I remember seeing that in Japan, a lot of the high-speed bullet trains end up on high elevations. I think they have curves on high elevation but I don’t know so I won’t guess. What does Japan do with there tracks? Is there anything that we can learn from the Japanese?
(how am I doing with my questions?)
The WC did install a guard rail on a curve at Lomira Wi. after a derailment on a curve that killed an unwitting employee at a track side industry when the cars flew into the building. The guard rail was more or less eyewash, the mass and inertia of todays freight trains make guardrails useless on curves. The WC also installed an impenetrable anti train barrier to keep the trains out of the factory.
Randy
tree68 – oddly enough, in northern climates there is a maximum superelevation for highways in the highway standards; usually about 5% (that would be 1 inch in 20 inches). Why? So that if the road is icy and someone is creeping around the curve because they are terrified, they don’t slide off the inside!
And as someone said, the only thing a guard rail will do for you is – hopefully – keep the truck more or less aligned with the track so it doesn’t catch on something and pull the bridge or what have you down with it. Not much help on a curve, although it may make the locals happy…
Perhaps yer on about check rails which are placed next to the inside rail of a curve. They are to prevent excessive flange contact on tight curves as the back of the wheel rubs against the check rail…
Check rails do work as you describe – for that purpose, exactly – at low speeds and very tight curves. Right you are![:)]