The original CNW installations in my area were just blowers. Eventually they were replaced with propane switch heaters.
Some of the last control points added used electric heaters. The element heats the rail. Within a couple years they were replaced with propane heaters. If the electric heaters weren't turned on early, they couldn't keep up with the worst winter weather.
Even with propane heaters, they often have trouble with them. Enough that during the bad storms they only try keeping a few strategic crossovers working.
Jeff
Lithonia Operator Do all switch heaters use propane nowadays?
Do all switch heaters use propane nowadays?
I've never seen any electric or kerosene heaters out here.
Ours use propane only if they are in remote areas without a natural gas connection. Otherwise they use natural gas from the municipal system. They have also started installing gas-powered backup generators at most controlled locations.
The heaters are not left on all the time, and can be manually controlled from the RTC centre. It is common to hear the RTC ask trains if it is snowing where they are. They are fairly cautious or forgetful about turning the heaters on, and it is also not uncommon for switches to freeze because the heater wasn't turned on for long enough.
The heaters also don't work very well if no one remembers to fill the propane tank.......
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
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