Last week, I kept on noticing octagonal signs that either say "SAND" or
have the word crossed out.

Okay, even someone as dense as me can work out the meaning. What I can't
figure out is the reason. What is it - why is sand good in some places
but not in others?

-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p15036428.html
(66 241 at Winwick, 10 May 2005)

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:18:09 GMT someone who may be Chris Tolley
 wrote this:-


>Okay, even someone as dense as me can work out the meaning. What I can't
>figure out is the reason. What is it - why is sand good in some places
>but not in others?


It isn't a good idea to get sand into the moving parts of
switchblades, where it acts as a grinding paste (and absorbs the
lubricants) and causes them to stop working more rapidly than they
would do otherwise.

There are undoubtedly other reasons, but I am too dense to work them
out.


-- 
 David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
 prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

In message <1fvag7oarh9ho$.1uu6xxif62hpd$.dlg@40tude.net>, Chris Tolley 
 writes

>Last week, I kept on noticing octagonal signs that either say "SAND" or
>have the word crossed out.
>
>Okay, even someone as dense as me can work out the meaning. What I can't
>figure out is the reason. What is it - why is sand good in some places
>but not in others?
>


The boards are there for use by sandite or water jet trains, the first 
one is the commencement board, the second one with the crossed out word 
is the termination board. These are normally found in the vicinity of 
stations to assist with braking during periods of low adhesion (leaf 
fall season). The sandites run between the start of October and the 
start of December, as leaves *never* fall off the trees outwith those 
dates, do they...?  ;-)

HTH,
-- 
Kenny
sidthesyphon at yahoo dot com

Kenny wrote:

>  writes
>> Last week, I kept on noticing octagonal signs that either say "SAND"
>> or have the word crossed out. Okay, even someone as dense as me can
>> work out the meaning. What I can't figure out is the reason. What is
>> it - why is sand good in some places but not in others? 
> 
> The boards are there for use by sandite or water jet trains, the first 
> one is the commencement board, the second one with the crossed out word 
> is the termination board. These are normally found in the vicinity of 
> stations to assist with braking during periods of low adhesion (leaf 
> fall season). The sandites run between the start of October and the 
> start of December, as leaves *never* fall off the trees outwith those 
> dates, do they...?  ;-)
> HTH,

It does indeed. Thanks. And as you say, the signs were usually at
stations. But I obviously gave myself too much credit for understanding
what they meant, as they are about Sandite, and not sand. <g>

"David Hansen"  wrote in message 
news:so7di1lfl5rc6b9q95mo4atm0tfl7mr1h6@4ax.com...

> On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 09:18:09 GMT someone who may be Chris Tolley
>  wrote this:-
>
>>Okay, even someone as dense as me can work out the meaning. What I can't
>>figure out is the reason. What is it - why is sand good in some places
>>but not in others?
>
> It isn't a good idea to get sand into the moving parts of
> switchblades, where it acts as a grinding paste (and absorbs the
> lubricants) and causes them to stop working more rapidly than they
> would do otherwise.
>
> There are undoubtedly other reasons, but I am too dense to work them
> out.
>
>
> -- 
> David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
> I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
> prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

If quantities of sand remain on the railhead, they can also cause problems 
with track circuits. The sand can also cause problems with point detection 
switches. In the case of our drivers, they are instructed to inform the 
signalling centre of any instances of poor adhesion, wheel-slip and if they 
have had to use the sanders.
Brian

"Kenny"  wrote in message
news:qV$GAVQmRqJDFw7R@privacy.net...

> The boards are there for use by sandite or water jet trains, the first
> one is the commencement board, the second one with the crossed out word
> is the termination board.


Given that Group Standard GI/RT/7033 shows different Sandite markers, are
these an older version or has the standard changed already?

Roger

In message <I1yVe.5833$yF2.4155@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Roger H. Bennett 
 writes

>"Kenny"  wrote in message
>news:qV$GAVQmRqJDFw7R@privacy.net...
>> The boards are there for use by sandite or water jet trains, the first
>> one is the commencement board, the second one with the crossed out word
>> is the termination board.
>
>Given that Group Standard GI/RT/7033 shows different Sandite markers, are
>these an older version or has the standard changed already?
>


I think they must be an older version, until I had a wee look at the 
standards, I'd never come across the new standard. I'm a Driver with 
First Scotrail, BTW, just to clarify my interest...  ;-)

Cheers,
-- 
Kenny