A tram prepares to depart from the Taoxian airport stop in Hunnan New District of Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Aug. 15, 2013. The tram network in Hunnan New District, China’s first modern tram network, including four lines with the total length of 60 kilometers, began trial operation on Thursday and is expected to be put into official operation on Sept. 15. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
The link is to a photo showing a new tram atop a precisely manicured lawn between the rails. This seems unusual. Speculation leads to aesthetics as the reason.
Vibration and noise suppression…Portland OR Max transit has a test section going in right now (with the rail on top of the grass with pre-cast slabs holding the rail in place.
Burying the rail in grass to the top of rail is folly to a freight or HSRrailroader. It does exist in transit under the toy trains in places like PhiladelphiA, northern New Jersey and Fort Collins. It hinders inspection. Hope that rail is CWR and moisture against the rail is mitigated.
If it grows in the track or ballast section, it MUST die - Black Thumb Rule #1
Take a look at some of the Youtube videos of Polish narrow gauge lines. You can’t see any sign of ties! Maybe the annual right of way maintenance is a dose of Scott’s Turfbuilder.
Besides the grass between the rails…look at the meticulously arranged flower pots along the trackside!
Speaking of tracks in the lawn, the city of Green Bay, WI, developed a park along the line of the Milwaukee Road’s “Alley Track”, which continued to run right through the grass. I was lucky enough to be there once or twice when one of the Milwaukee’s FM 10-44’s wandered across Main Street and trundled across the park and past the fountain with a handful of boxcars in tow, like a mother duck & ducklings, then around the back of the Holiday Inn and on their merry way.
The first design use of grass-covered track was by Zurich Switzerland’s VBZ on the line 4 extension to Werdhoelzli in 1976-1977. The construction is similar to ordinary in-street track with regular girder rail and concrete between the rails. Substituting for the normal asphalt or stone block paving is a special mat that the grass grows in. I believe the system is still in service there and in some other areas where noise supression is desired.
Doesn’t this negate - or at least make much more problematic - any track circuit system that depends on ‘shunting’ (connecting) the rails by a train in the vicinity ? The moist or wet grass might make it seem like a train is present all the time (or greatly decrease the resistance differential).
PDN - We asked our tri-met/max host that question in Portland. All he could say was that it was the rage with all the transit planners these days[;)] (waiting for the grass to be replaced by astro-turf or decorative rock when operating reality sets in)
Professional quality 3.5x5.75 black and white photo of Chicago Burlington & Quincy #92 4-4-0. Fitted for weed burning. The story goes that when the fireman pulled the damper, it blocked off the stack and showered live coals, soot, steam and sparks onto the weeds. Photo was taken in Plano, Illinois in 1888.
It is doubtful the Chinese will want Roundup, let alone live coals, steam etc. on their manicured lawn between the rails. How do you cut the grass?
Do you have a crew using push mowers, or riding mowers between the steel? Is there a special machine mounted on flanged wheels with whirling blades sent down the right of way to do the job?