RIP tracks and TWDs, in the UK?

[Ted]

Hi chaps,

I was watching this video with interest -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4AbI7KMP9Y

It's US focused obviously, but does the UK run a similar system - or did it in the late 80's?

RIP track - repair in place
TWD - trackside warning device

The video creator adds a nice piece of randomisation and interest to his freight operations by pulling a TWD card, some will have a warning, which requires that wagon/car be removed from the rake and repaired. The rest of the train continues onwards.

[woodbury22uk]

In the UK the same process has existed since forever. The RIP track is typically referred to as a cripple siding - cripple being the shorthand for a wagon with a defect.

Defects are detected by three main methods:-

1. a lineside detector identifies a hot axle box bearing (HAB) , for example. This triggers an alert to stop and inspect the train. Linked with an axle counter the HAB detector will identify the wagon and the position in the train;

2. some faults become apparent during train operation - mainly things to do with brakes not fully released, or brake pipe leaks. The locomotive driver may spot these defects from the way the train is behaving;

3. visual inspection of a wagon before loading, after loading and after discharge will identify defects - such as missing, worn or loose items of the vehicle running gear and loading/unloading equipment.

After detecting a fault the wagon receives a red or green card. Red card - must be repaired before proceeding. Green card - may be taken to a repair point, but may not be reloaded until the repair has been completed.

Most wagons are inspected between journeys, and all have a maintenance regime for regular inspection, identification of wear cycles, and routine replacement of worn parts. The vehicle owner/operator does not want an in service failure which compromises safety or causes delay to trains.

This topic is worth reading:- https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75261-how-are-crippled-wagons-moved-to-repair-works/

[Ted]

Brilliant, super helpful 👍

[Shropshire Lad]

Don't forget it's not just wagons that need skates 😀
Cheers Colin

[steve836]

Just come to this thread. Reminds me of a time when I worked in the goods yard at Brentwood ( GE section BR)
A box wagon came in with a suspected broken spring and the foreman told me to unload it and transfer its load to the adjascent wagon. Off I went and came to the wagon which looked wrong, apart from the list, but which I couldn't put my finger on why. After a bit of a struggle I got the door unlatched and it flew open! The wagon was tacked floor to roof with hessian sacks. I grabbed hold of one and, after a fight, managed to get it onto my back. I promptly landed flat on my face with the sack on top. It took me about 5 mins to worm my way out. I tried to lift or drag the sack to the next wagon but couldn't so I went back to the foreman to ask for help. The foreman told me I was a wimp, the sacks only weighed 1&1/2 cwt, and came to show me how to do it. He grabbed a sack from the top of the load and pulled it onto his back. I let him lie there for a couple of minutes before pulling the sack off him. It took four of us to unload the wagon and split its load between two others. About halfway through I happened to look up and noticed a large hole in the roof. That gave us a clue to what had happened. The wagon had been loaded correctly but the rain had soaked the load of barley and it weighed more than twice what it had before. Hence the broken spring.

[Ali Smith]

Here's one I made earlier, based on the much larger one at Toton (now demolished).

[crewearpley40]

That s a pleasant detailed shed ali. How did you construct it please ? Chris. I have one from plastikard

[Ali Smith]

It's mostly the Shapeways Gable Roof Engine Shed but with some modifications and a bit of their industrial unit. 

[crewearpley40]

Impressive detailing turned into a great cameo with the cars

[Ali Smith]

I meant Scalescenes, not Shapeways.