Old trains - new tech for clearing leaves on the line. On test at Wensleydale Railway in Yorkshire.

[@Elvo7684]

It's great to see how heritage rail groups are linking up with universities to driving innovation in the industry, this highlights the need to go back to the model of dedicated railway engineering colleges.

[@richbrown8174]

Good to see a video featuring the Wensleydale Railway they need to upload some more videos of the railway and the ongoing improvements

[@michaelguerin56]

Great idea. Excellent cooperation. Thank you.

[@bikerguychris33]

I'm glad some pacers have been preserved 😊. They weren't bad Trains, they just were showing their age at 30+ years old, especially compared to the modern CAF trains we now have that have succeeded them. Pacers essentially being Leyland national buses built on a high speed freight wagon, lacked bogies and that made them bounce, hence the "nodding donkeys" nickname they got. I liked them, but do prefer our modern trains we now have over them, as they're much smoother, quieter, faster, more spacious etc...

[@davidty2006]

Quite a few of them have been preserved. Though some have been converted for other uses.

[@Martindyna]

Remember that BR were asked to provide the cheapest possible solution by the Conservative government hence the bus body on High Speed Freight Vehicle (75 mph). It would be interesting to compare the cost of a Pacer to the cost of the new CAF trains. Also I suggest that the Pacers had decent acceleration for such a basic train, the engines & transmission being, I understand, similar to BR Sprinters (Hjgh Speed Diesel engine driving via a Voith torque converter). The present day Conservative government then had the audacity to join in the criticism of the 30 year old Pacers although they had effectively caused their low specification.

[@johnriggs4929]

They were bl00dy awful!

[@marksimpson9487]

half the issue is that the ops company were putting them on long distant journeys meaning that they did a hell of a lot more squeaking, bouncing and passenger comfort wasnt great because the seating was more of a short journey commuter train. I volunteer on a railway that has one and they run smoother than our bogie stock....

[@Martindyna]

Interesting video but the description should make clear that there is a chemical reaction between the leaves and the steel rail that results in a slippery surface, similar to how molybdenum disulfide additive in lubricating oil coats steel resulting in a low friction finish.

[@simonfoster7288]

That's interesting. What's the reaction? (I have a chemistry background).

[@Martindyna]

@@simonfoster7288 This channel doesn't allow links but if you google `leaves chemical reaction with steel rail' a number of sites come up giving explanations.

[@simonfoster7288]

@@Martindyna OK thanks. I've found one that says iron oxide from the rail reacts, in some way they don't specifiy, with tannins in the leaves. So tannic leaves are the ones that cause trouble, apparently. Perhaps you can sabotage South West trains by emptying your teapot over the tracks! Further digging reveals that iron salts reacting with tannin are the source of gall ink - dark coloured complexes of Fe with tannic acid. Nothing about it being slippery so far, but it has to be something along these lines - as it were....

[@stephensmith4480]

@@Martindyna Also, it doesn`t tell you that the current method of cleaning the Rails during the Autumn leaf fall period, using either an MPV or an RHTT Doesn`t only clean the leaves off the track, but another set of Nozzles behind the Water jets then lays a compound called Sandite down on top of the Railhead to give the following Trains extra grip on the Rail. Just cleaning it is not good enough I`m afraid, it must also be treated. I was a Machine operator on one of these MPV Treatment units for a number of years.

[@WhiskeyGulf71]

Another complicated solution for a simple problem. All trains have air compressor equipment for braking. Upgrade this equipment to be able to supply continuous compressed air & direct an air stream at the track in front of the first wheel sets, this way a leaf that has landed on the track is blown clear before the wheels crush the leaf in to the paste that causes the problem.

[@mfbfreak]

Doesn't work in the same way. First, the pressure of dry ice is in the order of 70 bar, while a train's air system is about 5 bar - meaning much less piercing effect of the jet of gas. The velocity of a jet of compressed carbon dioxide is much higher. Second, dry ice can come out as solid particles. It is used in that way in specialized paint stripping and cleaning systems. Depending on which way the system works, in theory 70 bar of air pressure might also work, but i expect it not to, because why bother with big tanks of compressed CO2 when a simple air compressor would also be enough. If just a blast of air would be enough to move wet leafs aside, then the rush of air created by the train itself would likely already be enough.

