North-South route completion

[RME]

https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/56914/iran-s-longest-rail-bridge-near-completion

While chuckling at the picture in the Iranian financial publication, I came across this, which is part of a much longer corridor operation promising to link India effectively with northern Europe.  Is this one of those things like the Gotthard base tunnel that are tremendous steps given very little coverage in the United States?

 

[kgbw49]

Is my memory correct that the Iran Railways are standard guage?

If so, what are the odds of a third rail being added to a selected Russian rail route or routes, much like they have in numerous locations in Australia? The theory behind the question is that would allow standard guage trains to travel the complete route without transloading or having to use cars with adjustable guage wheelsets.

Thanks for any thoughts and insights.

[PNWRMNM]

kgbw49,

American 132 and 136# rail has a 6 inch base and 112# is 5.5 IIRC, so you can not just lay another rail inside a 5' guage track, like the DRGW three rail you are probably thinking of. One could perhaps could saw cut or, more likely roll, special 60% or so width base rail, but I do not know how you would attatch to ties in a way that would restrain the outer rail from rolling over. May have to bolt through the webs, but that introduces a weak spot.

Switch points and frogs would be wickedly complex and probably maintenance intensive.

Might be cheaper to build a standard gauge track on extra width roadbed, but would have a lot of complex frogs crossing spurs. In terminals perhaps use a standard gauge a through track and cross wide gauge lead tracks with more or less standard frogs.

For low volumes a far better solution would be to change out car trucks at the frontier. Talgo makes an adjustible gauge wheel and axle set that might work despite the fact that adjustible gauge axles give me the hebe jebees just thinking about them. The system is quick, run the train thru the adjustment device at about walking speed, but axles have to be more expensive than fixed of either gauge.

Mac

[BaltACD]

kgbw49

Is my memory correct that the Iran Railways are standard guage?

If so, what are the odds of a third rail being added to a selected Russian rail route or routes, much like they have in numerous locations in Australia? The theory behind the question is that would allow standard guage trains to travel the complete route without transloading or having to use cars with adjustable guage wheelsets.

Thanks for any thoughts and insights.

Russia's xenophobic nature doesn't want to change the 5 foot gauge as it would make it easier for China or the West to invade Putingrad.

[blue streak 1]

we may want to exercise caution - caution going to the link.  This is a "semi official " site of that country's government.   May be reason not many file photos available.  

 

BTW this is second version of this post.1st got wiped somehow ?

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

we may want to exercise caution - caution going to the link.  This is a "semi official " site of that country's government.   May be reason not many file photos available.  

BTW this is second version of this post.1st got wiped somehow ?

You would think if the site is a 'semi-official' Iranian site you would think with their own paranoia they would picture something from their own rail industry.