Effect of 1/10 inch of ice on railroad operations.

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Even a small amount of ice can cause problems. It is more the temperature than the thickness that causes problems, I believe. Things like points (I think you call them switches...) can be frozen solid, ice on the overhead wires can cause pickup issues, etc.

Here in the UK, we tend to get many travel problems with even a tiny amount of snow and ice!

Ed.
 
The issue will be the moving parts that are not heated. Also, passenger boarding can be slowed unless the platform is treated or heated. If signaling and power are not buried, they are susceptible to ice weighing down wires and tree limbs. With ice, there are many what ifs, so things can go smoothly or be a mess.
 
Since we know Steve is on 303, now at Springfield (see separate thread), this morning's ice must not have been a problem for Metra or Amtrak.
 
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Lonestar648 said:
The issue will be the moving parts that are not heated. Also, passenger boarding can be slowed unless the platform is treated or heated. If signaling and power are not buried, they are susceptible to ice weighing down wires and tree limbs. With ice, there are many what ifs, so things can go smoothly or be a mess.
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Absolutely. Switch heaters can actually make things worse sometimes. Ice is tricky. Actually, any extreme is tricky.
 
It generally is indeed the cold more than the ice that causes problems.

The Silver Meteor I was on in January derailed because of a frozen switch. Basically the switch leading to the Savannah station platform was frozen (stuck). The crew couldn’t thaw it, so they decided to give up on turning that switch. They decided to reverse us into the station via a working (unfrozen) switch, but the last car rolled onto the first switch, which in turn sprung suddenly and jerked the last three cars off the tracks.

In essence, ice (even small amounts) can ruin switches, cause derailments (even indirectly), block catenary pickup, throw of electrical systems, etc.

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cpotisch said:
It generally is indeed the cold more than the ice that causes problems.

The Silver Meteor I was on in January derailed because of a frozen switch. Basically the switch leading to the Savannah station platform was frozen (stuck). The crew couldn’t thaw it, so they decided to give up on turning that switch. They decided to reverse us into the station via a working (unfrozen) switch, but the last car rolled onto the first switch, which in turn sprung suddenly and jerked the last three cars off the tracks.

In essence, ice (even small amounts) can ruin switches, cause derailments (even indirectly), block catenary pickup, throw of electrical systems, etc.
Click to expand...
Yep, this is what caused my cross country trip to be cancelled. I was scheduled to be on the Silver Meteor the next day on the way to LA and the line was shut down foe 3 days.

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All I know 1st-hand is getting stuck in Orlando for 3 days because the AT was canceled since IT WAS COLD!?!?!?!? Went to the front desk at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - said "I need to stay on a nite-to-nite basis til Amtrak opens up again (status unknown)" $650/nite for a Queen & bunk-bed is all they had !!! It was hard to believe the track from SFA-LOR was CLOSED. I think more then one train-a-day uses that track ?!?!?
 
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niemi24s said:
Thirdrail7 said:
Switch heaters can actually make things worse sometimes.
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How so? Does the melted snow/ice puddle up somewhere and form a thicker (harder to melt) ice blockage?
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Exactly. Additionally, if there is too much snow or ice melting in the area of the switch heater, they can become overwhelmed and stop working. Then, you'll have a nice frozen block of icey run off...right in your switch.
 
JRR said:
cpotisch said:
It generally is indeed the cold more than the ice that causes problems.

The Silver Meteor I was on in January derailed because of a frozen switch. Basically the switch leading to the Savannah station platform was frozen (stuck). The crew couldn’t thaw it, so they decided to give up on turning that switch. They decided to reverse us into the station via a working (unfrozen) switch, but the last car rolled onto the first switch, which in turn sprung suddenly and jerked the last three cars off the tracks.

In essence, ice (even small amounts) can ruin switches, cause derailments (even indirectly), block catenary pickup, throw of electrical systems, etc.
Click to expand...
Yep, this is what caused my cross country trip to be cancelled. I was scheduled to be on the Silver Meteor the next day on the way to LA and the line was shut down foe 3 days.

Sent from my iPad using Amtrak Forum
Click to expand...
You were gonna take the SM Jan. 4?
 
You may be in Florida when the train cancels, but it is where the route goes, might be real icy in Virginia. Only takes a small area of moderate ice, plus remember it is the Host RR dispatchers that control the traffic.
 

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