Re: SLR uses sand!

[Tim Arnot <timarnot@fastlink.com.au>]

Barry Campbell wrote:
> 
> David McLoughlin wrote:
> >
> <snip>
> 
> > I find it extraordinary that the Sydney trams, which were built in
> > Melbourne at the same factory from whence came the 432 trams mentioned,
> > were not fitted with sanding gear.

This would not be relevant if sanding gear was not specified in the
build order.

Sounds like another example of the "new railway" people not learning
from the experience of the "old railway" people.

> >
> Interestingly enough ISTR reading in the past few months about a class
> of loco in the UK that was not fitted with sanding gear - was it the 47
> class? Sanding gear was added when it was converted to the 57 class.

Most British diesels are not fitted with sanding gear, nor are the older
EMU's and DMU's - hence the recurrent problems with "leaves on the
line". The problems are not helped by the use of disk brakes on modern
stock, leading to build up of muck on wheels/rails.

Incidentally, the correct terminology is Class 47. 6 Class 47's have
been/are being converted to Class 57 using GM engines, with sanding gear
fitted during the rebuild.

> Maybe I misunderstood the article, but then most lines in the UK are
> pretty flat and loads are generally pretty light.

Compared to Aus, yes. There are some trains that load over 1500 tonnes
though.

Tim
Timothy Arnot

e-mail to timarnot@fastlink.com.au