Snow Joke: Scotland's Named Gritter Trucks Warm Hearts
Umer Jamshaid Published February 12, 2021 | 08:59 PM
Temperatures fell to a record minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9.4 Fahrenheit) in the Scottish Highlands this week, as Britain shivered in the snow and ice of a harsh Arctic cold snap
Edinburgh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Feb, 2021 ) :Temperatures fell to a record minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9.4 Fahrenheit) in the Scottish Highlands this week, as Britain shivered in the snow and ice of a harsh Arctic cold snap.
But one thing distracting people from the big freeze -- and the coronavirus lockdown -- has been Scotland's 230-strong army of gritter lorries and snowploughs battling to keep main roads clear.
Traffic Scotland has seen a surge in clicks to its "Trunk Road Gritter Tracker" website, which allows users to follow their progress.
On Friday, "Gritney Spears" and "Spready Mercury" were making their way down the road towards the English border.
"Sir Andy Flurry" was plying a route from the city of Perth to Dunblane -- home of the British tennis star surnamed Murray -- while over the hills and far away, "Sled Zeppelin" was making the roads safe around Loch Lomond.
"Sir Salter Scott" was trundling around the Edinburgh suburbs, while "Robert Brrrns" and "Salt Disney" were out near Glasgow Airport.
The Guardian reported that in one 24-hour period last week, more than 110,000 people logged on to the site. Normally the site gets some 700,000 in a full year.
This year, the public has been asked to name dozens of new gritters and snowploughs.
Suggestions include "Coldfinger" and "You Only Grit Twice" in tribute to late James bond actor Sean Connery.
"Snowcially distanced" was parked up in Glasgow.
In 2016, a similar public appeal for suggestions for a new British polar research ship back-fired after 120,000 voted to call it "Boaty McBoatface".
The vessel was eventually named "Sir David Attenborough" after the naturalist, although in a nod to the public vote, officials agreed to give the comedy name to its on-board yellow submarine.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Govt bringing reforms in energy, revenue collection, SOEs: Aurangzeb
Pakistan, New Zealand to face off in 2nd T20I match at Rawalpindi today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 20 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 20 April 2024
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
More Stories From World
-
China tests new freight train with heaviest load capacity
9 minutes ago -
Swiss ballet group stages classics in Beijing
9 minutes ago -
Turkish scientists study receive offers, including US, Canada, to maintain research, development stu ..
19 minutes ago -
Chinese scientists develop new material for seawater desalination
19 minutes ago -
China issues orange alert for rainstorms
29 minutes ago -
Polyester staple fiber factory operational in Xinjiang
29 minutes ago
-
New Godzilla x Kong film continues to lead Chinese box office
29 minutes ago -
42 Neolithic sites found in NE China
39 minutes ago -
Scottish independence supporters seek to inject life into faltering campaign
49 minutes ago -
Georgia's youth dominates pro-Europe street protests
1 hour ago -
Polyester staple fiber factory operational in Xinjiang
1 hour ago -
China issues orange alert for rainstorms
1 hour ago