As a model railroader i have 2 grade crossing questions. 1. I have kits for a concrete grade crossing and kits for a rubberized steel crossing. I want to use some concrete tie track on my layout and my question is: Are these crossings used with concrete tie track or are they only used on wood tie track? 2. If they are used on concrete tie track how are the panels secured to the ties? I can find evidence of how they are moubnted on wood ties but there is no concrete tie track near me that i can go check. Thanks.
Rubberized Steel Crossing? [%-)] [assume you are talking full depth rubber crossing a la Omni, High Rail, etc.-- The hard rubber Goodyear crossings have long fallen out of favor due to too many parts and damage from trucks and street maintenance crews … ATSF had the longest Goodyear rubber crossing in the country for many years at Santa Fe, NM accross Cerrillos Road, 278 Feet)
Any can be found in concrete tie territory, albeit some will have wooden ties underneath. (concrete on concrete = bad news, really bad abrasion some kind of rubber adze pads gets used here that slowly gets ground to dust] The use of the crossing & type of rubber tired traffic determines the type of crossing along with who is paying for it.
Fastening on concrete ties requires either special ties w/ J-Bolts or special cross locking sections, channel connectors or tack welding. There also is Century Precast’s pac-track solution.
We have a few of the Century pre cast here at work in our main entrance…not a lot of auto traffic, but a bunch of locomotive traffic.
Installed in 1996, they have held up quite well.
Ed
MC - Ed - we had a discussion at our favorite place, while waiting for a coal train to do BO’s, with a lady that lives on the wrong side of the tracks. She is trying very hard to get an overpass or some relief from trains that block this crossing for up to an hour, shuffling back and forth while setting out the BO cars.
Can either of you or someone out there enlighten us on who owns what at grade crossings (city property, city ownership I would think), who would do the maintenence on it (it is in bad shape under one of the sets of tracks - a real drop-off, climb over).
(MC you know the crossing and Ed you will get to know it very soon!)
Mook
Mooks:
RE: Life at DOT# 064 337F (1st Street)
(1) I’d have to look at the station plats for the mad jumble that is that part of Lincoln to find out who owns what underneath. Past experience shows it goes several ways depending where you are in Lincoln. (There is an agreement covering the public crossing somewhere that spells out who does what)
(2) The approaches to the crossing (everything to within 2 feet of the rail) is the City’s responsibility to maintain. The railroad (i.e.- the local roadmaster) maintains the crossing surfaces (planks) and the roadway between the tracks. Nebraska Title 291, Chapter 4
(3) Overpass/ Underpass: The Nebraska Public Service Commission HTTP:// www.psc.state.ne.us calls the shots there. (which is fortunate, gotta be better than the buffoons at the city, we all remember Lincoln Lumber)…nothing changes at the crossing without NePSC’s blessing.
http://www.psc.state.ne.us/home/NPSC/transportation/railroad/railroad_about.html
Thanx Sir C. I will do some research when I return tomorrow.