Light rail branches (Subdivisions)

[rrboomer]

Prior to fall of 1978 Soo Line's Veblen (SD) Sub was all 60lb rail except for the "High speed" section, which was four miles of 72lb rail between Clair City and Veblen.

In Sept-Oct of '78 Soo did a rehab project which consisted of 15 miles of welded 85lb relay ribbon between Veblen Jct and MP 210 (just past Rosholt), new ties and rock ballast for the entire subdivision.

There were times it felt like we were riding on two rubber bands. 

[Trainmaster.Curt]

Yeah. when i looked at the "Local" train tracks of the CEMR, it said "Algoma Steel 85lbs" So their whole Pine Falls subdivision must be 85lb rail. But i think their Carman subdivision is upgraded in 1985 to 100lb rail, when the Canadian Prairie Branch Line Rehabilitation took place, before that most CNR branches in Manitoba were either 60 to 85lb rail! And on CN only, they used to use on the lightest branches, CN (Ten-Hundred) series A1A-A1A GMD1's (GR-612a) which were restricted to light-rail branches only. These days most GMD1's have been fitted with B-B's from GP9's, whether or not they have the 567c engine, or have been upgraded to the 645's, i'm not sure, unless any Canucks on here could help me out.

[J. Edgar]

whilst working the Plymouth Sub on CSX MI the local i was working (D708xx) was ordered to pull storage cars off an abondned branch at Elmdale......far as any of the crew could figure the track hadnt been used since the cars were parked there....best guess was 95 and this was in 99....the rail was very light...... my guess would be 80#..........what made it a white knukle ride was the rotten ties and numerous downed branches and smaller trees.....bulldozed our way thru them with the off road GP-38 tied on......aired em up and went on overtime before we got back on the main.......i think they pulled the rails about 2 weeks later

[KCSfan]

Rail lighter than 112#/yard was seldom if ever welded. Not that it couldn't be welded, it simply is found in modern times only on passing and yard tracks and on branch lines where the traffic is insufficient to justify CWR installation. As a result you have the added maintenance of joint bars and bolts. Many main lines well into the 1950's were laid with 90# jointed rail and handled the heaviest and fastest trains of that time. The heavy axle loads of todays high capacity freight cars would limit the speed at which trains could be run on light, jointed rail to prevent excessive rail wear at the end joints and on curves.

[PBenham]

If one rides on the Arcade & Attica in my neck of the woods, you're riding on 80# or lighter rail to my knowledge. There are other tourist lines around with such light rail, too. As long as its aligned and properly leveled, no problem.

[Trainmaster.Curt]

How many railroaders here have ridden on trains on light rail branches. 60lb, 85lb, 100lb. I have been on one which i believe is 85lb, the Oak Point sub here in Manitoba, which the Prairie Dog Central runs on, and the only other one i know is the Central Manitoba Railway Pine Falls sub, which is 85lb.