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Old 18th December 2017, 10:24
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aussiesteve aussiesteve is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Bathurst
Posts: 577
G'day Justin,
If you are still around since your post, I cannot answer for UK motive power.
But, here in Australia, locomotives possess sanding equipment for traction purposes.
EMU and DMU commuter trains generally do not possess any sanding equipment.
However, the QR 2000 class rail motors did possess sanding equipment.
Since the 3801 Cowan bank incident, De-sanding equipment must be applied to all locomotives.
Air tubes blow deposited sand from the rails behind each traction wheel.
This is to prevent track circuited automatic signals from displaying clear behind a train.
Sand build up on the rail head can insulate the wheels from the track circuits.
If a locomotive deposits sand uncontrolled, Train Control must be notified and Absolute Block Working instituted.
Steve.
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