Hot Axlebox!
While waiting for my train home tonight, I noticed a freight barrelling along on the other line; a long train of continuous welded rail headed by a Freightliner 66, doing something like sixty.
Alarmingly, I noticed a lot of black smoke coming from one of the bogies about halfway down the train, which looked worryingly like a hot axlebox. As the train receded into the distance, it seemed to be shrouded in smoke. The tail light, still visible through the smoke, took a long time to disappear round the curve a mile along the line. Was the train slowing?
After the train disappeared, the signals didn't clear. My own train, due on the other track any minute failed to appear. Disturbing thoughts started appearing in my head; had the train derailed and blocked both lines? Had my local train run into the wreckage? Should I have tried to warn someone?
Another waiting passenger rang the information helpline, to be told that services were delayed due to 'problems with a freight train'. As if we didn't already know that.
I eventually got home by getting a lift from a later-working colleague (the office is next door to the station). National Rail stated that 'the broken down train is now on the move' at 19:11, with residual delays of up to 85 minutes. Sounds like it didn't derail, but why did they close both lines?
Update: At least it wasn't a nuclear flask train.
Posted by TimHall at October 19, 2006 10:21 PMIf the crew had to access the 'outide' of the train, or there was no access down the 'safe' side they will have to do that in what amounts to a possession on the adjacent line to give them safe working space.
Posted by: Martyn Read on October 22, 2006 09:46 AMI had wondered whether the fire brigade were in attendance. There was a *lot* of smoke, so it's not inconceivable that somebody called them.
Posted by: Tim Hall on October 22, 2006 11:57 AM