Weather and Trains

S

StorkNest

Stop that, its just silly
How does it affect your area?

Arctic cold disrupts Albany-NYC rail service
http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/32884884/Arctic_cold_disrupts_Albany-NYC_rail_service
I remember when things like this were normal in the 70s. We would think, "Yes, no school or work, a wonderful day off to stay home!" Today, after years of milder winters that an entire generation has been raised in, folks say, "OMFG, I hates dis weather, it is da SUXORS!" and get themselves into all kinds of messes.
 
Rain doesn't stop them in Florida (it is a semi-tropical environment ya know) but they will stop them when a hurricane is approaching.

Ben
 
I can see how the cold (along with ice) will affect switches and some signals/crossings, etc. The switch heaters don't always work, and when they don't, the points can freeze solid.
Relays in older (most RR's) signal and grade crossing equipment can also have problems in the cold.

A lot of it is due to poor maintenance. If there was enough of a budget for maintenance, such things should not happen. But as with any company in today's economy, cuts have been made to keep the bottom line up, and unfortunately, that usually means cuts in maintenance.

I have been monitoring CSX in northern NJ and southern NY, and they too are having problems with switches, signals, and grade crossings. Lots of train orders.

In the summer, we have another set of problems. Amtrak has had lots of trouble with catenary wires on the NEC sagging due to heat, and getting snagged by trains pantographs, resulting in wires coming down.

FW
 
G'day! :wave:

Uhh... the only weather condition that delays trains here would have to be a flood. XD As in Queensland right now.

Cheers! :)

Jake.
 
rastis said:
G'day! :wave:

Uhh... the only weather condition that delays trains here would have to be a flood. XD As in Queensland right now.

Cheers! :)

Jake.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Or a fire! The trains are running now, just not through the normal line through the flood effected area, of course.
 
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