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Tubular Tracks in the Desert
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">This “tube track” seems to be related to some of the earliest ideas about track construction, in which they developed a linear foundation running parallel with the rails, and providing continuous support to the rail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was soon realized that the gage needed to be directly tied by connecting the two rails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the typical crosstie was developed as an alternative track foundation system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And within that system, concrete ties have been an alternate to wood ties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">But this tubular track idea links the modern use of concrete with an ancient track foundation system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that ancient system had to wait for modern concrete to really arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advantage that I see is the continuous support of the rail by the continuous, linear foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I don’t really understand how that continuous foundation under each rail has a sufficient area of ground support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like the ground support area may be as little as 20% of the ground support area of conventional track with crossties. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">It would seem that the supporting ground for this tubular track would have to be a highly engineered subgrade composed of carefully compacted aggregate that is perhaps stabilized with some type of binder, and isolated with soil stabilization fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, while there is no ballast to maintain, the subgrade would be much more demanding than that of a track with ties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ballast of conventional track serves as an adjustable medium so the track can be re-aligned periodically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a need for periodic re-alignment with tubular track?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, how is this re-alignment accomplished?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></p>
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