Our railway line has had a serious derailment just south of Carlisle. A train that passes through Settle almost daily is the cement train from Clitheroe to Scotland. On Wednesday I saw and heard the cement empties pass through Settle at 1106. This routine happening was memorable because I heard a loud bang - bang - bang - bang noise as it sped past. Not unusual. Trains can and often do lock their wheels under braking. This can cause a flat spot on the locked wheel which if allowed to remain can damage the track as well as making a noise. Worse, it can cause a derailment.
This is what seems to have happened to our loaded cement train as it approached Carlisle where there is a set on points where the S&C and the Tyne Valley lines merge. A really bad wheel flat can create a false flange.
This is the suspect Carlisle wheel showing the false flange, the flat, and very very obvious scorching. Because of the line's speed limit heavy trains coming downhill from Ais Gill summit undergo long spells of braking. A wheel with a serious flat like this will lock up, worsening the flat.
Above is today's scene. All these wagons are derailed. Two are out of sight - in the river Petteril below.
Network Rail are speaking of weeks rather than days to recover the vehicles and repair the damage - including the river bridge which dates from the 1830s.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Do please leave comments. If nothing else it shows that there is somebody out there.