Snow Plough Test Run 66079 & 66015 19/09/2010

[microbusss]

did it work? & the railway might want to try a Rotary XD

[robmasterman]

@microbusss These test are carried out every year at this time, to prepare for snow. However we rarely see severe conditions in this Country, but equipment and staff have to be prepared for it....Bob

[zikmester96]

--!THE KILLET TRAIN!--

[robmasterman]

@jlcame1994 You certainly wouldn't want to get in it's way....Bob

[RailfreightWales]

Great catch Bob, bring on the snow!!

[robmasterman]

@RailfreightWales Oh yes Justin, I've got my Wellies ready....Bob

[EWS60500]

great stuff bob, but how does the driver see out of the cab?

[robmasterman]

@EWS60500 There are always two people in the cab Llion, and there are two cut outs along the ploughs so there is limited forward vision..Bob

[MG06ZT]

Great catch, strange when the snow does fall there always in the wrong part of the country! Good stuff.

[robmasterman]

@MG06ZT Thanks Keith, it can fall wherever it likes, but not down here..ha..ha...Bob

[S2RUF]

Nice capture Bob. Think the Bristol Barton Hill plough's are having there test this Wed night. Stu

[robmasterman]

@S2RUF Thanks Stu, I'm still waiting to film this up to my waist in snow on The Heart of Wales Line......Bob

[RuberyB451]

I would like to know how on earth the driver can see out as well ? Any driver's like to comment.

[robmasterman]

@RuberyB451 There are two cut away sections on the Ploughs, the driver looks out of the left hand one, and the other qualified person looks out of the right hand one...Bob

[johnwood57]

OH NO! Not snow again Bob,i had enough of that the last time LOL,keep an eye on those berries............John

[robmasterman]

@johnwood57 Get those wellies ready John, thanks as always...Bob

[ervans]

Very nice Bob, really interesting. Good, just like here in Oregon you don't have to use it much.

[robmasterman]

@ervans Thanks Ervan, and let's hope it stays that way...Bob

[modemeyes]

Unique sighting...Thanks Bob..........Mike

[robmasterman]

@modemeyes I last filmed this in December last year Mike, and a few week later we had heavy snow, which doesn't often happen down these parts. There are many berries on the bushes this year which is often an indication that there's a cold Winter ahead..so we had better be prepared....Bob

[TheMysticEgg]

Looks completely outrageous, but very interesting and I would love to see it some time! I am bit confused on where the driver sits though...and also reminds me that winter is very much on its way....Like!

[robmasterman]

@TheMysticEgg It is a strange looking thing Greg, but does what it says on the box. The driver sits in his normal position, looking forward through a cut away in the Plough, he has to have a second qualified person sat across from him looking out of the right side, and between the two of them they can see all they need to. Remember on foggy nights the driver can hardly see the track in front of him and relies on the AWS system in the cab to confirm signal status....Bob

[MegaDavid1960]

dont see any snow....lol 

[robmasterman]

@MegaDavid1960 You keep it over there thank you....LOL....Bob

[1adamstephen]

fantastic video bob i wonder how the driver can see with the snow plows being so big:p

Adam

[robmasterman]

@1adamstephen there are two cut away sections on the ploughs Adam, however to see all signals etc, there must be two on the footplate at all times...Bob

[PhilbruProduction]

Surprisingly, with the snow plow to the locomotive, drivers have no visibility !

Superb video Bob. Merci beaucoup.

Philippe

[robmasterman]

@PhilbruProduction Il ya deux petites couper des sections sur les charrues Philippe, mais il nécessite deux personnes dans la locomotive de voir venir ... Merci bien, comme toujours, Bob ...

