‘Treatment’ season sees Class 111s out in the north

THE annual Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) season got underway on Northern Ireland Railways’ (NIR) metals in October.

And, for the first time in 12 years, the work did not feature the use of an old Class 80 DEMU ‘Thumper’ – the unit having been retired to the Downpatrick & County Down Railway.

Instead, NIR’s Windhoff multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), which was acquired last year, has been working out of Fortwilliam depot in Belfast, making twice-daily visits to Bangor, Carrickfergus, Antrim and Portadown.

However, the section between Portadown and Newry has not been covered by the MPV, and low adhesion has been reported on the steeply graded section between Poyntzpass and Newry.

Read more in the December issue of The RM – on sale n