My rather pale paean to the BTF classic 'Snow Drift at Bleath Gill'. On Saturday 17th January 1987, Snowblower ADB968500, on loan from the Scottish region arrives at Maidstone East having just cleared the snow covering the Up line from Ashford. The unit then returned to Lenham Loops, where it turned on an in-built self contained mechanism before clearing the Down line back towards Ashford, where 33061 was well and truly trapped with traditional snow ploughs in a drift at Horstal Road, Lenham Heath. 47131 arrives on site light engine from Ashford with groundcrew to assist in the recovery, and a herculean effort to clear the line ensues. The Snowblower with it's support vehicles had come down overnight from Scotland and it's appearance was something of a surprise, well away from anywhere it would normally operate. Management at Network South East were however so impressed with the unit's capabilities while on loan that one was bought for Kent, but a long succession of mild Winters followed with no snow, and so it was eventually moved North to find work at Inverness. 47131 was withdrawn within a Month of this incident, and 33061 followed in July. Please note - this is not the Railscene video footage of the same incident.
16 янв 2014
