I wonder what the purpose of guard rails is on bridges?
Keep a train from hitting the structure, if it derails on the bridge
it also aligns the wheels as the train passes over the bridge to help keep it from setting up unnecessary vibrations that can weaken or damage the bridge…chuck
Do you mean like the inside rails on a bridge or like a barrier on the side of a bridge? Maybe it is just me but the other 2 posts seem to be talking about both.
I mean the rails inside. Walthers/Shinohara have a code 83 product.
Guard rails in this usage refers to extra rails laid to the inside of the running rail. The idea is to prevent or minimize the derailment by trapping the wheel between the guard rail and the running rail on one side.
Enjoy
Paul
cwclark,
I’ve not heard that before - but upon some thought it makes perfect sense. Vibrations of the right (or would it be wrong?) frequencies can cause terrific damage to a structure. Thanks!
Forgive my ignorant two cents, as my experience probably should keep me from replying at all…BUT being a mechanic/machinist/welder for over 27 years, I look at things a little differently sometimes. I was thinking from looking at the Walthers add picture that tying the ends of the cross ties together with one common rail like that also does something else besides the vibration and wheel entrapment. Wouldn’t it add extra strength as well? I mean, by tying all that together with an extra rail, it looks to me like it would reduce the possibility of the rails moving around on the ties (causing vibration), and make the entire bridge structure stronger. Yall feel free to ba***he crap out of me if I’m way off base.
It’s probably a combination of D- all the above. The extra strength would make sense to make up for the lack of ballast that would normally keep the track from moving around.[2c]