track replacement

[Modelcar]

....Of course working the Continous rail installation versus the old stick rail is performed in much different manner...Watching the CWR being put down and the old removed with the complicated machines is an interesting sight. Seems crew members make every move count and the job moves forward....Very interesting.

[dehusman]

No I believe that's an undercutter or ballast cleaner.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

What the've done here is remove the rails and ties at the same time with a crane.

The machine looked something like those constructions that lift yachts and place them on trucks in marines, only this one pulled tracks and loaded them on rail cars, and it moved on temorary placed rails on both sides of the old tracks, the temp rails didn't have ties. I forgot what was holding the rails on the ground, I was just a kid and it was a long time ago.

[blhanel]

Is that what this thing does?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=186412

[dehusman]

In the US the big projects either replace just the rails, just the ties (and just those needing replacement) or both at the same time (both the rails and all the ties).

The P811 and its successors have the front end of teh machine riding on old track and the rear riding on completely new track. As the machine rolls along the rails are unspiked/unclipped, the old rails are set over to the side, the old ties are lifted out, new ties are put in place, the new rail is threaded onto them, and then the rails clipped/spiked down. All in one machine.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

When the UP was putting in the cement ties on the Tehacapis, I had a chance to work the P8-11 work train for about 6-8 months. You talk about a boring job for a conductor, thats the one. I would get off the engine and watch the MOW install the new ties and rail for hours at a time just for a break from the boredom of sitting on the engine. Poor hoghead though, had to pretty much stay in his seat even though he wasn't doing much of the operating.


Virlon

[waltersrails]

The only thing i've wacthed is them ballesting and removing old railroad ties. I love wacthing MOW. Its great.

[Anonymous]

Ever witnessed old tracks being replaced with new?

I remember, when I was a kid, the local rail tracks about 1Km from my house were being replaced. Me and my friend who used to be into trains too used to go there
and be there entire day (minus lunch time) just watching the works.
It was quite a sight:

The workers put a temorary set of rails that were wider than regular rails by what looked like 2 meters (meter on each side of the old tracks). I have no idea how did they manage to stand there without fliping, but anyway, this HUGE vehicle was moving on these wider rails, howering above the regular tracks, grabed the tracks and pulled them in the air (together with the wooden thingies) , shaken them to get rid of dirt and rocks, then load them on a car (that was sitting on a normal tracks ahead). Then they put new ones in.

Then they'd put some more of these wide rails, and the whole thing moved ahead. They replaced about 40km (25 miles) of tracks that way.
It was quite a job.

I can't remember one thing though. I have no Idea how did the that large machine get there since it ran on these ultra wide gauge temorary rails