Incident on UKRT - The Andover Fist - 5/11/16

Does anyone know what's going on in Southampton at the Canute road crossing, set of mk1 coaches top and tailed by 66 with multiple BTP cars and RAIB in attendance? Is it a training exercise?

 

Rail tour has derailed at the terminus apparently

 

UK Railtours "Andover Fist" excursion was due to visit today, the Southampton Eastern Docks complex being the first of three calls, to be followed by the Fawley branch and then then the M&SWJ to Ludgershall. No reference to training exercises in the tour description!!
http://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-andover-fist/

 

When I saw it earlier on, it was stopped inside of the signal before the crossing but clearly something had gone wrong by the amount of orange and yellow jackets on scene!

 

Front coach derailed, and at least one set of wheels of second coach off the rails. 66 and front two coaches left behind, rest of the stock to be dragged back to Eastleigh and tour to be caped there.

 

Not my photo

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwfdgfXW8AAVVAE.jpg:large

 

Single track, no points (I believe) I wonder what happened. Banana leaves on the line

 

Road spread, where the track gauge widens under load due to the condition of the track and the wheel simply falls off the rail is a possibility - especially as said section of line is (1) freight only and (2) not used that frequently, it happens more often than you think but rarely attracts attention as it usually involves freight wagons / locos in yards.

However we won't know for sure until the RAIB say something about the incident.

 

Well, it's not WCRC, doesn't involve a steam locomotive and doesn't look like a stock or TOC fault. Always look on the bright side of life .........!

 

Had the train passed the limit of NWR / Docks boundary or not?

 

The boundary between ABP and NR is at the level crossing, although NR maintenance extends a few yards into the docks.
Cheers, Neil

 

Track spread, leading 66 stayed on, genny van and second coach both suffered earth faults.

 

Sorry to read of this; at least nobody seems to have been hurt. The Fawley branch is now out of regular use, so there may need to be a last train for enthusiasts before the track gets pulled up.

 

O

Or was that the last train...

 

Er......it was on a different railway.

 

Both coaches rerailed last night and taken into docks, track was repaired so car train could go into docks today.

 

Looks like the remaining 66 and coaches left for Eastleigh yard last night...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O42174/2016/11/06/advanced

 

The Fawley branch track is not being 'ripped up' - the branch is (along with the Heathfield branch in Devon) being 'Mothballed'. Yes if left in such a state the lack of maintenance might make the track (and level crossing kit, etc) deteriorate such that it becomes unfit for trains without serious work and yes, after a few years it might get removed (particularly if the metal fairies make off with bits of it) - but by then its got to the state it would need renewing anyway.

People tend to forget that back in British Rails day, freight lines with no further use would quickly be removed from the network and the formation sold off, making any re-use much harder.

Also with Fawley, there is still a desire for Southampton Port to expand onto that side of Southampton water and this likely to be enough to keep the actual formation intact in the medium term.