Serrated rails and an odd object on the ballast

[Sunbird24]

Photographed this train at Mortimer recently and when processing it notices an object laying on the ballast, perhaps having fallen off a train. My eyes were then drawn to what appears to be serrations on the bottom of the rails and wondered what the purpose of these was.

 

[swt_passenger]

The yellow thing on the left is the grease container for a rail flange lubrication system. It’s a common feature alongside the track, hoses connect it to an operating valve mounted on the inside of the rail, which the passing wheels depress.

Theres another fairly common vertically mounted design shown in a thread from 2024, showing the flexible hoses etc:

What is this track object and associated markings?

I was scrolling through my photo library and came across this image I took a few years ago. I couldn't find anything after a quick Google search, so I'm curious at what it is. Thanks!

www.railforums.co.uk

I think that what you’re interpreting as ‘serrations’ are the clips holding the rail to the sleeper. The image is highly compressed, they’d look very different from a nearby viewpoint.

 

[Sunbird24]

The yellow thing on the left is the grease container for a rail flange lubrication system. It’s a common feature alongside the track, hoses connect it to an operating valve mounted on the inside of the rail, which the passing wheels depress.

Theres another fairly common vertically mounted design shown in a thread from 2024, showing the flexible hoses etc:

What is this track object and associated markings?

I was scrolling through my photo library and came across this image I took a few years ago. I couldn't find anything after a quick Google search, so I'm curious at what it is. Thanks!

www.railforums.co.uk

I think that what you’re interpreting as ‘serrations’ are the clips holding the rail to the sleeper. The image is highly compressed, they’d look very different from a nearby viewpoint.

Regarding the clips, I usually see 1 or 2 per sleeper to hold the rail in the chair but here there are about 16 at a rough guess so clipped to what as many are between the sleepers.

 

[swt_passenger]

Regarding the clips, I usually see 1 or 2 per sleeper to hold the rail in the chair but here there are about 16 at a rough guess so clipped to what as many are between the sleepers.

There are possibly dozens of sleepers in the shot when I enlarge it.

 

[ainsworth74]

There are possibly dozens of sleepers in the shot when I enlarge it.

Agreed there's dozens of sleepers in that photo meaning dozens of track clips.

 

[Trackman]

There are possibly dozens of sleepers in the shot when I enlarge it.

That's my thinking, too.

 

[Gloster]

I have to say that having had a close look I am not so sure, although I accept that the angle and foreshortening make it difficult to be sure. Clips normally come two to each side of the rail on each sleeper, then there is the gap between the sleeper, then another two clips, then another gap, and so on. These all seem to be uniformly spaced.

On the further rail they seem to be on the foot, although shadow makes it difficult to be sure. There also appear to be transversal lines between the rails which might not fit with the sleeper pattern: this is even more difficult to be sure about. On both rails it looks as though they cease level with the nearest axle, although again this is unclear.

A complete long shot: could they be a modified clip.

 

[Ashley Hill]

There is a definite difference between what is in rear of the unit and what is under it. Comparing the size of the ballast with the number of clips the photo seems odd. Perhaps seeing the original may help.

 

[Bald Rick]

They are definitely clips, the Fastclip type.

 

[DarloRich]

my favourite piece of equipment - the flange greaser. (Sorry)

The "serrated" items are fast clips. It is just a trick of the zoom lens. Looks all normal to me.

 

[boiledbeans2]

[...]

The "serrated" items are fast clips. It is just a trick of the zoom lens. Looks all normal to me.

Yes agreed. It's a high zoom. Similar effect causes the narrowness of the train windows.