page_title: Sandite
section_title: Application
hierarchical_section_title: Sandite / Application
caption_attribution_description: To fight autumn train delays, the Long Island Rail Road operates work train that sprays water jets to clear tracks of slimy leaf debris during the fall season. The specialized train then applies a traction gel onto the freshly cleared rails that allows train wheels to maintain traction, even in the presence of crushed leaf slime. This photo shows the application of the traction gel. Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
context_page_description: Sandite is a substance used on railways in the UK, Ireland, US, the Netherlands and Belgium to combat leaves on the line, which can cause train wheels to slip and become damaged with flat spots. Sandite consists of a mixture of sand, antifreeze and steel shot.
  Leaf build up on the railhead can also cause signalling issues and 'disappearing trains' on the rail control systems.
  British Rail conducted research, in 1976, to determine the suitability of Sandite for use as an adhesion improver.
context_section_description: Sandite is usually applied by a special train which first clears fallen leaves from the rails using high-pressure water, then sprays the sandite onto the rail surface. To assist the staff on the Sandite train in locating the sites concerned, in England and Wales black on yellow lineside markers were installed:
  The first sign, with three stripes gives advance warning of a Sandite application site
  The second sign, with two stripes points where application should begin
  The third sign, with one stripe points where application should end
  From 1992, lineside marker boards were installed on the Scottish Region, based on alternative white octagonal boards to denote the commencement and finish points, with no warning sign.
  In The Netherlands, Sandite is applied by the first passenger trains of the day, with special maintenance trains available too.
  Belgian Infrabel operates a dedicated train, with a diesel engine at either end .
caption: Sandite being applied on Long Island Rail Road tracks.
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