Future points to brushes. Infrastructure winterisation

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Future points to brushes. Infrastructure winterisation

Smith, Kevin

Snow-covered points have long been a problem for winter operations. A new brush system developed by Swedish infrastructure manager Banverket and Osborn International aims to eliminate the complications caused by snowdrifts to existing point heating systems. Constructed in two parts, SnowProtec, uses robust lag brushes to work with, the point's existing heat system, maximising its effectiveness and minimising the impact of drifting snow. The upward brushes are fixed onto aluminium brackets that are either attached to the sleeper clip on older points, or a newly developed steel galvanised bracket which can be mounted on the rail foot. The brushes run adjacent to the rail and are designed to protect against snowdrifts while retaining the heat from the pre-warmed points. At the same time, downward brushes provide a flexible seal around the embankment and the sleepers preventing snow from blowing on to the track, creating a system that is unique to the railway winterisation market. After experiments with types of brush filaments, dimension of the strip channel and bracket construction, a test system was installed in 2003 for an initial three year trial. Delivered in 3m-long sections, it takes approximately an hour for two track workers to assemble the brushes on the outside of the support rail along the point tongue's moveable section. The system can be left in place year-round and can also accommodate speeds of more than 160km/h.