[robmasterman]

@stephengthompson Always on call Steve, last year after this went on test we had heavy snow a few weeks later, let's hope it doesn't happen this year...Bob

[MegaDavid1960]

where is the snow,,,,come to vermont.....lol

[robmasterman]

@MegaDavid1960 You just keep it all over there David...you know how to deal with snow...we don't Bob

[puffernutterlou]

nice to catch up with you again, and im predictin a winter of discontent and there are loads of berries on the trees again like last year so another bad one

[robmasterman]

@puffernutterlou I think you're spot on Lou, and indeed it was nice to see Glen, and Peter, and oh of course you....ha..ha...Bob

[01276]

How does the driver see what's ahead? :S

[robmasterman]

@01276 There is a cut out on the plough which allows the driver some visibility, but a second person also must accompany him and look out on the other side...Bob

[quimbyt]

He`s got plows on both ends. Last year the BNSF in Nebraska had to operate a rotary snowplow. The plows give the locomotives a futuristic look.

[robmasterman]

@quimbyt We don't have heavy snow that often, but these machines still have to be checked, their design hasn't changed much since they were first introduced...Bob

[salopia]

I hope this is not a sign of the weather to come. Nice video Bob.

[robmasterman]

@salopia Me too Roger, but it did snow after I filmed this working last December...so beware..ha..ha...Bob

[pwalpar]

I can imagine some serious snow removal with this plow LOL Good video Robert

[robmasterman]

@pwalpar Let's hope they don't need to be used eh Walter...Bob

[Jonern67]

Great video Bob, those snowploughs are pretty different from the ones here in Norway, they are much smaller! Thumbs up

[robmasterman]

@Jonern67 Thanks Jon, hopefully these over here are not used.....you're much better at it in Norway.lol...Bob

[MartyTrains200]

very good m8 :)

[robmasterman]

@MartyTrains200 Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it...Bob

[cuzinitr]

Nice catch Bob! I'm hopeing to catch some snowplow work this winter. I'm betting that if they are used near you, that you will try to film it. Catch ya later! Rich

[robmasterman]

@cuzinitr I will do my best old friend, and thanks again for watching...Bob

[AllianceB95]

A great vid Bob! But why 2 working engines ? In Germany theyll fire up 1 MTU Powered Class 218 and conect 2 snowplows to it (if needed)

Thumbs up!

[robmasterman]

@AllianceB95 Just being safe in case of one failing, but I'm not totally sure Bjorn...Good question...Bob

[AllianceB95]

@robmasterman

That would make sense indeed 1 back-up engine.

[S2RUF]

@AllianceB95 Two loco's are used in case one fails - as the plough's have no couplings or buffers on the outer ends they cannot be moved by an assisting loco if required. Thus, with 2 loco's the theory is that if one fails they should still be able to continue moving. Stu

[AllianceB95]

@S2RUF Okay Thanks 4 the information!

[howarth004]

Nothing like being prepared, that should clear even the worst snow fall, pity they carn`t do the same when leaves are on the track? Well captured Bob.

[robmasterman]

@howarth004 Thanks Davis, the Sandite Trains will be doing their rounds soon, and they certainly do a good job around South Wales....Bob

[robmasterman]

@moxon2313 Although we don't often have the need to use them, the snow ploughs have to travel to any part of the Railway system to clear any drifts that may occur The leave clearing Sandite Trains are different, and will be doing the rounds during the Autumn.....Bob

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

Wow What a scoop in more ways than one!

[robmasterman]

@ADMIRALSCORNER A wonderful pun Mike, thanks very much...Bob

[Rocketboy1950]

Great clip but what an utterly innane design the snowplough is.

[robmasterman]

@Rocketboy1950 The basic design has been around for years and is proven to be suitable for the relatively little snow we get in the UK..Thanks for watching...Bob

[108Robcatt]

Ominous looking thing! But I suppose being prepared is half the battle. Is there a stretch of the line that is susceptible to bad weather around your way?

[robmasterman]

@108Robcatt It's the quietest line to test that the units are performing to the required standards Rob...Thanks...Bob

[trainfart]

No far away =)

[robmasterman]

@trainfart I hope not.....Bob

[JamesandPeter]

Nice!! never seen one of those before on the mainline 5** as allways.

[robmasterman]

@JamesandPeter It is rare to see them in action, it's always done on the qt......Bob

[Northstander]

How bad are they expecting the leaves on the line to be this autumn...at least there can be no excuses with this sort of preparation!

[penninefilms]

Thanks.

