There are several places in the desert SW on curves where there was an attempt to paint both sides of the rail hoping to reflect and dissapate heat from the sun in order to lessen the chance of sun-kinks in problem areas. Mixed results on the outcome of that.
Some years ago I noticed ties were being painted white at various locations on CSX tracks. I think it indicates under track drainage pipe locations.
DONALD TOMKINSONHere is a TM video showing an example of white paint on the web of some rails. Most only seem to be 4 to six inches wide. I have only recently noticed paint on the rail webbing in different parts of the country.
Don't see any video link!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
DONALD TOMKINSON Here is a TM video showing an example of white paint on the web of some rails. Most only seem to be 4 to six inches wide. I have only recently noticed paint on the rail webbing in different parts of the country.
Here is a TM video showing an example of white paint on the web of some rails. Most only seem to be 4 to six inches wide. I have only recently noticed paint on the rail webbing in different parts of the country.
In this area BNSF seems to use white paint on the outside of the rail's web...The description generally contains the Div. name and track #. [ie: Ark City sub main 1] Or the appropriate description at a specdific location; generally, able to be read from an approaching vehicle at a highway/rail grade crossing.
They do seem to use other paint colors at other locations, but do not seem to print anything on those painted spots.
When I worked MoW on Chessie System we used yellow paint on the rail sides to mark clearance at sideing ends and crossings on side tracks. Put in on the sides so the head of the rail would protect the paint from the weather and the brakeman on the ground could see it, the engineer doesnt need to see the mark. As for marking ties, we called them a paint hammer. It was a wooden handle with a paint can sized holder that was locked in the proper place by two wing nuts. In line with the handle to mark tie ends for the shear opr. and at an angle to mark the rail to count ties so replacements could be set out. this would leave a round yellow mark on the web of the rail.
I don't know if this practice continues to the current day or not .. but back in the day of 39' rail, railroads would often store replacement lengths of rail along the mail line, often on simple racks (sometimes themselves made from retired rail). A piece of rail shorter than 39' (or whatever standard length of rail the road used) would be painted at one end. Often green but I suppose other colors would be used. That would indicate that that particular length of rail was for special situations where for whatever reason a standard length was not used and thus the painted rail was a "dedicated" replacement for that shorter length.
Dave Nelson
One learns quickly that painting ties is somewhat futile, unless the tie is really old. (creosote oozes out and dulls/ discolors the paint)
In the bad old days on ATSF, we cut down 1/4" plywood sheets into 9" strips, painted them white and then nailed them to the ties outside the tie plates. We'd come back later and paint them traffic orange (standard ATSF clearance marking color) along with the rail.
Our "tie peckers" were marking in white, yellow and blue dots. The applicator is a round sponge attached to a perforated paint can lid on a screw-top quart can lashed to a broomstick.
All the crossing clearance marks I've seen are white, so far. Clearance marks for tracks are yellow, and they've started putting a little orange and white cone between the rails. (Yesterday putting a train together, then putting it away because they didn't want it, I noticed they started not only painting the rail, but the entire tie. Makes it a lot easier to see.) There's one track near a crossing and a switch. Two sets of markings, one white for the crossing, one yellow for the switch.
At least it seems when painting clearance marks they've started making them longer. Some of the old marks are almost no bigger than some of those paint splotches used to mark bad ties. Those old small ones almost makes one think the marks are more to aid managers in testing for compliance rather than to help crews trying to comply.
Jeff
A picture would be helpfull, but I'm thinking he's talking about a six foot white stripe along a rail near a weld or joint. On both western railroads (and some others), suppliers and the railroads paint that white stripe on both sides of a piece of rail, at the ends of the rail, if it is being placed in the track out-of-face as an upgrade or casualty replacement. It means the rail was inspected for defects and is ready to go. This applies to relacement rail, track panels, extruded step rails (compromise rails), I-Bonds, frogs, switch points and any other rail.
-Several years back, on the former SP, a rail detector ordered out a defective rail. SP, true to the mess it was, replaced that rail with another defective rail lying nearby. You can guess what happened. FRA has been on the warpath over that issue ever since.
JeffH: Don't be surprised if those white stripes eventually turn YELLOW. The white is a base coat and sealer so that the yellow stands out later when applied (doesn't dry out a pale dull yellow). The white stripe won't do you much good in winter and the UP-CE Standard is YELLOW.
Picture would be helpful.
I believe those white paint marks are for the signal maintainers. The ones I've seen on the Sunset Route in SE Arizona are all near road crossings or block signals.
The markings are not near a road crossing. Moreover, since they are on the side of the rail, I don't believe an engineer could see them. Several of them are near a signal stand but not all of them.
Around these parts, the mark for tie replacement is usually a yellow circle, applied by a paint sponge (?) on a long stick. Every now and then, I will see somebody from the M/W department walking the tracks, marking the rail over ties to be replaced.
Are the marks near a road crossing? The UP around here has white clearance marks painted on the rails to aid train crews in stopping back the required distance from the crossings. Some places in addition to the marks on the rails also have a post, also white or nearly so, to help. I like the addition of the post. Sometimes it's hard to see the marks on the rail. Unfortunately, our service unit doesn't add the posts, just uses the rail marks.
Paint marks of various colors are also used to mark ties needing replacement. Though usually these marks are quite a bit smaller than the clearance markers. Also I've seen the signal departement use painted marks for their purposes.
A great place to combine my interests in bicycling and railroads is along U.S. 90 between Alpine, TX and Marfa, TX. The Sunset route parallels the highway and can been seen from most spots on the roadway.
This week, whilst riding from Alpine to Marfa, I noticed that the sides of the rail have been painted white at various intervals. What does the white paint signify?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.