Hello,
I have a few questions. and some photographs that sort of got me puzzled, and somewhat confused and worried.
the first one i have a question about is this
WHat is a UT TEST Rail? let alone sticker for? I found this close to the ASRY & CSX Diamond on the Ashland side. - confused that I never heard of or seen something like this before.
The next question is this, from this photo
Maybe I am crazy, though I dont understand Smaller railroads crossing Large Railroad Main lines. why is it that the ASRY rails are (for a lack of a better way of saying it) listed to ride above the CSX Main Line? I was under the assumption that when tracks cross at the diamond. they are both level when crossing. Sorry confused again.
This next one is more of a information for me to understand.
I get the 50 (no more than 50 MPH across the bridge ahead. I get the W, for Whistle. but I dont get the MX??
This next one. is more of a What in the world type of photo
If one looks down the rail from left to right, and this being the CSX Main at MP 67 that rail is messed up. usually they run through here about 50 to 55, but since the first of the this year, I have seen them out there setting fire to long stretch’s of the track in this area to the diamond, and before the diamond. then trains becoming un-coupled (more t
UT test is Ultra Sonic Test, the sticker identifies the type of test, who tested it, the temperature when tested, all that fun stuff.
Not real sure as to what you are questioning in the second photo…
Speed limit and whistle sign, with Multiple Crossings, …(MXs)
Last photo…sun kink, rail running from heat and ground movement, frost freeze cycle.
They are not setting fire to the tracks, but heating the new rail to a specific temperature prior to welding it in place, in essence pre expanding it to the average temp it will be in.
They ignite a rope soaked in diesel or fuel oil, laid next to the rail they need heated/expanded and set it off, totally a controlled thing.
The tracks are simply following the grade or lie of the land, the road was built up over the years and the tracks simply have to follow, if they were leveled out, then there would be a deep cut in the automobile road, or the city/county would have to bring its road down to track level, which it won’t do, so you just lay your rail accordingly.
Not a problem, even at the track speed you indicated, unless there is a track problem like a kink or soft spot/mud pump.
In the 2nd photo, the mainline rail is of a heavier type and the branch line is lighter (shorter profile). There are transistion sections to connect the two disparate heights to make the crossing all at one height. Makes it look like the branch line goes up above the mainline, but they are actually just at the same height. (The guard rails might be slightly higher, but it is the same for both sets of tracks.) The crossing would need to be all of the heaviest type of rail so that they are both equally resistant to the forces produced by trains on the mainline (or whichever has the higher speed/tonnage of traffic).
Here is a better Image of what I was talking about in the 2nd photo
I dont ever remember seeing a Diamond that lifts 1 track over the top of the other… every one I have seen are level with the crossing track. why would they do this?? the lifted up and over is ASRY over CSX
I posted a new clearer photo of what I was speaking about. and I can understand the different lb of rail, but they are both the same code rail. if I am not mistaken the ASRY is the old (Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad) I think B&O and NKP also used these rails.
Sounds like an OWLS diamond (One way low speed diamond). Very informative post about them from before:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/182267/1997621.aspx