Welded Rail and the loss of clickety clack...

As touched upon on in the Beano, one way or another it looks increasingly likely that joined rail sections on Preserved/Heritage Railways will eventually have to be replaced by welded/ continuous rail...

The contemporary rail has many advantages, but the loss of that noise that so many of us still associate with rail travel will be completely lost to future generations.

Is it Possible, and even sensible to 'notch' or put a line of weld across these comtemporary rails at appropriate intervals in order to recreate this experience ?

 

I haven't seen the Beano so haven't read the article you are referring to but, unless they have changed their stance, HMRI were very much against CWR on heritage railways simply because of the higher installation and maintenance standards necessary with it. I know a couple of lines have sought approval for some CWR but that is about it, otherwise welding is confined to turning 60 foots into 120 foots.

 

According to information published by both the Bluebell Railway and on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway email group, both railways announced plans to make a series of shallow 'V' cuts across running rails every 60' or so to recreate the clickty-click when running over continuous welded track. Coincidently the information was published by both railways on 1st April.

Chris

 

How many preserved lines have CWR now?
I can think of Weardale and GWR at Cheltenham for starters.

Also how many are considering the installation of CWR in the future?

I believe the NYMR may be thinking of this to reduce maintenance costs in the more isolated stretches.
Thinking of the cost of replacing sets of broken fishplates, this can add up to a considerable amount especially with junction plates.

 

The SVR has welded rail through bewdley tunnel now. Again for maintenance reasons.

 

I'm not a PW man and I'm sure that Ploughman will give you more info but CWR demands a good trackbed, machine temped with deep ballast shoulders and maintained, as such. A lot of railways don't have this standard or the ability to maintain it. Raised ballast shoulders are post steam era and out of character so I'm sure that some railways won't want it, either.

 

Welded rail in tunnels may not technically speaking be the same as CWR outside the tunnel.

To be full CWR provision of adjustment switches, stress anchor lengths, stressed rail to 27 degree C, sleeper type, rail type and weight, sleeper count, curvature and as has been said ballast depth all play a part.

 

Much , much more regrettable is the quasi disappearance of poles along the lines: for me -is my very opinion-is the more characteristic feature of a true railway!I know some have ,more or less, preserved that feature (Some sections on the Festiniog, the KWVR, poles without wires on the GCR ...and so on..) but it is not very evocative of the real pole line!
regards
Noel

 

Pole routes and ash ballast are two big differences between the era we'd love to portray and today.

 

On the KESR the pole route is used and maintained.

Indeed pole numbers are used for reference points instead of mileposts.

 

For anyone wanting to experience jointed rail can I suggest the Carnforth - Settle junction line, throw a pacer into the mix and its a receipe for a neck injury!

 

I can assure you that the pole route on the Ffestiniog is in full and constant use.

Meic

 

The down line on the Paignton branch is still jointed from Aller to Torquay. Having listened to a HST wheel flat constantly pounding the CWR from Paddington, the clickety-clacks made a welcome change!

 

All 10 miles of it too! I must say though that carrying a heavy BT spec ladder along the track for more than a mile is hard work!

 

In my first post,I did say maintenance STANDARDS. There's a fundamental difference between this and the amount of maintenance required. Lack of joints will reduce routine fishplate oiling and restoration of dropped joints but the standard that the line has to be maintained to is much higher,,as Ploughman also suggested.

 

Also Victoria bridge, leaving Kidderminster (to cut down noise for the neighbours) and I think somewhere else, there was an article in a recent issue of SVR news but I don't have it to hand.