SVR General Discussion

Whilst it’s true that galas potentially offer better value for money, as a family I’d rather go on a normal day and actually enjoy the experience of having a seat and space to move round. I think a gala would put my family off going again.

 

The families I saw back in April were having an amazing time. Not every train was packed and what thrills us big kids has the same effect on smaller kids too - who doesn't love seeing lots of steam engines of different shapes and sizes !?!
No I probably wouldn't have taken my daughter on one of 4079's sardine runs, but the beauty of an SVR gala is there it is never long until another train and that could be a local or a freight - something you wouldn't see on a normal day.

 

Welcome to the August edition of Branch Lines, which you can access in the usual way at https://www.svrlive.com/blaug23

We hope you enjoy reading it!

Lesley and Patrick

Co-editors

 

Hello Lesley and Patrick, another cracking read and really good to have updated information on the railway. Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to compile. Andy

 

I see 45110 already sold and left SVR

 

Being discussed in the loco news thread.

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

 

Watching this video at 2:04 you can see the arm/platform of the parked and unmanned rail crane is in the air! And again then at 8:05. That doesn't seem safe to me.

 

How much experience have you got of rail mounted MEWPs? It is left like that to prevent someone from climbing into the basket and then potentially breaking the control panel. It is perfectly safe. When the operator wants to use it, they can bring the basket down once started.

 

I have used MEWPs but not in the rail industry.
The vehicle is at risk of overturning from wind and more likely to have mechanical failure if the arm is raised during storage. There's also a danger the crane could move and cause damage if it struck something like a bridge.

 

Take into account the position of the MEWP. Weather wise it is protected from the prevailing SW wind by Pan pudding hill.
What bridge is it going to hit? It isnt moved in that position. If it were moving about the site or down the railway the bucket is lowered right down and only raised when needed, ie when attending to signal lamps.

If a mechanical failure were to happen the arm can be winched down by hand.

Rest assured that we have a team of competant operators, fully risk assessed/ SSOW plans and sought manufacturers guidance on maintenance and storage.

 

There used to be a hire company down the road from where we lived and they were all stored with the jibs up.

 

It could hit the footbridge if it began to move on it's own. Weather can be unpredictable, lightning strikes for example.

It isn't the best way of storing the equipment, and considering it is next to a running line doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest.

 

Not good. HSE's website it says that jibs and platforms should not be stored in the air.

 

HSE is guidance. Not authorative. Taken straight from the HSE guidance on MEWPS:

It is the MEWP users responsibility to make sure that the MEWP cannot be used by unauthorised persons. Different options for isolating machines and preventing unauthorised use are being developed by manufacturers and hirers and you may wish to discuss what would work best for you with your supplier.

As I have stated before. We sought manufacturers guidance on storage, it is not kept in a secure compound therefore the safest option to prevent unauthorised access is to raise the jib.

Having been at Bridgnorth this morning. The MEWP is chocked and handbrake fully applied. It cannot run away and even if it did it cant hit the footbridge...... as its on the headshunt from the MPD.

Im trying my best to bite my tongue as I have provided a response that answers your query. As a member of the safety committee for the railway, an operator of multiple items of plant and been part of the review process for the MEWP/ plant SSOW and Risk assessments. I can assure you it has a very low risk in that position.

 

Better or worse than ignoring a risk assessment seeing as you were so critical about the regulator weighing in over safety concerns on the Jacobite?

It can be the case that machines are left boom up, but fully retracted to prevent unauthorised access when parked unattended on sites, or when space requirements dictate the need to minimise the footprint of the machine- I have seen both scenarios on a variety of sites.

It would be down to the manufacturers recommendation on how the machine should be stored, a quick look online found one manufacturer who appeared to be saying that it was acceptable.

Not my specialist area, but seems a reasonable thing to do if the risk assesment suggested it would be safer.
Edit:
@Southernman99 you must have been typing at the same time as me!

Chris

 

Yes HSE is guidance, but it's also the best practice. Very few people would agree storing the platform in a raised position is a very low risk.

Chocks can be moved by anybody, and forget to be placed back after use. The arm can move, so if the vehicle got free it could hit the bridge if the arm swung out. These are unlikely events yes, but things can happen, and have happened in the rail industry.

Is this the long term plan for how it will be stored?

 

Can you not read the replies above or are you just worried its going to appear in a photo or video from the end of Bridgnorth P1?

I am not going to repeat everything I have said above that answers your repeated concerns.

 

Okay.

 

Two pieces of news about retail:
The Engine House shop has reopened properly and the online shop is back after a period of downtime with new items added and to be coming https://svrshop.co.uk/

 

Some readers will be happy to read that a set will be starting of Bridgnorth for October half term giving a 10.30 departure:
https://svr.co.uk/event/october-half-term-day-tickets/2023-10-30/