hard steel rails and hard steel wheels is minimal, which also means that rolling resistance is minimal (a good thing), but means they can't climb hills well...

Add a layer of leaf mush and we all know what happens even with rubber and tarmac

[landsurfer]

And it is a genuine issue - traction between hard steel rails and hard steel wheels is minimal, which also means that rolling resistance is minimal (a good thing), but means they can't climb hills well...

Add a layer of leaf mush and we all know what happens even with rubber and tarmac

Which is why sander systems spray the sand between the railhead and the tyre of the train wheel. On auto systems like ours the driver can manually select sand deployment as he starts to climb a hill and maintain traction all the way up. The auto function can be linked to a GPS system automatically starting the sand stream before the train arrives at a climb or known area of slippage. The Wheel Slip Protection system on the train automatically deploys sand if wheel slip is detected for more that 1 second.

[landsurfer]

Although leaves are a relatively small problem ....
I did a project for Swedish rail some years ago in Linkoping .... the fronts of the trains where inflatable, rather like having a RIB or similar type of boat bolted on to the train ....
Why ? says I ...ELK ! was the answer. You don't want to hit an elk at 60 mph .....
The inflatable front would still kill the Elk, but the carcase did not wipe out the driver as well .....
And yes, it would sometimes burst on impact, but with excellent shock absorbing properties

[mercalia]

Rubbish ... the UK train operators spend millions of £'s on traction control systems to stop lack of adhesion being an issue .... but the press love a leaves on the line story ... accuracy or truth have no part in it ....
Me, Alex and Graham designed a fully variable sand based traction control system, currently fitted to 6 major fleets, that stops trains sliding under any circumstances.
Imput from WSP, TMS and the driver prevent slides caused by leaves, low adhesion, ice ...etc .....
But the press ..... just want a negative "leaves on the track' story.........

Can't blame the press when the operators give it as a reason for delays.

And it is a genuine issue - traction between hard steel rails and hard steel wheels is minimal, which also means that rolling resistance is minimal (a good thing), but means they can't climb hills well...

Add a layer of leaf mush and we all know what happens even with rubber and tarmac

I am surprised some enterprising yobos havent greased the tracks some where for some fun

[landsurfer]

I am surprised some enterprising yobos havent greased the tracks some where for some fun

Fun is regional..
Usually its shopping trolleys down south .... they glow white hot and melt as they lay across the third rail as the train approaches, then rip off all the brake hoses under the train !
Up north the preferred weapon of choice is the car battery in the 4 foot ..... It bounces down the underside wiping out hydraulics, brakes ... My Sander !!!, ... the axles and lots of other stuff ....
Strangely for Scotrail its the weather .... it loosens the ballast and creates carnage under the train .... and the occasional brick thrown from bridges as well, of course ...
In some parts of the Midlands they actually make the rails slippy with water, to stop the horrendous screeching as the train goes around tight curves.
They had to take the Class 14x fleet out of the West Country as they kept getting stuck in corners ..... no bogies ...DOH !

[meic]

Things have moved on from small stones and coins on the track to see them pulverised.
I guess that is a sign of progress and growth in the yobo industry.

[pete75]

Although leaves are a relatively small problem ....
I did a project for Swedish rail some years ago in Linkoping .... the fronts of the trains where inflatable, rather like having a RIB or similar type of boat bolted on to the train ....
Why ? says I ...ELK ! was the answer. You don't want to hit an elk at 60 mph .....
The inflatable front would still kill the Elk, but the carcase did not wipe out the driver as well .....
And yes, it would sometimes burst on impact, but with excellent shock absorbing properties

Oh the fragility of modern trains. Doubt very much if an elk would trouble this.

[old_windbag]

Theres a nice little picture of the above loco from 1968 on the last day of BR steam.

http://www.semaphoresandsteam.com/p407312067/h172F785#h172f785

And you can buy models of it too.