Annual Snow Plough Test Run 24/11/20113.wmv

[MG06ZT]

Good stuff as always Bob, a busy day there.  Luckily, so far, the snowploughs haven't been needed. When that 153 pulled up I could imagine Lou shouting 'BUS!'

[robmasterman]

@MG06ZT Spot on Keith, or some other derogatory comment.....but it's all part of the railway scene......Bob

[Drdamp]

Who let gas at 5:05?

[robmasterman]

@Drdamp That was my hand on the camera moving whilst acknowledging the trivers warning....lol....Bob

[WoelkerVideo]

A great snow plough. Excellent video Bob.

Greetings

Günter

[robmasterman]

@WoelkerVideo Thank you Gunter, all we need now is some snow....Bob

[ervans]

Very nice Bob, how often do they really have to use a  snow plough?

[robmasterman]

@ervans It's to make sure these units are rady in the event they are required, but as you know we don't get that much over here, and when we do it causes chaos...Bob

[railwaychannel]

Thanks, Bob, for posting this - I wonder what the driver's eye view of thew track ahead is like - seems to be a massive snow plough in the way!! They clearly manage though and I suppose they don't need to steer . . .

[robmasterman]

@railwaychannel My pleasure Mark, On these runs there are always two people in the cab, with the driver and the second man having limited forward viewing through cutouts on the Snow Plough...all clever stuff....Bob

[S2RUF]

Great shots Bob. Stu

[robmasterman]

@S2RUF Thanks Stu, one day this test will be done in real snow.!....Bob

[veolia215]

Hopefully it won't ' snow until the weekend as I am off to London on thursday to get a trip on the District lines olympia branch before the majority of trains on weekdays are withdrawn in teh new timetable change

I still dont think the dayly boat train from Cardiff - Fishguard should be in the hands of a class 150 a 158 or 175 is far more suitable. I am hopeing to visit the new station at Fishguard & Goodwick when it re-opens in March

[robmasterman]

@veolia215 Have a wonderful time Anthony, you should miss the snow...Bob

[PhilbruProduction]

Now we wait for the snow. Thank you Bob. Philippe

[robmasterman]

@PhilbruProduction Assez drôle Philippe, il a commencé à neiger dans le nord du Pays de Galles d'aujourd'hui ... Merci, comme toujours .... Bob

[sandletters39]

almost like driving a Pennsylvania GG1 electric

[robmasterman]

@sandletters39 I suppose it is, thanks for your comment....Bob

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

That is a fine looking vehicle. I wonder if it has been recreated in model form?

[robmasterman]

@ADMIRALSCORNER I know Triang did one many years ago Mike, and Dapol were to produce one a few years ago....Bob

[bfitzpatrick96]

how do people find out when charters etc are coming through?

[robmasterman]

@bfitzpatrick96 There are sites that you pay a subscription for...eg Freightmaster......Bob

[cuzinitr]

Cool video Bob! That snow plow sure is a wicked looking beast eh! No snow here yet bud, but soon enough I bet. Catch ya later! Rich

[robmasterman]

@cuzinitr You just keep it over there Rich...great to hear from you....Bob

[trainfart]

O.k. Let it snow! :)

[robmasterman]

@trainfart You're used to it over there, everything over here comes to s stand still when it snow...Thanks again....Bob

[penninefilms]

I really hope it wont be as bad as last year was.

[simonpilk]

Shame they never used that engineering plant or similar to correct the track alignment Bob! Nice video.

[robmasterman]

@simonpilk Looks as though it won't be too long before something is done Simon....Bob

[modemeyes]

Right. Got my thermals out just encase...Good video Bob & I enjoyed it..........Mike

[robmasterman]

@modemeyes Good man Mike, when these ploughs are out....the snow won't be far away....Bob

[MonochromeLoco]

A wonderful video Bob. I particularly like the commuter flagging down the class 153 (aka 155). I guess trains only stop here if and when required. Thums up....Keith

[robmasterman]

@MonochromeLoco Well spotted Keith, this station is indeed a request stop these days, and this lady catches this train almost every day....Bob

[johnwood57]

LOL are they trying to tell us something Bob??...........John

[robmasterman]

@johnwood57 Get those posh green wellies out John...it's on the way...trust me I'm Welsh!!...Bob

[Gian2812]

Thank you Bob for this your interesting video. Gian ;)

[robmasterman]

@Gian2812 My pleasure Gian, thank you for watching...Bob

[canvids1]

Bob some real great catches there you lucky guy!

That snow plough is some strange looking machine

don't know how in H they see where they are goining LOL

wayne

[robmasterman]

@canvids1 Thanks Wayne, there are two people in the cab, and each is able to look forward through cut aways in the snow plough....Bob

[topley92]

does the scoopy bit go lower cos we dont get that much snow do we? it would just go over the top!!

