Why are the rails curved beyond the switch (closest to the observer). And there are old straight rails still there.
That is a scale track…looks like a “in motion” scale.
The tracks that jig are the normal route, the “straight” tracks are the scale tracks, the jig allows the locomotive to be routed away from or around the scales, then you line the switch between the first car and the locomotive, then drag the cars over the scales.
Protects the scale from being overloaded with the locomotives weight, and the locomotives weight is kept from being added to the first cars total weight.
It would appear the one on the right is no longer used.
Ed
If the yard was a hunp yard, the rails could be going around the old retarders but that looks like a flat switching yard. To me, it would seem easier to remove the retarders instead of laying new rail. Would like someone to confirm or deny my theory because I would like to know what it is.
Michael Stephens
McCalla, Alabama
definetily looks like scale tracks with rails around the scales to keep locomotives off of them
Ed is on the mark on this picture. I don’t know of any humps that have a provision for bypassing the retarders, it would be a potential hazard and unnecessary since the retarders are not weight-bearing.
Yes, those are scales. This was called the “hump” even though it is flat, has no retarders, and the switches are hand thrown. These scales were used to weigh coal bound for Hampton Roads for loading onto ships, and these yard tracks were used to sort the different grades of coal to get the right “mix” for each ship. By the time I took this photo there was an automatic scale working on the mainline east of Hinton, West Virgina, that weighed coal trains “on the fly” as they traveled to Clifton Forge. The weight report was printed in the operator’s office in the station at Hinton. Today, all of the buildings you see as well as all of the yard tracks on the right side are gone. There is no coal classification done here any more - probably due to the homogenous nature of the coal when flood loaded.
Rob Kitchen
Harrisburg, PA
gauntlet track - Listen to da’ unihead snowman!
probably replaced elsewhere by an in-motion scale (Kaman Sciences et. al.) that does not require the scale pit and the associated hardware. They weigh everything going by at slow speed and can usually be found at a pinch point where all the cars go by.
Looks like scale tracks to me also.
Rodney
Thanks guys!
Ummm…All I can guess is that they really didn’t want to take out the old rail and had the track run around the old rail.
This is all I can think because it dosen’t look like a hump yard plus I don’t see the retarders anywhere unless there off the screen.
James
I take that back. I looked at the picture hard and got some info on it and they are the old retarders. Some of the air components are missing but if look really close you will see the track is connected to what looks like metal bars on either side. This would be the air bars that would pu***he rail against the flange of the wheel. Plus I don’t think the railroad wanted to take the time to rip out those sections since the alot of the pistons and air pipes are located under the ground. Plus I bet it costs allot of money to take that out.
James
No, no no…no…Not a retarder! I agree that it’s a scale track…NOT a retarder!
Trust me, they are scale tracks.
I use one every day, and the mudchicken designs how and where they fit in yards…
That photo is taken from a bridge or overpass…it is a flat classification or blocking yard.
See the posting from the photographer; he should know what he photographed.
I have never seen a hump yard with hand throw bowl track switches…maybe a lead switch but not the bowl.
Imagine the poor slob who would have to try and line a hand throw as fast as they come over a hump…and try to keep up…
Ed