In a Facebook page, a person mentioned seeing weld beads about 10' long, spaced apart every 5' On the rail faces of an electrified railroad. One person said it was to make the wig wags work better on seldom used track. Another said it was better contacting for trolley power. Or is it BS?
There are a number of legitimate things this might be, if we stretch the meaning of 'weld bead' a bit.
The importance of bonding is something you probably appreciate better than any of us. Even in the early days of electric railroads the point was appreciated, as here:
https://books.google.com/books/about/Illustrated_Electrical_Review.html?id=4_KUW9uyNcoC
But... What I understand this to be is a bead intentionally applied to a contact face of the rail, possibly on the flange face below the gauge corner and fillet contact area, or on the railhead just at the outer edge of the contact patch, to make small-area contact through contamination or oil for better 'detection' continuity.
Anyone who has seen firsthand the use of weld beads to remove recalcitrant bushings from steam-locomotive cylinders will shiver in horror at the thought of a weld bead as an elevated feature on a railhead, particularly anywhere close to the gauge corner. I can almost close my eyes and see the strain cracks propagating at right angles into the metal. Even welding a piece of wire with good 'bonding' integrity so it won't come loose over time is likely to cause HAZ, SCC, and direct stress cracking -- at least to my old-mother-hen worrywart sensibilities.
Found this answer and sample picture
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/43j16u/what_are_these_zig_zag_welds_on_the_train_track/
Yikes!
Former Car MaintainerFound this answer and sample picture https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/43j16u/what_are_these_zig_zag_welds_on_the_train_track/
One of the comments states it is on the last 20 meters or so of a dead end station track. That being the case - it is the railroad equivalent of the repetitive bumps placed on highways to get the drivers attention to slow down for issues ahead.
The reality is - if you aren't under control when you get the warning 'bumps' you are too far gone to avoid what the bumps are protecting.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
ORNHOOApparently extra warning to the driver of an electric lokie that he was about to get stranded beyond the end of the catenary.
PRR used the "AC MOTOR STOP". signs for the same purpose.
This guy could have used those bumps:
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannThis guy could have used those bumps:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UhsMAjSqg7I
Overmod zugmann This guy could have used those bumps: Britannic equivalent... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UhsMAjSqg7I
zugmann This guy could have used those bumps:
Britannic equivalent...
Amazing how effective split rails are.
BaltACDAmazing how effective split rails are.
Overmod BaltACD Amazing how effective split rails are. Considering how good the British are at designing stuff that leaks, rusts, shorts and malfunctions, it is not surprising that they are superb at designing things that intentionally break or derail.
BaltACD Amazing how effective split rails are.
Considering how good the British are at designing stuff that leaks, rusts, shorts and malfunctions, it is not surprising that they are superb at designing things that intentionally break or derail.
Had it been a Lucas designed derail - it would have smoked volumously!
The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie had stainless steel weld beads on some little used slow speed track that had automatic crossing gate protection. The weld beads made good contact to shunt the track circuit where the rusty rail would not.
Mark Vinski
mvlandswThe Pittsburgh & Lake Erie had stainless steel weld beads on some little used slow speed track that had automatic crossing gate protection. The weld beads made good contact to shunt the track circuit where the rusty rail would not.
Perfect application for that Russian explosive linear welding technique! Not just for hard facing any more!
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