Unusual Trackwork
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Unusual Trackwork
From time to time I am sure many of us come across some unusual trackwork; perhaps share it?
Here are a couple from me taken last week at Scunthorpe Steelworks. First up a tandem turnout in flatbottom rail:
And here are checkrails immediately in front of the toe of the switch (as did the earlier tandem turnout):
Here are a couple from me taken last week at Scunthorpe Steelworks. First up a tandem turnout in flatbottom rail:
And here are checkrails immediately in front of the toe of the switch (as did the earlier tandem turnout):
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Mark Tatlow
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Very interesting Mark, thanks!
Are these A switches? Maybe normal terminology is not relevant... Interesting stretcher bar TOU...
Are these A switches? Maybe normal terminology is not relevant... Interesting stretcher bar TOU...
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Here's a rare example of a 3-throw switch in use on a running line complete with fpls and point motors.
from http://thebrightonbranchofaslef.yolasite.com/brighton-re-signaling-1933.php
Regards
from http://thebrightonbranchofaslef.yolasite.com/brighton-re-signaling-1933.php
Regards
Re: Unusual Trackwork
Does anyone know why the slide bases (chairs?) on the switches in the foreground in Mark's photo of the tandem at Scunthorpe have unequal lengths? Have parts been used which were just what was to hand perhaps?
Colin
Colin
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Your suggestion is probably correct, although its difficult to envisage any purpose to the long ones which seem to allow for a much greater throw than is needed.
Regards
Regards
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Colin Parks wrote:Does anyone know why the slide bases (chairs?) on the switches in the foreground in Mark's photo of the tandem at Scunthorpe have unequal lengths? Have parts been used which were just what was to hand perhaps?
I see what you mean but I rather think this is a perspective effect (or spherical aberration?) caused by being near the corner of the shot. I think they are actauly the same length, particularly as the oiled area swept by the switch blades is the same on all four visible slide chairs.
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Will,
Look at the first set of switches in the tandem. There are 16 visible slide chairs and 4 of those are distinctly longer than the others for no logical reason.
Regards
Look at the first set of switches in the tandem. There are 16 visible slide chairs and 4 of those are distinctly longer than the others for no logical reason.
Regards
Re: Unusual Trackwork
Longer slide chairs were necessary in some (if not all?) true 3-way turnouts, at the blunt end of the point blades. Possibly not for tandem turnouts though.
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
grovenor-2685 wrote:Will,
Look at the first set of switches in the tandem. There are 16 visible slide chairs and 4 of those are distinctly longer than the others for no logical reason.
Your right Keith, afraid I took the word "foreground" too literally.
Will
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
The space around the tracks [note the bridge pillars in the middle photo] suggests that the layout was once much more extensive, so were the slide chairs recycled from dismantled track?
Regards
Noel
Noel
Re: Unusual Trackwork
Sorry, I should have been more exact in posing my question Will, but that tandem's slide chairs look distinctly odd. It is almost as if someone randomly used a mixture of 00 and P4 components!
Colin
Colin
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Explain how this point works!
I get the impression it is somewhat point...less.
Was at the Black Country Museum today and was rather amused by this half baked impression.
I get the impression it is somewhat point...less.
Was at the Black Country Museum today and was rather amused by this half baked impression.
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
It is supposed to be a stub point, though why it has standard switch blades escapes me (or possibly them, but there may be a prototype they copied).
Lots of slate quarries used double flanged wheels on their waggons, which can cope with less than perfect gauge track:
on wikipedia,of that at the Welsh slate museum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch#/media/File:Stub_switch_at_Welsh_Slate_Museum.jpg
The Americans seem to have used stub point switch blades but with a standard common crossing arrangement at times (as does the 3 way point on the Ffestiniog, one time at Porthmadog and currently in Minffordd yard).
Lots of slate quarries used double flanged wheels on their waggons, which can cope with less than perfect gauge track:
on wikipedia,of that at the Welsh slate museum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch#/media/File:Stub_switch_at_Welsh_Slate_Museum.jpg
The Americans seem to have used stub point switch blades but with a standard common crossing arrangement at times (as does the 3 way point on the Ffestiniog, one time at Porthmadog and currently in Minffordd yard).
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
If it were a proper stub turnout for double-flanged wheels, it would have a pivoted section of rail in place of a common crossing. This one cannot have that as there are too many other rails in the way. It's a theatrical fake* of a conventional turnout when only one road is supposed to work.
* My father, who was a professional scenery-designer, used the phrase "theatrical fake" as a term of approval for something simplified that looks right when viewed from an auditorium. In this case, the audience is too close for that approach.
* My father, who was a professional scenery-designer, used the phrase "theatrical fake" as a term of approval for something simplified that looks right when viewed from an auditorium. In this case, the audience is too close for that approach.
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
The foreground rail joint where the line starts to curve away is fishplated as well.
Regards
Noel
Noel
Re: Unusual Trackwork
Colin Parks wrote:Does anyone know why the slide bases (chairs?) on the switches in the foreground in Mark's photo of the tandem at Scunthorpe have unequal lengths? Have parts been used which were just what was to hand perhaps?
Colin
Probably just what was left in the lego box when they built this turnout....
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Knuckles wrote:Explain how this point works!
i take it from the smiley that you know the answer, it doesn't work.
Regards
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Re: Unusual Trackwork
Yup!
Unless PeteT is right.
Just down the track they had another one, a proper one with all the essential rails. I know speed and cheapness is an issue for something that doesn't need to work but only provide visual reference but they could have at least bothered to do a convincing job. Being a museum with a goal of preserving the past one would think accuracy to have importance in all areas by default.
I'm not whining here. Just find the whole thing amusing.
Unless PeteT is right.
Just down the track they had another one, a proper one with all the essential rails. I know speed and cheapness is an issue for something that doesn't need to work but only provide visual reference but they could have at least bothered to do a convincing job. Being a museum with a goal of preserving the past one would think accuracy to have importance in all areas by default.
I'm not whining here. Just find the whole thing amusing.
“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” Thomas Paine
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.com/
Mostly 3D Printed Loco kits etc.
SCC Price list (7/4/22)
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.co ... e77d42.pdf
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.com/
Mostly 3D Printed Loco kits etc.
SCC Price list (7/4/22)
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.co ... e77d42.pdf
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