Track Problem - Another Prototype for Everything

[G Paine]

Have you installed track; and, at some later date due to temperature / humidity changes, a kink develops? A friend sent me this video from Australian Railways. Take a short cab ride, and do not blink as the signal bridge approaches....

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=australian+railways&&view=detail&mid=0C76767E9141ECC559E90C76767E9141ECC559E9

 

[dinwitty]

I recall riding Cleveland Shaker Heights line and there was a serious S-curve caused by heat, there was a very slow order thru the track as workers were there working on it as cars were traversing it. I have 8mm film of it riding the car. It happens, but I think today they have better anchors and heat stress spots to prevent this. But it jmakes me wonder if it doesnt happen more with the welded rails we have on the mainlines. Be very bad if it happens and a train is barreling at high speed. I think they lay the rail on the hotter days so it contracts on cooler days so when it heats its set at its as-laid condition. I am not sure I would want to model the condition, I take too much time getting the kinks out now for reliable operation. if sometime I go brain dead running my train and I hit my modeled track expansion I may lay my brass piece on the floor. But I know these kinks can occur.

[Southgate]

That's a pretty good lateral jolt. I'd like to see what the rest of the train did.

My first and only attempt at handlaying long lengths of track were far worse than that. I Just hand lay turnouts now, and use flextrack.