[robmasterman]

@topley92 These Ploughs are used for clearing snow drifts, and they cut through it and the snow is pushed either side of the plogh blades...They work as designed....Bob

[robmasterman]

@TheTrainBoy2012 Thanks, I expect so....we usually do ....Bob

[1adamstephen]

fantastic video bob very rare to see indeed i think they've reinstated the one in the south east for this year although i think we just ain't got the right weather for it to be snowing anytime soon however my motto is always expect the unexpected :p

Adam

[robmasterman]

@1adamstephen Rare indeed Adam, and always a treat to see it out on the mainline...Keep your eyes open as this is the time of year when the test are done..see HST Howards video above....Bob

[Bevoin1970]

That snowplough looks such a weird looking contraption to me, its a good job you told me what it was, had I been crossing the tracks somewhere here, and I'd spotted that coming towards me, I'd have wondered what on earth it was..LOL

Great footage as always Bob, love how you zoom in and out and Pan round.. 5*

Paul

[robmasterman]

@Bevoin1970 Thanks Paul, it's a rare opportunity to see these vehicles actually moving on the system...so at least you'll be prepared the next time you see one.....but hopefully not on the M5!......Bob

[davesgcr]

Very good Bob - nice to see you are catching the interesting things ......now how is my pet branch line GCG ?????

[robmasterman]

@davesgcr Hello Dave, great to hear from you....trying my best with so little going on down here...not in daylight anyway. Unfortunately, our grandson's school run is preventing me doing much on the GCG Branch these days as we are down to one car....Bob

[HSTHoward]

Ill do the video response :)

[robmasterman]

@HSTHoward Thanks Howard.....much appreciated...Bob

[Robnix66]

how do they see

[robmasterman]

@Robnix66 There are two people in the cab, and they look over the cut outs on the snow ploughs....Bob

[siobhan104]

When you look at track normally you would think that its nice and flat but its when you use the full zoom you can see that its anything but. That first bit of track just as you round the corner is a right up and downer. I just hope that they never have to call them out to use it. Nice one Bob. All the best....Tim.

[robmasterman]

@siobhan104 The land around Hendy Jnc is soft Tim, and although the line is not heavily used, the trains that do use it convey heavy steel and oil...as many have said, Network Rail need to have a look at that location, although to be honest, I've not seen it this bad before....Bob

[MegaCullie]

as usual bob some nice footage there its a like from me .as you no bob i work for network rail and i have to say the track condition is aweful . it has a bad top on it get that stone blower back and make him go through the p+c and plain line lol...........cheers kev.

[robmasterman]

@MegaCullie Thanks for that insight Kev, I visit this location quite often, and must admit I've never seen the line at Hendy Jnc in such a bad condition......Bob

[Bobcatonline]

Interesting video Bob, nothing like being prepared is there! Snow seems a long way off at the moment.

[robmasterman]

@Bobcatonline Thanks Rob, it's strange though that overy time I film this unit it snows within a few weeks...let's hope it's not the case this year....Bob

[cmeonthemove]

Great filming Bob. I don't think I'd like the job of driving one of those particularly as you're blind driving that.

[acw71000]

Great stuff Bob, I bet you'd love the chance to film these blasting through some snow.

[robmasterman]

@acw71000 Oh I wish Austin, trouble is, that if there was that much snow, I couldn't get to the action to film it....but one can but dream....Bob

[wooltman]

Looks like something out of a Star Wars or James Bond movie Bob,hope your wrong about the snow ,although we could do with a lot of rain in our area as the rivers and reservoirs are nearly empty.

[robmasterman]

@wooltman Me too Chris, it looks pretty but causes much desruption...hope the rain comes to you soon....Bob

[ThomastheE2engine]

grea shots :)

i've never seen a snow plough in person before, mainly because they aren't needed in Australia :P

did you know that the snow ploughs were built on old LNER tenders?

[robmasterman]

@ThomastheE2engine Luck you Jacques, and some are indeed built from old steam loco tenders....Bob

[ThomastheE2engine]

@robmasterman well some what lucky as trainspotting isn't as big a hobby as it is the the UK :/

[pwalpar]

Good video, but your suppose to wait till the snow is waist high to video it LOL

[robmasterman]

@pwalpar One day Walter, one day!....:o))....Bob

[84asrd84boxy]

Great video Bob

[robmasterman]

@84asrd84boxy Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it...Bob

[balmesh]

G'day Bob. Nice bit of something to brighten up the day. Looking at the set-up it was weight and adhesion that occurred to me. Do they add weight to the snow-ploughs?

