CShaveRR I'm pretty sure I saw the same program about making old rail into fence posts. They were doing this somewhere in Chicago's southern suburbs (I don't know if the business is still there). It involved heating the rail, not to the point of melting, but to the point where it could be easily cut and shaped into the fence posts. I don't recall how many posts they could get out of a length of 39-foot rail.
I'm pretty sure I saw the same program about making old rail into fence posts. They were doing this somewhere in Chicago's southern suburbs (I don't know if the business is still there). It involved heating the rail, not to the point of melting, but to the point where it could be easily cut and shaped into the fence posts. I don't recall how many posts they could get out of a length of 39-foot rail.
If the rail is from a curve, it's usually pretty well worn out when it's replaced. Likewise, tangent rail, though that tends to be top wear or fatigue-type defects rather than side wear, and so may have some low-grade use left in it.
What I'm wondering is with the Class 1's closing yards and selling off branch lines, where would any replaced rail be cascaded down to? At some point the remaining yards and branches will all have good used rail, and the short lines will have all the CWR they need. Then what?
- PDN.
Then there was the old Conrail Lucknow Railmill. They took old stick rail and made welded rail with it.
http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/?q=node/6936
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Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I'm pretty sure the 1920's vintage rail on the Adirondack Division is relay - ie, cascaded used rail - maybe even from the vaunted Water Level Route itself.
While doing some trainwatching one day some time back (I think there was some sort of special coming through) I noted that stick rail had been welded together to make CWR. Complete with the bolt holes.
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...
JPS1
It depends on the quality of the rail, the amount of wear, what alternative the owner has for it, if there is a short line nearby that can buy it, the state of the used rail market, the state of the scrap market.
Yes, it is common practice to cascade used rail down to less demanding service like a branch line or yard trackage IFF there is a need, and the closer the better since it costs money to pick up and transport.
Mac
I would assume that what is still "good" is used in yards or other low use tracks.
Saw a program that showed them reforming it into fence and sign posts.
Periodically I see BNSF, UP, etc. replacing main line rail. What happens to the old rail?
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