Elastic Spike Extractor - experiences?

We have a considerable amount of flat-bottomed rail on cast base plates spiked to wooden sleepers. When replacing sleepers we really struggle to remove some of the spikes, which appear to be binding in the holes in the plates. We generally have to resort to forcing a bar through the loop in the spike then using a jack either side on the bar. This is labourious, often bends the bar, and is not without hazard.

Has anyone got a better method?

Or have you used any of the proprietary tools advertised eg https://www.speedyservices.com/c1416320-s-elastic-spike-extractor
which claims "This product is designed to use for the removal of elastic spikes when performing rail maintenance. Constructed from steel and finished by a hard wearing coat of paint this tool performs the basic task of removing plastic spikes effortlessly."

 

I have been around such things on NWR in the past and they did work, but not had practical experience with the tool as I was the Site Engineer.
(It also was heavier than a pen.)
The problem on NWR with spikes was that they were too loose rather than too tight, you could not tamp the track as the tamper clamps just lifted the rails and not the sleepers.
On a relay the track panels had to be scrapped out rather than loaded in panels as you would be lucky to get 3 sleepers remaining on the panel when lifted with a tracklayer crane.
We do not have any of these fastenings on the NYMR the last length being at Pickering station was relaid a few years back.

As the ad is for Speedy you may find it worth asking about hiring a tool for a weekend and trying it out.

I would also say, under no circumstances would I relay with any spiked track at all, weigh it in for scrap.

 

Thanks for that. Yes I'm sure that if we lifted panels then many sleepers would fall off. The problem is the spikes binding in the plates. Hiring is a possibility, though at just over £100 to buy I'm not sure how much we'd save. As for wholesale replacement, need a magic money tree

 

Another alternative is to disc cut or burn the spikes off.

 

Ah but we reuse the spikes too Poor as church mice!

 

We use spike extractor tools quite often. If the spike is being difficult get someone to bash the corner of the plate with a hammer while keeping pressure on the puller. Once in a while a plate will crack but we are replacing them over time so have plenty of spares.

 

Ta - yes we employ the judicious use of the big hammer too, but don't have the luxury of a lot of spares.

Will investigate the puller tool further - which one do you use?

 

They look like the one on the link but don't have much yellow paint left on them.

 

What does the puller bear on to? Railhead, baseplate or sleeper?

 

Hook the puller under the spike then kick the fulcrum in along the sleeper until it is hard up against the plate. Hope that makes sense.

I'm one of the 'Works under supervision' type of PWay volunteers. I have seen our Head of Civil Engineering using such a puller to great effect. There is a bit of a knack to it.

 

Thanks - that's what I feared. So if the sleeper is rotten and the spike stuck solid, then the likely outcome is the fulcrum punching into the sleeper. probably need a slab of 1/4 plate to spread the load.

 

Oh dear. We have had the odd sleeper where it has been easier to shovel the wood away from around the spikes. As a general rule the puller finds something to bite on.

 

What you need is BR cat number 39/17090 spike extractor https://www.jafcotools.com/product/insulated-spike-extractor/ with a wedge for frozen spikes. Wedge BR cat number 39/17089 https://www.jafcotools.com/product/insulated-spike-extractor-wedge/

 

Great ! thanks, that wedge looks just the job!

 

Or the cheaper non-insulated spike extractor https://www.jafcotools.com/product/spike-extractor/

 

Thanks - that one doesn't include the wedge for the stubborn b@@@@@@ds, so not quite a cheap as it looks. Our HoD is on the case now, so thanks to everyone's suggestions.

 

Hi, we have just started redoing a length of track(about 600 yards) with BR1 type base plates and the dreaded Elastic Spikes! We are using an ex BR insulated pin puller(orange fiberglass handle) and there is a definite knack to this. You have to be quite agricultural and not be afraid of bending the handle. Firstly you have to knock the spike in about half an inch. I know this seems wrong but it releases the spike from the base plate as this is were a lot of the friction is coming from(rust and crap). Then fit the spigot of the puller under the spike ,there is a small round bar next to this which goes over the top of the spike at the end which presses on the rail. (this small bar is important as it stops the spike straightening when pulling back). Then PUSH the puller towards the rail with all your might while someone belts the base plate. Don't be afraid of damaging the base plates as these are very robust. We have done loads and so far none have broken. The puller works best when the moving foot part is snug up against the base plate. Again don't be afraid of being rough, we often knock the foot towards the base plate with a hammer as someone is pushing on the puller. As you are doing this you will feel the pin start to jerk and move. Then PULL back and the magic will happen! If the foot of the tool sinks into the sleeper a bit of steel plate is used just to spread the weight. I can't stress enough that a lot of effort is required most of the time. Its not the wood of the sleepers that is the problem, it is the fit between the base plate and the spike and 50 years of cold and rain!

 

I have broken at least six of the base plates when belting with a hammer. The cast iron is particularly brittle when cold.

 

BR1 baseplates and Macbeth spikes are a very poor idea and should not be reused, especially on curved track. just disc cut them off and scrap them, if you are spot resleepering use a suitable Pan plate instead.

 

Hi, that does surprise me as we have shown no mercy to ours , just wondering if age has something to do with it. The ones we are using are from 1958/59 and we have done them in all weathers.