Emergency Services Trains

[Dizzyfugu]

The German Deutsche Bahn maintains dedicated emergency/firefighting trains. These rescue trains (RTZ) (until at least the end of 1989 also tunnel auxiliary train , abbreviated as TuHi) of the Deutsche Bahn are rail-bound rescue equipment for use in serious accidents in rail operations, especially in tunnels. The system includes six specially equipped trains in constant readiness, which are used throughout Germany, especially for the older high-speed lines. The trains are equipped with two locomotives, two transport wagons, an equipment wagon, an extinguishing agent wagon and an ambulance vehicle and thus offer a wide range of options for averting and combating danger as well as for rescuing and caring for people in the event of rail accidents. In the event of an emergency, the two neighboring trains are generally alerted. The trains should be ready to depart within five minutes.



Similar rescue trains also exist at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and BLS AG.

More about the German system here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rettungszug_%28Deutsche_Bahn_AG%29

[Rheged]

I was told by a railwayman in Cardiff (Canton  depot)  that there has always been a Severn Tunnel rescue train, back to steam loco days when it was kept at Severn Tunnel Junction shed, on its own siding, from where it could be dispatched with a loco in about 5 minutes, manned by whichever of the shed mechanical fitters etc were on shift. Same approach as with other breakdown trains kept at major sheds throughout the network .  Later, a pair of DMU units were held for the same purpose.   There are now road/rail vehicles for that task.

[Nick]

I was told by a railwayman in Cardiff (Canton  depot)  that there has always been a Severn Tunnel rescue train, back to steam loco days when it was kept at Severn Tunnel Junction shed, on its own siding, from where it could be dispatched with a loco in about 5 minutes, manned by whichever of the shed mechanical fitters etc were on shift. Same approach as with other breakdown trains kept at major sheds throughout the network .  Later, a pair of DMU units were held for the same purpose.   There are now road/rail vehicles for that task.

Thunderbirds Are Go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I847dS8SJ8M

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=le8m7XV7tPc

https://www.directrailservices.com/drs-virgin-thunderbirds-are-go/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:57307_%22Lady_Penelope%22_Thunderbird_locomotive_at_Crewe_02.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_57

[McColm]

Thanks Nick 

[Joe C-P]

My own idea in this line is a train for disaster areas, with cars filled with emergency supplies, housing, firefighting equipment, repair tools and supplies, a medical unit, tank cars with water, gasoline, and diesel, long-lasting foodstuffs, and other necessities.  Not every car would be needed for every emergency, of course, so an available engine or two would gather those needed and head as close as possible to the disaster site.  Stage such cars around the country/continent.
Someday, in a small scale.  And maybe someone will pick it up full scale.

JoeP

[McColm]

There are a few Whiffs or real world Whiffs spin-offs to this idea. I have seen a Russian diesel locomotive paired with eight axles probably used when the track is flooded or for steep inclines but then you would use a detachable rail vehicle for such purposes.
There's also the steam tractor which looks like a steam engine with it's own catapillar tracks,  an off road steam engine. I think only one of these were built.