[cargokill]

Super !

[robmasterman]

@cargokill Thank you...Bob

[37372]

They're certainly preparing them well in advance! Nice video Bob.

[robmasterman]

@37372 Thanks, it's checked every year, when I filmed it last December we had snow a few weeks later...lol...Bob

[robmasterman]

@37372 Thanks very much, perhaps they know something we don't..ha..ha...Bob

[KWVRMAD]

Brilliant Video!

[robmasterman]

@KWVRMAD Thanks very much appreciated...Bob

[EMuksteam]

No snow please Bob Great video.C&A

[robmasterman]

@EMuksteam Thanks both, who knows, it is getting colder next week so be careful....Bob

[Pesmog]

err......How do the drvers see where they are going ?  Visibility looks worse than any steam loco

[robmasterman]

@Pesmog There are small cut outs either side of the ploughs which gives limited viewing, and for obvious safety reasons there must be two on the footplate to ensure all round vision...Bob

[virginhst539]

great catch

[robmasterman]

@virginhst539 Thanks very much...Bob

[robmasterman]

@virginhst539 Thanks very much...Bob

[HSTHoward]

amazing! why cant i have my local ploughs out!! lucky man

[robmasterman]

@HSTHoward They will all get tested at some time, it's just getting to them when it happens...Bob

[berwickspotter]

Cracking stuff rob that is a rare sight

[robmasterman]

@berwickspotter Thanks Gareth, I didn't have time to get some more scenic locations...Bob

[NN2Blue]

This working always makes me smile - If you need snow ploughs in West Wales, the ConDem government will be declaring a Weather driven State of Emergency in the rest of the UK! LOL! - Well Done for capturing them again Bob! - Mike

[robmasterman]

@NN2Blue True, very true Mike, but it did snow down here last time I filmed them...so beware in Northamptonshire!!!...Bob

[penninefilms]

Never seen one of the ruining before.

[robmasterman]

@penninefilms These are rare sightings, so they have to be captured....Bob

[robmasterman]

@penninefilms Always pleased to help....Bob

[mvjedforest]

Well done, Bob. That was a train I've never seen in action or on test. I did not know that they have a plough on both ends, but visibilty looks very restricted. Do they have a TV camera for forward viewing?....Mervyn

[robmasterman]

@mvjedforest If you look closely there are two cutaways either side of the ploughs Mervyn, there is restricted viewing, which necessitates two people on the footplate to see the road ahead. In the event they meet some deep drifts it ensures a faster run through, and of course facilitates the non availability of no run round facilities on some lines....Bob

[togreektown]

lucky catch Bob and I was going to comment but Jamie said it for me.

didn't know you got that much snow there.

Well you got a couple of great Canadian built machines there that

can handle the load Wayne

[robmasterman]

@togreektown Are you biased by any chance Wayne..ha..ha...You know what it's like over here, a few inches of snow, and the whole country grinds to a halt.....unlike you professionals over there.....Thanks...Bob

[TopGearFan09]

Never seen the snow plough before hopefully see it in action up my way when the snow arrives!

Great as usual

andy

[robmasterman]

@TopGearFan09 You just keep that snow up there Andy..ha..ha...Thanks for watching...Bob

[itfcsam]

Wow, nice shots Bob! Had a good time at STJ today, 5*

[robmasterman]

@itfcsam Thanks Sam, I shall watch your work when I have a spare moment...Bob

[bronzeonion]

how does the driver see?

[robmasterman]

@bronzeonion There are cutaways each side of the plough, but there must be two people in the cab to see the road ahead....Bob

[Firrboxfryup]

I know we've had quite a lot of snow the last couple of year, but Bl***y hell, do they need two of those... lol.

Glad your on hand to catch these unusual movements.

Jamie

[robmasterman]

@Firrboxfryup It's for working up single lines without run round facilities, and believe me Jamie, it would take all the power these 66 's could muster to clear a snow fall in a cutting....Thanks as always for you support....Bob

[mappman1000]

Always good to see these running, well filmed too

[robmasterman]

@mappman1000 It certainly is and thanks for watching...Bob