d wrote:

I suppose the plus side of diesels is that they don't have to worry about
dodgy eletricity supplies. Though you have to wonder how the metro systems
in places like canada and oslo manage to run when its -20C and snow a metre
deep.


Because they get those conditions every winter and are completely
geared up to dealing with them?

We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not
geared up for it at all. That applies across most industries and
transport modes, not just rail. Just look at the way the road system
grinds to a halt when it snows, because councils are unable to cope
and most motorists haven't got a clue about choosing the right tyres
for their vehicles.

On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:08:18 +0000
Anthony Polson wrote:
wrote:

I suppose the plus side of diesels is that they don't have to worry about
dodgy eletricity supplies. Though you have to wonder how the metro systems
in places like canada and oslo manage to run when its -20C and snow a metre
deep.


Because they get those conditions every winter and are completely
geared up to dealing with them?

We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not

Its becoming more common so perhaps we should cope. Anyway , that aside
there's no excuse for 4 lines going down just because of a teeny amount
of snow and a slight frost. Any well run railway should be able to cope with
that.

grinds to a halt when it snows, because councils are unable to cope
and most motorists haven't got a clue about choosing the right tyres
for their vehicles.

There's no point spending a grand on winter tyres and wheels because you'll
just get to the end of your street then get stuck behind 200 cars that don't
have them. For it to work the government needs to make them law as in france
and germany.

B2003

d wrote:
On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:08:18 +0000
Anthony Polson wrote:
wrote:

I suppose the plus side of diesels is that they don't have to worry about
dodgy eletricity supplies. Though you have to wonder how the metro systems
in places like canada and oslo manage to run when its -20C and snow a metre
deep.


Because they get those conditions every winter and are completely
geared up to dealing with them?

We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not

Its becoming more common so perhaps we should cope. Anyway , that aside
there's no excuse for 4 lines going down just because of a teeny amount
of snow and a slight frost. Any well run railway should be able to cope with
that.


You can't draw any conclusion about the probability of regular snow in
the future from a couple of years' worth of data. The last time that
SE England saw regular winter snow was in the days of Network
SouthEast. Snowblowers were purchased by NSE but after delivery we
had no regular snow for about 15 years so they were sent to Scotland
where apparently they have had very little use.


grinds to a halt when it snows, because councils are unable to cope
and most motorists haven't got a clue about choosing the right tyres
for their vehicles.

There's no point spending a grand on winter tyres and wheels because you'll
just get to the end of your street then get stuck behind 200 cars that don't
have them. For it to work the government needs to make them law as in france
and germany.


I agree, they should be a legal requirement. They perform well on any
surface in cold conditions, not just snow. Mine cost me £280 fitted
on a £100 set of used wheels. Total £380.

In message , at 14:09:41 on
Wed, 5 Dec 2012, Anthony Polson remarked:
Snowblowers were purchased by NSE but after delivery we
had no regular snow for about 15 years so they were sent to Scotland
where apparently they have had very little use.

I can see the eBay advert now: For Sale, snow blowers. Not much use.
--
Roland Perry

On 05/12/2012 13:48, d wrote:
On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:08:18 +0000
Anthony Polson wrote:
d wrote:

I suppose the plus side of diesels is that they don't have to worry about
dodgy eletricity supplies. Though you have to wonder how the metro systems
in places like canada and oslo manage to run when its -20C and snow a metre
deep.


Because they get those conditions every winter and are completely
geared up to dealing with them?

We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not

Its becoming more common so perhaps we should cope. Anyway , that aside
there's no excuse for 4 lines going down just because of a teeny amount
of snow and a slight frost. Any well run railway should be able to cope with
that.

grinds to a halt when it snows, because councils are unable to cope
and most motorists haven't got a clue about choosing the right tyres
for their vehicles.

There's no point spending a grand on winter tyres and wheels because you'll
just get to the end of your street then get stuck behind 200 cars that don't
have them. For it to work the government needs to make them law as in france
and germany.

B2003


And to make sure that people who do fit them don't find that their
insurers penalise them for 'modifying' their cars

G

On Wed, Dec 05, 2012 at 01:48:38PM +0000, d wrote:
On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:08:18 +0000
Anthony Polson wrote:
We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not
Its becoming more common

And your evidence for this is what?

Sure, we've had snow for the last three (I think) winters, but you'd
expect that to happen occasionally even in a region that hardly ever
gets any snow.

--
David Cantrell | Minister for Arbitrary Justice

It wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer every so often.
Purely for purposes of prevention, of course.

On Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:49:53 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
On Wed, Dec 05, 2012 at 01:48:38PM +0000, d wrote:
On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:08:18 +0000
Anthony Polson wrote:
We cannot cope with snow because we don't get it every year so are not
Its becoming more common

And your evidence for this is what?

Sure, we've had snow for the last three (I think) winters, but you'd
expect that to happen occasionally even in a region that hardly ever
gets any snow.

When did it last snow in the sahara? Anyway , the fact that it snows here
at all should be enough for them to get their act together but every year
it seems to come as a complete surprise that it snows in winter and every year
we get the same tired old excuses. Its pathetic.

B2003

On Fri, Dec 07, 2012 at 11:51:57AM +0000, d wrote:
On Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:49:53 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
Sure, we've had snow for the last three (I think) winters, but you'd
expect that to happen occasionally even in a region that hardly ever
gets any snow.
the fact that it snows here
at all should be enough for them to get their act together

By which you mean that "they" should have snow-ploughs and gritters etc
ready to go?

Who's gonna pay for them? It's just not a good investment when they'd
hardly ever be used.

but every year
it seems to come as a complete surprise that it snows in winter

No it doesn't.

--
David Cantrell | top google result for "topless karaoke murders"

Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt

On Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:03:52 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
On Fri, Dec 07, 2012 at 11:51:57AM +0000, d wrote:
On Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:49:53 +0000
David Cantrell wrote:
Sure, we've had snow for the last three (I think) winters, but you'd
expect that to happen occasionally even in a region that hardly ever
gets any snow.
the fact that it snows here
at all should be enough for them to get their act together

By which you mean that "they" should have snow-ploughs and gritters etc
ready to go?

Who's gonna pay for them? It's just not a good investment when they'd
hardly ever be used.

I've never once seen a Halon system in a computer room used in anger but
you can be damn sure every serious company has one installed in theirs.
What the hell is the cost of a couple of trucks and some grit compared to
the millions, possibly even billions lost when everything grinds to a halt?

B2003

In message , at 11:49:53
on Fri, 7 Dec 2012, David Cantrell remarked:
we've had snow for the last three (I think) winters, but you'd
expect that to happen occasionally even in a region that hardly ever
gets any snow.

It snowed in Nottingham when my children were about 13 or 14 (but only
for a day) and they said it was the first time their locally brought up
friends had ever seen snow. They, on the other hand, have lived in
several other parts of the country and are quite familiar with it, even
to the extent of being disappointed at winters were there's not enough
snow to make a snowman.
--
Roland Perry