I’ve noticed that rails are secured differently in Europe. Over here we use spikes and tie plates…over there they use what some have referred to as “chairs” where the rail “sits” in a holder in which it can slide back and forth. Why the difference?
OTM
The main difference is screws vs. the cut spike and track loading/repetitive cycles…Their technology changes as well; it is far from static/ the same old thing. The big difference is manpower and maintenance costs. Europeans throw obscene amounts of $$$ at certain things compared to North America.
I suspect the “chairs” you are referring to are the old British practice. This has long been superseded by conventional “T” rail in all new installations, but still survives on secondary lines and trackage. Instead of having a flat bottom that will rest on a tie plate or tie, the base was the same as the head, and a chair held it in place by wedges clamping on the web. I assume the wedges also prevented the rail sliding, thus replacing rail anchors used with our common cut-spikes and wood ties. Having rail free to slide is generally highly undesirable, for a great many reasons. But that is another topic.
The idea was that once the head was worn, the rail could be turned over and the other head now used, thus getting twice the life compared with T rail. I understand that in actual use, by the time the first head was worn out, the proposed second head was damaged by wear against the chairs and could not be used. So, another seemingly wonderful idea destroyed by a cold dose of reality.
John
‘‘OTM’’ = ‘‘Other Track Material’’, which means ‘‘other’’ than the 3 main components of standard single track, those being the rails, ties, and ballast - i.e., the joint bars, track bolts [and nutlocks], tie plates, and spikes, plus such other accessories as rail anchors, gauge rods, and the like.
- Paul North.
- OTHER TRACK MATERIAL.
a. Definition. Tie plates, joint bars, bolts, spikes and other miscellaneous hardware used in track
construction are commonly referred to as other track materials (OTM).
I have noticed in studing photo’s of the UK’s rail that it is sucured diffrentaly than our wood tie,trak plate, spike, ballast method over here. Also isn’t this the way the high speed rail on the NEC assembaled? Maby not. Correct me if I’m wrong.