Railroadforums.com is a free online Railroad Discussion Forum and Railroad Photo Gallery for railroaders, railfans, model railroaders and anyone else who is interested in railroads. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight trains, passenger and commuter railroads, rail news and information, tourist railroads, railway museums and railroad history.
After reading some of the track inspection specifications supplied by Roee, which listhe requirements for guard rails, do the guard rails ever experience wear?
I assumed they are never even touched.
Are guard rails just regularails? Or are they now a special rail just for the purpose?
After reading some of the track inspection specifications supplied by Roee, which listhe requirements for guard rails, do the guard rails ever experience wear?
I assumed they are never even touched.
Are guard rails just regularails? Or are they now a special rail just for the purpose?
Guard rails are purpose made. There is some occasional contact (you can see the wear in this picture I found on Google) but wear is basically nothing compared to the frog. Even rail wear is much more pronounced. Guard rails will last the life of the switch.
After reading some of the track inspection specifications supplied by Roee, which listhe requirements for guard rails, do the guard rails ever experience wear?
I assumed they are never even touched.
Are guard rails just regularails? Or are they now a special rail just for the purpose?
Guard rails can be made from regular rail as shown in the link in an earlier response or from as special section as seen in the attachment to this message.
The purpose of the check rail is to keep the flange of the opposite wheel from striking or even going the wrong side of the point of the frog. To achieve this, the tolerance on the flangeway gap is fairly tight (in rail engineering terms). Another tightly controlled dimension associated with this is also the back to back wheel spacing.
We very rarely see any wear on these rails in the UK as the back to back flange dimensions are wider than the US and in consequence we have a narrower tread profile.
Wear to the guard rails (called check rails in the UK) will result in serious enquiries being made to establish the cause.
I don't know about trains ... but I can tell you for absolute surety that I've run my Fairmont MT-19 through guarded switches (and diamonds) ... and absolutely felt the guard rails "grab" and "guide" the wheels. You probably just can't feel it in a train.
I don't know about trains ... but I can tell you for absolute surety that I've run my Fairmont MT-19 through guarded switches (and diamonds) ... and absolutely felt the guard rails "grab" and "guide" the wheels. You probably just can't feel it in a train.
I would expect the right rail to push the left wheel enough toward or against its rail so thathe left wheel flange would never touch its guard rail.
Is this because the rails have slightly gone wide or a sharp curvature?
Thank you.
The trains (locomotives + cars) should (emphasis on SHOULD) be heavy enough that the wheel taper self-centers the axles so they in theory shouldn't hit the guardrail.
The reason you notice it in the small track cars is they're very very short wheelbase (and smaller wheels), and extremely light weight.
You'd be surprised on some track how much 'hunt' you get even with a properly setup car.
(If you've never ridden a track car, it's quite an experience ... very different from a ride in a train)
RailroadForums.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
RailroadBookstore.com - An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices! We also have a video and children's book section.
ModelRailroadBookstore.com - An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, DCC, Tinplate, Toy Trains, Price Guides and more.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
