Beating 'leaves on the line' with lasers

[Garfield]

Nederlandse Spoorwegen is to trial a 'laser railhead cleaner' which will be placed on the chassis of its stock, facing downwards, and which will shoot a beam which remove leaves and dust from the rail and dry it before the wheels pass over it...

 

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/dutch-trains-are-trying-out-lasers-to-blast-rail-debris-away-1826350-Dec2014/?utm_source=twitter_self

 

Could save a lot of money in the long term.

[Broithe]

This could annoy the neighbours - http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/23/mbtas_mattapan_line_relies_on_snowzilla_in_worst_weather/ .

 

[Blaine]

[Broithe]

A Hungarian approach to winter blues.

 

[Broithe]

I have sent my Dutch agents into the field and they have already returned with this, although it is in Dutch - http://www.kennislink.nl/publicaties/bladeren-op-het-spoor-weglaseren .

[BosKonay]

 

Close up: the large container houses two lasers and support equipment whilst the container to the right of the large one holds the chiller unit and generator.

 

via: http://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature1457/feature1457-2.html

[BosKonay]

[Blaine]

 

or given its in Holland...