Recoving from a minor derailment

markpb

I've been reading the RAIU website (only out curiosity) lately and I came across this report about a tram derailment at the Point last year. Can anyone tell me what happens when something like this happens? How do they recover the tram back onto the track, is it lifted by several cranes? I assume, given that the wheels are potentially out of the track and the length of the trams, it's reasonably difficult. Also, if they do use cranes or something similar, what would happen if a tram derailed somewhere that wasn't easily accessible by road?

Losty Dublin

Generally, a train or tram is just slowly led back onto the track after a derailment; guider tracks may be used if need be to help it along the way. Given that cranes are awkward to use and the risk of damaging the carriages, they are used very sparingly if possible.

In the case of Irish Rail, there is a speciaist heavy duty rail crane that can be used in the event of a crash or derailments to lift locos or rolling stock; thankfully it has seen very very little use over the years.

Judgement Day

Interesting link here: http://www.rpsi-online.org/photonews/gnri_brake_van_81/rerailing/ to rerailing a brake van at the RPSI Whitehead depot. Rerailing on a preserved railway usually involves the use of traversing jacks, iron rerailing ramps, bits of rail, crow bars and lots of sleepers. As Losty said, lifting with a crane can be awkward, expensive and potentially damaging to the derailed vehicle. Murphy's Law states that in event of a derailment all the heavy lifting equipment, jacks etc will always be stored at the opposite end of the site to where the derailment occurred.