Saw a welded rail train today

[Convicted One]

Paul,

 

It was west bound on NS's former NKP mainline, in Indiana. I've seen a number of NS  rail trains these past few years, and can recall none of them having the handrail.

 

First time i've noticed, anyway.

[Convicted One]

Dwight,

 

Yes, that's it!!

[BroadwayLion]

Continuous Welded Rail Train, NYCT style:

Not sure how long the train is, probably 8 cars or 400 feet. More photos of this train here.

 

ROAR

[spokyone]

CN at Dubuque IA, I saw a welded rail train last month. It did not have the walkway. But I'm not 100 per cent sure.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Which railroad, and where ?  And thanks for that link to the photo, Dwight !

Yes, it's 'new', as in being implemented during the last decade or two or so.  The primary reason is safety of employees walking on top to undo the rail tie-downs, check on the load, measure it, mark it, etc.  Without the walkway, the employees would have only the rounded tops of the rails to walk on.  Add in some rain, ice, or grease, and/ or worn and polished rails, and it would be real easy to have a foot slip down between a pair of rails.  Also, there's no safe place to stand while the train is in motion (as when unloading or picking up) without being vulnerable to a shifting rail or the moving rail being underfoot or striking a leg.  Finally, some railroads require that employees have at least "3 points of contact" on moving equipment at all times.  Without the walkway handrails, they could achieve only 2 - their feet - and even 1 of those would be part-time while walking, unless they got down on their hands and knees.  So the walkway and handrails are progress over the 'rough-and-ready' early days of improvised and home-built equipment. 

- Paul North.     

[DwightBranch]

Is this what you mean?

[Convicted One]

and the cars seemed to have sprouted new yellow handrails at the top, similar to a dorsal fin on a fish, but running the length for the train. Is this new? I don't remember seeing this before.