A good picture to forward to the UP and local law enforcement and they're right beside a 'No Trespassing' sign.
|
What fools!
|
| Posted by Andrew on May 6, 2013 | |
I am looking at the rail at the bottom left of the picture. Is that part of a check rail or a switch or just a piece of track lying there? Also, what are the things like bolts running along the edge of the rail, just to the right of the fish plate? Lastly, can anyone tell me what method is used to hold the track in position as it goes over the bridge, thanks?
|
I can't answer all your questions, Andrew, but that looks to me like switch points at the bottom left. And as for the "bolt things" at the bottom of the rail, those are "Pandrol Clips". Just the fastener used to secure rail to concrete ties instead of traditional spikes.
|
I suspect those clips are there due to the fact that the rail is on a bridge after a rather sharp curve. The outward pressure on the tracks from a train heading in the direction that this train is moving must be tremendous, especially at speed. Regular spikes might not be enough to keep the track safe. These clips, being that they're every inch, likely can withstand far more pressure than regular spikes.
|
That's a ballasted deck bridge, so the track is held in place by the ballast, just like almost everywhere else.
On an open decked bridge, every third or fourth of the (oversize and more precisely cut) bridge ties is bolted to the steel girders of the bridge, blocking is placed between the ties, and there is a thick metal strip on the top of the ties, with lag bolts fastening all of the ties together.
|
|