Too good to ignore.
- Thread starter Renovater
- Start date
Arun Sharma
Western Thunderer
I have seen photographs of the snows around that period - German and Italian POWs were being used to clear the lines. I'm not sure when the last german POWs were released but a significant number of the italian ones ended up settling in villages along the Dumfries to Stranraer line. There remain to this day interesting medical consequences of the influx of italians to the SW of Scotland.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
I would say the units are on the move as the rail under the leading car is clear and there is snow build up on the motor bogie guard irons, traction motor and the leading edge of the pick up shoe beam. Also the snow appears displaced next to the clear rail as it appears rougher and more lumpy than the smoother undisturbed snow in front of the unit.
These units were a lot heavier when compared to today's EMUs due to the traditional carriage construction and and heavy motor bogies at the outer ends of the Motor Driving Car with standard SR steam carriage bogies at the inner ends and on the intermediate trailer. As such they were more able to deal with the what appears to be 'wet' snow (as opposed to 'dry' fine powdery alpine snow which can easily get blown into and clog up the traction motors and underside electrical equipment).
Today's electric units are of lighter construction such as the Northern Rail Siemens/CAF class 333 which have two power bogies mounted in a central power car while newer units such as the Siemens Thameslink class 700 and articulated units such as the Stadler Greater Anglia class 755 have traction motors spread along the train rather than dedicated power bogies.
The main curse of 3rd (and 4th) conductor rail is ice - which wouldn't occur if we had adopted a side rail contact (Manchester-Bury as was) or underside rail contact (Berlin S-Bahn) system rather than the top rail contact system we currently have.
Allen M
Western Thunderer
Yes, thinking about it now the fall was 1947 so I saw the floods in early 1948. Would that affect the livery dicussion and the snow if this statement makes sense?
Regards
Allen
paulc
Western Thunderer
I don't think the snow lasted 12 months Allen .
DrIain
Member
Intriguing that you mention medical consequences. Do you have a reference or weblink?
Dr Iain
Arun Sharma
Western Thunderer
As ever so humble medical students many many years ago, we were taught that the world's highest incidence of CDH in babies was in Italy but with the influx of, and taking up residence by, italian prisoners of war along the Port Road that area of SW Scotland had seen a commensurate increase in the incidence of CDH in the offspring of italian/scottish parents.
Whether that remains the case today [i.e., in subsequent generations], I couldn't say as I don't get involved in orthopaedics or paediatrics much.
Whether that remains the case today [i.e., in subsequent generations], I couldn't say as I don't get involved in orthopaedics or paediatrics much.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a rare condition that occurs when the diaphragm, the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen, fails to close properly during fetal development. This results in a hole in the diaphragm, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity, which can crowd the lungs and hinder their development.
Arun Sharma
Western Thunderer
Actually Paul I was referring to a different CDH - Congenital disclocation of the Hip [rather than diaphragmatic hernia]
Arun
Arun
DrIain
Member
Interesting - I didn’t know that. I am not a medic but a biologist with an interest in pretty much anything.
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
Don't you just love TLA's.
When going to work in local government (in IT) and supporting all departments, it quickly became apparent that 'CDH' (for example) might mean one thing in Social Care, something different in Elections and different again in Highways or Education.
I became quite adept at not showing my ignorance of the term in any given circumstance, by making notes of the acronym and context, then looking it up later...
When going to work in local government (in IT) and supporting all departments, it quickly became apparent that 'CDH' (for example) might mean one thing in Social Care, something different in Elections and different again in Highways or Education.
I became quite adept at not showing my ignorance of the term in any given circumstance, by making notes of the acronym and context, then looking it up later...
simond
Western Thunderer
simond
Western Thunderer
Why?