UK RAILWAYS

On 13 Jun 2004 10:35:22 -0700 someone who may be RBCatlow@aol.com
(Richard Catlow) wrote this:-


I think they are slightly worse. In my limited number of trips along
both stretches I have never seen a flat sea around Saltcoats and
there has always been water on the windows and roof.


Lowering the floor would be an interesting job given the drainage
system in the tunnel. I would also not be that keen on drilling into
the top of the arch given the thin nature of what is above the
tunnel in places. However, modern technology would alleviate the
risks of a flood.

There is also the question of the diversionary/secondary routes.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On 13 Jun 2004 10:35:22 -0700 someone who may be RBCatlow@aol.com
(Richard Catlow) wrote this:-


I forgot to add. If new thinking is to be the order of the day then
one way of getting clearances in tunnels is not to use conventional
track. LR55 (http://www.edinburgh-tram.co.uk/track.htm) can be cut
into the existing floor of a tunnel, or a thin screed and provide
the necessary clearances without doing a huge amount of work. As
well as doing away with the ballast, the top of the rail is at the
same height as the floor of the tunnel which lowers the track by the
height of the rail and the thickness of the slab in paved track.

Although the page shows a tramway installation the track can carry
railway axle loads. The thing that fails first is the concrete
trough unit at ISTR the equivalent of a 50 tonne axle load. I do
know that Railtrack were looking at LR55 track for providing
enhanced clearances in tunnels (actually for bigger ISO containers)
before Railtrack imploded.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On 15 Jun 2004 14:20:07 -0700 someone who may be RBCatlow@aol.com
(Richard Catlow) wrote this:-


In the signalling world there is a phrase for this. A STM (ISTR this
is selective transmission module, but I may be misremembering). This
gadget would take ATP information from one sort of track equipment
and convert it into the format the train used. For example a train
could leave London Paddington using the BR-ATP system, but when it
got to a stretch of line equipped with ETCS the STM would convert
this information so that the driver still saw the same thing. There
was a lot of talk of this a few years ago, presumably development is
continuing.


In the case of the tramway schemes Im thinking of the overhead
would be supplied, installed and maintained by the electricity
company. They would then charge for electricity at the pantograph.
In essence the tramway is leasing the supply system, but the figures
can make sense.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.