Speno Rail Grinder at Eltham. 9/8/09
9th August 2009

Photographs of a Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham between 3 and 4 AM when I was walking home and should have been in bed. The Rail Grinder grinds down the surface of the railhead, often sending a spray of sparks meters out either side. Thanks to the blokes protecting the crossings for advising me on it's movements.

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Speno Rail Grinder crossing Wattletree Road, north of Eltham. Note one boom is up while the other is down; the crossings were being manually activated during the grinding works.
Speno Rail Grinder crossing Wattletree Road, north of Eltham. Note one boom is up while the other is down; the crossings were being manually activated during the grinding works.
 Speno Rail Grinder crossing Wattletree Road, north of Eltham. The rails are not ground over crossings; you can see to the left that the grinder has been lowered again after passing over.
Speno Rail Grinder crossing Wattletree Road, north of Eltham. The rails are not ground over crossings; you can see to the left that the grinder has been lowered again after passing over.
 Steam rises from the freshly ground rails between Wattletree Road and Railway Road Eltham. A Hi-Rail vehicle equipped with a water tank follows the Grinder, extinguishing the many small sleeper fires it starts.
Steam rises from the freshly ground rails between Wattletree Road and Railway Road Eltham. A Hi-Rail vehicle equipped with a water tank follows the Grinder, extinguishing the many small sleeper fires it starts.
 Hi-Rail vehicle used for extinguishing fires started by the Speno Rail Grinder, visible in the distance crossing Railway Road Eltham.
Hi-Rail vehicle used for extinguishing fires started by the Speno Rail Grinder, visible in the distance crossing Railway Road Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder at Railway Road Eltham. The strips of fluorescent lights along it's sides illuminate a wide area to either side.
Speno Rail Grinder at Railway Road Eltham. The strips of fluorescent lights along it's sides illuminate a wide area to either side.
Speno Rail Grinder grinding the pit at Eltham, with two EDI Comengs stabled.
Speno Rail Grinder grinding the pit at Eltham, with two EDI Comengs stabled.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at Eltham. In this picture it is not grinding, as it is passing over a set of points.
Speno Rail Grinder working at Eltham. In this picture it is not grinding, as it is passing over a set of points.
 Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham. While grinding it travels at around walking pace, making overtaking it on foot to take photos quite easy.
Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham. While grinding it travels at around walking pace, making overtaking it on foot to take photos quite easy.
Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham. The guy on the catwalk was walking back at the same speed the train was moving forward, making him stationary in the photograph.
Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham. The guy on the catwalk was walking back at the same speed the train was moving forward, making him stationary in the photograph.
 Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder moving slowly towards the Diamond Street level crossing at Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder passing the down end Home signal at Eltham. The headlights are left on at both ends, with only the marker lights being changed when it reverses.
Speno Rail Grinder passing the down end Home signal at Eltham. The headlights are left on at both ends, with only the marker lights being changed when it reverses.
Speno Rail Grinder working upgrade towards the down end Distant signal at Eltham. This is a 15 second exposure.
Speno Rail Grinder working upgrade towards the down end Distant signal at Eltham. This is a 15 second exposure.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation.
 Speno Rail Grinder crossing the bike track at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder crossing the bike track at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder working alongside Main Road in Eltham, approaching the Home signal.
Speno Rail Grinder working alongside Main Road in Eltham, approaching the Home signal.
 Speno Rail Grinder working alongside Main Road in Eltham, approaching the Home signal.
Speno Rail Grinder working alongside Main Road in Eltham, approaching the Home signal.
 Hi-Rail vehicle used for extinguishing fires started by the Speno Rail Grinder, down end of Eltham.
Hi-Rail vehicle used for extinguishing fires started by the Speno Rail Grinder, down end of Eltham.
20 second exposure of the Speno Rail Grinder working past the down end Home signal at Eltham.
20 second exposure of the Speno Rail Grinder working past the down end Home signal at Eltham.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Although I was standing on a public path, several sparks flew well past my tripod, while I held my cable release at arm's length!
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Although I was standing on a public path, several sparks flew well past my tripod, while I held my cable release at arm's length!
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham, near the substation. Some sparks fly several meters from the track.
 Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
Speno Rail Grinder working at the down end of Eltham.
© 1998-2009 Martin Bennet - All copyrights rest with the Author
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