British Rail Class31/33.

Dwindling to Preservation?

Today these are either found working Departmental or Network track testing trains and one hopes may of what is left will soon head for the various preservation societies?

The Class 31 is the Brush/English Electric A1A-A1A, built between 1958-62 and could be described as a light engine. These Loughborough engines were originally numbered D5520-5862, today only one locomotive still carries D5613, 31190.

31/1 Is standard and only six remain, 31/4 has electric supply fitted and only six also remain in service. The last is 31/6 two with ETS wiring remain.

Top speed was originally 90mph, continues traction was 23.5 mph and weights 106-111 tons.

The Class 33 was built between 1960-61 at Birmingham BRCW/SULZER Bo-Bo Speed 85mph and weights were lighter than the Class 31's coming in at 78-78tons.

These locomotives were also originally numbered D6500-D6597 but not in order. Only 33012 still carries D6515.

33/0 Standard class has only four left, while 33/2 is one engine

Snow Patrol. Part-Two.

The elusive white Stuff.

This year the Britain, Ireland and Northern Europe are experiencing some of the warmest winter temperatures on record. But in the southern-hemisphere New Zealand and Antarctica, the warmest also for their summer.

Santa must of forgot something this year? 

Despite the lack of snow here, America and Canada are having severe storms and drifting and even their specialised machines cannot operate because of the heigth of the drifts. Despite many clever designs that are available, there are just times when non of them can get out and do their thing.

Many modern snow ploughs now, do much more than shovel snow, they can heat the tracks, sand, de-ice and brush a path through. Italy-Switzerland employ such trains daily to keep their mountain railways open. Some of these machines have been adapted to work on air crafts, allowing them to continue to operate in snow and ice conditions.