Ploughs on duty as snow, ice and rain batter network
SEVERE winter weather in the form of snow, ice and rain brought problems to a number of parts of the rail network, particularly Scotland, during mid February. Deep snow blocked the line at Huntley between Aberdeen and Inverness and necessitated a snow plough train hauled by Class 37 Nos. 37423 and 37419 clearing the line, with dramatic footage of the work appearing on social media sites. The 37s also ran over the Far North line to Georgemas Jct on February 17 where drifts were several feet deep. Earlier in the month, snow blocked the Highland Main Line in the Dalwhinnie area. There was a line blockage beyond Ardrossan South Beach which closed the line to Largs from February 5 after heavy rain caused a series of three landslips near Ardrossan, West Kilbride and Fairlie. One had deposited an estimated 4,000 tonnes of earth onto the track, over a 100m stretch. As we closed for press, the section from Ardrossan to West Kilbride had been repaired and was due to reopen. Heavy rain and flooding caused problems between between Dunkeld and Perth on February 19, and the next day, the West Coast Main Line just south Beattock village became flooded. Snow also brought problems to a number of lines in East Anglia, while rain in Kent led to a landslide near Tunbridge Wells, and many other places – such as Ledbury and Grantshouse – reported localised flooding too. Snow ploughs also worked over the Settle and Carlisle line. Icicles formed in a number of tunnels, such as Standedge and Blea Moor necessitating specialist teams being used to remove them, while elsewhere the icicles created the risk of arcing on the overhead electric wires.