Today CSX was performing track work on a curve near here. Investigation revealed that work consisted of removing spikes from the inside curve rail, applying some kind of track jack that could pull or push tracks closer or further apart, Then spikes were driven into tie plates using previously unused spike locations and then old holes filled with wooden tie hole fillers.
The results although preliminary seems to have decreased wheel / rail noise significantly especially the high pitched squeal of many wheels on the rail.
Question is this technique often used or is this something new ? The rail jack consisted of some kind of bi diectional hydraulic jack connected by rods on each side that had a "U" shaped bracket on the ends that could either push or pull the loose rail ?
Maybe someone who has attended a wheel / rail symposium can enlighten ? PDN ?
Common - hardly new. Section crews have been spike lining and gauging for years. Usually standard equipment in most section trucks. Darned ties start wearing out in the curves faster these days. (Aldon catalog picture, worm gear threaded mechanical-not hydraulic)
Nice to see that you quit looking at those highly over-rated shiny things long enough to study what goes on underneath on the railroad.
Tighten the gage, cut down the angle of attack of the wheels,cut down truck hunting and the trucks behave and quiet down. Just don't tighten the gage too much.
Do they put ties closer together in areas that see more wear and tear- like curves and such?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
No - you still have to tamp and index the ties. 24 ties/rail length (19.5" centers)most places....occasionally 20-22 in some lightly used backtracks if a certain railroad allowed it.
High wear areas got oak hardwood ties (curves, turnouts, x-ing frogs etc) and tangent/ light wear was assigned to the softwood (fir/pine) ties...and the really tough stories got Azobe (if you had the tools, patience and the $$$$)
blue streak 1Then spikes were driven into tie plates using previously unused spike locations and then old holes filled with wooden tie hole fillers.
Usually wooden tie plugs or cedrite type liquid hardening filler.
http://www.rrtoolsnsolutions.com/trackFiller/SpikeFast.asp (this stuff's polymer predecessor from the '80s was a nightmare and turned out to be hazardous)
mudchickenUsually wooden tie plugs
I remember seeing a stick of tie plugs on our MOW vehicle - took me a while to figure out what they were...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Gee, those sure are funny lookin' square Lincoln Logs
mudchicken Usually wooden tie plugs or cedrite type liquid hardening filler. http://www.rrtoolsnsolutions.com/trackFiller/SpikeFast.asp (this stuff's polymer predecessor from the '80s was a nightmare and turned out to be hazardous)
Murphy Siding mudchicken Usually wooden tie plugs or cedrite type liquid hardening filler. http://www.rrtoolsnsolutions.com/trackFiller/SpikeFast.asp (this stuff's polymer predecessor from the '80s was a nightmare and turned out to be hazardous) Now I'm curious. Does that filler allow you to put the spike back in the same hole- more or less- and extend the life of the tie?
Now I'm curious. Does that filler allow you to put the spike back in the same hole- more or less- and extend the life of the tie?
tree68took me a while to figure out what they were...
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I seem to recall (Getting harder all the time) in Tehachapi in the 90's there was some sort of angle bar where the ties met teh rails in the curves. Was this to prevent the rail from rolling over?
Rail braces ....The same as used on turnouts at the point of switch. Trying to slow down adverse rail cant under tonnage (age old problem with the physics of railroading)
Answer to the question is yes, and with the advent of pandrol clips and D-E/McKay clips, you don't see them much anymore. (a pain to deal with during rail changes and transpositions)
Thanks .. I am sure they used everything possible in the pass.
When I was a kid the MoPac was changing rails to CWR by my house. The crew let me walk along with them and install the rail plugs.
mudchickenNo - you still have to tamp and index the ties. 24 ties/rail length (19.5" centers)most places....occasionally 20-22 in some lightly used backtracks if a certain railroad allowed it.
Otherwise, pretty much "+1" to what MC said, esp. the wheel-rail screech dynamics.
- PDN.
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