Take a leaf on trains

AS An ex-Footplate man of those steam days in the 1950s, we had sand boxes on all our engines which would not only create adhesion but would prevent skidding.

I have advocated such equipment for some years after reading about leaves on the line, and now it’s in the papers as a major ‘discovery’.

Our steam engines also had brake blocks which not only exerted tremendous force on the wheels when braking, but also cleaned them.

But the braking system today is by disc brakes and air pressure, so I suggest the following in addition to sand boxes: a hook-up to the main air reservoir or separate one, to operate two brushes on each wheel whenever sanding is operated so the wheels would be kept clean and maximum adhesion for both starting and stopping of today’s trains.

Trains could then run in adverse conditions with a good degree of safety and avoid many cancellations. ray BulloCk, former fireman,

king’s lynn, norfolk.