A lot of people like the banging fireworks. A lot of weather fans like nature's fireworks, lightning for example. But us train fans think that frosty pantograph fireworks in the winter are the best.
What an extraordinary sight! You can tell the trains are drawing some current as they accelerate up to speed, but need relatively little once there. Certainly fun to watch but probably not great for the contact strips!.... I wonder how long they last in such conditions? Probably just as well the Pendos have a second pantograph if needed!
Coming out of Edinburgh up to cobbinshaw with sleepers with ac loco on one night with fallen snow and frost was spectacular with the pan arcing and reflecting off the snow so much it dazzled you.
Why would they blow up? That’s what they’re designed for 😄 I think it’s quite easy for people to forget just how much power is in the wires until they see the visuals like this.
They wouldn't blow up, but it is quite surprising the contact strips on the pantograph dont melt or get cut in half when you consider they will have travelled hundreds of miles like that! Obviously they are stonger than they look!
Looking more closely at one of the Avanti WC Manchester to Euston trains it was clear that when the train & its pantograph went under a bridge that the pyrotechnic display stopped therefore this tells us unequivocally that the cause is definitely weather related.
Yes it is most definitely weather related. It is caused by frost on the wires that does it. On this morning it was a bitterly cold -4 degrees. Also along the platform of the up fast (platform 4) the wires are more sheltered by the platform cover in the centre of the platform, so the wires are marginally less exposed. So therefore less arching through that section compared to outside it. But yes, to confirm it’s definitely weather related. It only happens in the early mornings after a sharp frost.
@@romw9121 not likely, they're built to withstand extreme forces from the speed of the train, and also the friction from the wires. Plus they have a relatively large surface area so it would have to be in very extreme cases for the pantograph to get damaged severely. Look up what happens to pantographs though when they do get damaged, it's a pretty spectacular outcome
