Western Class 52 Linear Windscreen Wipers - 1967

[Dave |H]

At some point after their introduction, the class 52's must have had a problem with clearing rain off the windscreen
and so a few different methods were trialled. In or around November / December 1967, D1020, D1023, D1053, D1058, and D1072
were fitted at one end only with a linear windscreen wiper on the drivers side. The experiment must have been deemed to be a failure as obviously
no other locos were fitted and the above locos had the equipment removed leaving behind just the track for the wiper and possibly
the water jet. What brought this post on was after scanning a few pictures of D1053 at Westbury, I noticed the track under the drivers window
and that and I wondered what it was for..

Does anybody know any more about this. I've never seen a picture of the locos with the vertical wiper in place either... Maybe the trials were never
carried out on the main line but confined to a depot somewhere ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/british-rail-stuff/54463818825/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/british-rail-stuff/54463653974/in/photostream/

Gen source: 'Diesels in Depth - Westerns' by David Clarke & John Jennison - page 29

 

[Taunton]

Likewise there was a trial installation on Class 52 with rotating circular windscreen clearing, which (supposedly) spun the rain off the windscreen by centrifugal force. Class 77 electrics over Woodhead seemed to have tried the same as well. This didn't work out either, the devices looked a serious obstacle to visibility. I believe the installation came from the bridge of Warships (the naval vessels, not the locos next to them on Laira depot). Laira would have been an obvious choice for a Navy installation trial, as so many staff there at all levels were those returned from being at sea.

 

[Harpo]

The electric trains built by AC cars for Southend Pier Railway had circular units on the driver’s windscreen and were quite noisy in use.

 

[Dave |H]

According to my book, D1006 had a circular screen and D1039 carried a smaller version, which after 15 months in service were evaluated and as 'Taunton' says above, both were removed as the screen was obstructing the view and was of little use in light rain or drizzle.

 

[Taunton]

There were also experiments with the regular windscreen wipers, mounting them at the bottom instead of the top of the screen, so the arc goes the opposite way. Makes one wonder if there was some problem with the standard arrangement.