[robmasterman]

@balmesh I don't think so Alan, they are designed to cut through the snow rather than just push it out of the way, a design that has worked sine the early days of steam....Bob

[balmesh]

To robmasterman

I expect you're right, Bob, it's just that in the books about steam days you see reference to adhesion problems in snow clearance, and therefore some locos were more suitable than others for the job. Then. . . . . . . Alan

[robmasterman]

@balmesh There's no doubt Alan, that in very severe conditions, then problems will arise, as in the Classic film Snow Drift at Bleath Gill...but these units will cope with most conditions required of them in this Country....There must be some wonderful stories written by the crews sent out of some missions over the years...Bob

[balmesh]

To robmasterman

David Smith wrote a couple of classics, based on talking to his friends in the G&SW Railway, later the LMS. The second one, I think, has a really telling story of problems on the Stranraer road (very close to where we used to live). The first is called "Tales of the Glasgow and South Western Railway" , the second "Legends of the G&SW in LMS Days" Both are highly recommended. . . . . . . Alan

[robmasterman]

@balmesh Sounds like like good reading Alan, thanks for that....Bob

[terratec365]

I don't think they'll be needing the snow plough this year.

[robmasterman]

@terratec365 Let's hope not....Bob

[kenbrowne1947]

Nice set of clips in the late autumn sun Bob. That track just after the junction in the first two clips looks decidedly dodgy! Hope the track machine picked it up. Also hope your photo shoot doesn't bring on the snow! Thanks for sharing it. Ken

[robmasterman]

@kenbrowne1947 Well spotted Ken, I must say I haven't seen that track as bad as this before, The land is very soft around there and pounded every day by heavy freight....Bob

[HSTHoward]

Saw the gen on this, thought you would be out! Great video, perhaps we should respond videos

[robmasterman]

@HSTHoward How do we do that Howard?...haven't used this facility on this new YouTube setup....Bob

[JPMiller14]

lovely few catches there. Certainly is a striking looking train the plough. we get snow yes, but I can't imagine that thing blasting through huge drifts of snow somehow. but who knows!

[robmasterman]

@JPMiller14 They can and have in the past Justin, there's a lot of power available with two 66's attacking a snow drift....Bob

[JPMiller14]

@robmasterman oh yes, I wasn't disputing their ability, I just meant I can't see them having a chance of going at real deep snow. Funnily enough today is a year ago since the Llandeilo A40 snow blizzard I filmed.

[howarth004]

Nice to see they are useing some common and testing before we get hit , probably find it will be the leaves on the track that stops them next LOL.

Stop that train, just like a bus stop, if you don`t put your arm out they don`t stop..?

Interesting day for you Bob, Thanks for sharing.

Dave

[robmasterman]

@howarth004 This run happens each year Dave, it makes sure they are fit for the job....the Sandite trains that I've recently filmed do the leaves and greasy rails cleaning each Autumn, and is proving to be very effective...its always good to see preventative work being undertaken...Bob

[EMuksteam]

Excellent video Bob,just like us tempting fate in filming the snow train before it's use in the right weather.(it might not be long).(C&A)

[robmasterman]

@EMuksteam Let's hope not, although a light covering always looks attractive...Thanks as always to the both of you....Bob

[molzips]

Bob, Very interesting but I am intrigued how the driver can see the road ahead. Thanks for sharing. Regards, John

[robmasterman]

@molzips There has to be two on dury on the footplate John, there is limited viewing through the cut away sections each side of the plough, but you need two people to have a clear view of both sides....Bob

[jagafoto]

Very nice video! Thanks!!!

[robmasterman]

@jagafoto Thanks again, glad you enjoyed it...Bob

[KidwellyJosh]

Hi Bob. Some good quality filming once again, well done.

I remember in my days as a second man, we had a cravens 105 stuck in a snow drift on the Felixstowe branch.... it was there for about two weeks!! Perhaps all regions should adopt a test -run of their ploughs..... TTFN.

[robmasterman]

@KidwellyJosh I totally agree, thanks very much for your kind comments, I should imagine that these runs do happen all over the UK, but are rarely filmed or seen....Bob

[penninefilms]

Tell that train to go back to its shed we don't wont snow after last year.

[robmasterman]

@penninefilms Exactly Bradley, they always seem to come just before the snow....Bob

[poisonarrowfrog100]

Hey nice video and I have never seen a snow plough here in Scotland. Lewis

[robmasterman]

@poisonarrowfrog100 You rarely see them in operation, Lewis, there must be some located somewhere in Scotland...Thanks for watching...Bob

[ElectrostarLewis]

Nice video Bob. We have snowploughs here in kent but unlike these ones, they haven't turned a wheel in the past two years. Lewis

[robmasterman]

@ElectrostarLewis Thanks Lewis, There are many steeply graded lines in South Wales, so these ploughs need to be in standby condition every year.....Bob

[ElectrostarLewis]

@robmasterman Ah now that makes sense

[robmasterman]

@ElectrostarLewis No problem...Bob