…Just how is it done. What means is taken to “bend” the rail in a constant radius curve such as in a yard…Perhaps another example would be in a street running transit system which would require a 90 degree turn into another street.
They use a machine located in a shop. It has 3 rollers which are adjusted to give the correct radius and the rails are fed through it one at a time
Thanks Hugh…Looks like not many have the answer…I’ve always wondered when having to do such a build or replacement out in the boondocks how it is accomplished.
When laying CWR they just bend it on site, just like flex track.
Rail is surprisingly bendy in the sideways direction.
I hear on the UP switches are premade and carried out to the location
…Yea, that makes sense of building as much of the switch at the shop as possible and transporting it to the site.
Recently, I saw a turnout being constructed on site. It was premade in an adjacent parking lot and then set in place.
The ties were laid out, then the rails were placed and spiked.
I got to see the rails being welded together by thermite. After the rails were positioned, a mold that fits around and under the joint was placed and sealed with clay. While the joint was being heated with a large “rosebud”, a ceramic crucible was filled with a concoction of metals and cumbustibles. Once the joint was ready, the crucible was placed on top of the joint and lit. A large flame, a lot of heat, and molten metal flowed into the joint. After that, the crucible was removed, and the stem and slag were broken off before they got too cool. I didn’t see, but later the joint had to be grinded.
Occasionally, I will see a gondola carrying a turnout, both on UP and BNSF.
jruppert…Were any bending of rails accomplished there on the parking lot…? Or were the parts [rails], being added and welded in place just straight sections…?
What I saw was the straight stock rail being welded. The diverging stock rail and the frog were already in place, the points had not been installed yet. I wi***hat question had occured to me while I was there, I would have asked it. I believe the turnout was being constructed on site because it was going to be placed in the middle of a grade crossing, so the turnout and the crossing material had to be made to fit.
The only thing I was thinking at the time was that I was late to pick my wife up from work and she would be mad ( oh well!), and I should have brought marshmallows !!!
…Thanks for additional info jruppet. Every bit helps.
For street car type curves I have used a portable rail bender, A machine with big clamps rollers and hydraulic cylinders. Rail does bend easily to a point , but it will snap. I don’t care how many big guys are working for you they will never bend 115 lb rail into a 90 deg curve with lining bars .
Randy
Some switches come with rails that terminate with pins that fit into holes in the adjacent rail !!![:D]
…I figured there had to be some complication to it all…I just can’t imagine laying down a new piece of rail on a location for a sharp radius curve and manhandle it into place. Thanks for the various answers.