Snow blower tire chains

The wrong kind of snow is a phrase coined by the British media in 1991 after severe weather caused disruption to many of British Rail’s services. People who did not realise that there are different kinds of snow saw the reference as nonsensical and the phrase became a byword for euphemistic excuses.

Background

The phrase originated in a comment by British Rail’s Director of Operations Terry Worrall on 11 February 1991 that “we are having particular problems with the type of snow”. The cold snap had been forecast and British Rail had claimed to be ready for the coming snow. However, the snow was unusually soft and powdery, finding its way into electrical systems and causing short circuits and traction motor damage. For traction motors with integral cooling fans and air intakes pointing downwards—the type that is still common on British electric multiple units—the problem was made worse as the air intakes sucked up the loose snow. In addition, low temperatures resulted in problems with pick-up from the third rail and caused sliding doors and couplings to freeze.

Many electric services had to be substituted with diesel haulage and emergency timetables were introduced. Long delays were commonplace—up to eight hours in some cases.

Ironically, the snow was not deep enough for snowploughs or snow blowers to be effective.