[@JTV84]

i like pacers.

[@samuelpaulini]

What about material stress? I would bet chipping will increase.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

This “leaves on the line” thing never seemed to be a problem in the days of steam!

[@fakelol699]

Thay did the same thing with the nir 80 class

[@bjturon]

Why is leafs on the track such a big issue in the UK -- dosn't seem to be in America and we have trees too... in some parts of the country 🍁

[@TallboyDave]

I actually know a little about this- as best I recall, when wet leaves are crushed under wheels, it becomes a pulpy material that's even more slippery than soap, oil or grease.

[@jimallen9442]

Co2? Really, what happened to net zero.

[@ghenkhoash2440]

Are you joking or serious?

[@jimallen9442]

@@ghenkhoash2440 Serious.

[@ghenkhoash2440]

@@jimallen9442 That CO2 is coming from the atmosphere not by burning fossil fuels.

[@jimallen9442]

@@ghenkhoash2440 Most carbon dioxide used in the manufacture of dry ice in the United States is derived from refinement of gases given off during the refinement of petroleum and ammonia.

[@simontaylor2319]

Damn, that's one excuse out of the window - next staff shortages - what do you have in mind to solve that one?

[@alexishamer6427]

Class 142 pacers a based on a 2 car train 🚊. All class 142 pacer trains 🚂 are standard class accommodation only and conveys a toilet 🚽 in the DMSL - Diesel ⛽️ Multiple Standard Lavatory 🚽. Used to be for public transport part of British Rail. 👍

[@Trevor_Austin]

Shock horror! The greenies and eco-wombles will go into a paradox, oxymoronic meltdown here. Train = Good, CO2 = Bad. Train uses CO2. Errm… Tilt 🧨 💥

[@masksarelies391]

Noooooooooooo.. Not CO2.........

[@icdgyixify99]

Plants need carbon dioxide to carry out photosynthesis.

[@mr-dan-coleman]

Use of dry ice is not polluting!

[@smgdfcmfah]

@@mr-dan-coleman Then neither is driving our cars. Can't have it both ways.

[@mr-dan-coleman]

@@smgdfcmfah - Dry ice does not produce CO2 or add CO2 to the atmosphere, your car burns hydrocarbons that releases CO2 that would've otherwise not been in the atmosphere. You can very much have it both ways. One is polluting, the other isn't.

[@smgdfcmfah]

@@mr-dan-coleman Seriously? So where does it go? Dry ice is magic, is that it? You need a very, VERY basic lesson in chemistry! Dry ice IS CO2. Period. When you use it as a sand blaster (as in this video), it melts and immediately goes into its gaseous state since there's no liquid state at normal air pressure. In other words, it immediately dissipates into CO2 gas and enters the atmosphere. PURE CO2 gas. It doesn't vanish. It doesn't break it's bonds and magically change into Carbon and Oxygen (even if it did, they'd quickly recombine). Why would you make such an asinine and incorrect statement about something you are so clearly completely ignorant about? Or was it intentional and you're just spreading propaganda and lies that suit your agenda? It must be one of the two.

[@robnewman6101]

I also have a Hardback Book called The Railway Policeman. The Story of the Constable on the Track. By J. R. WHITBREAD.

[@ginvr]

Don't tell the extinction cultists they will be glueing themselves to the line

[@davidfalconer8913]

Hmm ? .... why not use a rotating HARD STEEL bristle brush ( like used on roadside sweepers ! ) .. Low tech , works BRILLIANTLY ... sort your life out , NETWORK RAIL ( I used to work on your stuff ! , OMG ) ........ DAVE™

[@robnewman6101]

I have the DORLING KINDERSLEY DK EYEWITNESS GUIDES Book of TRAIN. Discover the story of railways - from the days of steam to the high - speed, sophisticated trains of today. In association with THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM.

[@WardleRestorations]

Hi Tom, do you have a contact email please? 🙂