HC Deb 24 February 1947 vol 433 cc1680-1
37. Mr. Anthony Greenwood

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement as to the use of jet engines to clear snow from railways.

Mr. Wilmot

The suggestion that snow drifts on railways tracks might be cleared by mounting two gas turbines on a railway truck and bringing their jets to play on the drifts was put forward by our National Gas Turbine Establishment. Trials have been carried out in collaboration with the railway companies with promising results. Seventy-five yards of track covered by snow, varying in depth from 4 feet 6 inches to 18 inches, was cleared in five minutes. We are considering urgently with the railway companies whether this method should be brought into operation on a large scale. The apparatus so far used was hastily improvised for the present emergency. For the future, arrangements are being made to adapt railway wagons for this purpose, and to incorporate means for varying the direction of the jet.

Mr. Greenwood

Is the Minister aware that the initiative which has been shown by his Department in this matter, in contradistinction to many undertakings under private enterprise, will be regarded widely by the public as a great encouragement to public enterprise?

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