Poor shunting

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Poor Shunting is the term used for a problem affecting railroad signalling in North America and the UK, wherein the presence of rust, sand, grease, etc. prevents the wheels and axles of a rail vehicle from making adequate electrical contact with the rails.

This excessive electrical resistance is often intermittent in nature, and can result in a failure of the railway signalling system which controls the movement of trains, or a failure of the crossing warning systems at the grade crossings. Changes in weather conditions, rail traffic patterns, and many other factors can have a strong influence on the occurrence of this phenomenon.

[edit] Accidents

Accidents caused by poor shunting include:

• Cowan rail crash - sand on rails, train stalled on steep grade, several killed in collision.