Check Rails

[cjp]

I don't think I have ever seen double check rails (if that is what they are called) in the UK as shown in the first picture of this gallery http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2013/mar/19/ecuador-greatest-train-repoens-rail-travel-in-pictures#/?picture=405658761&index=0 except on the odd occasion when the tracks are in a roadway (such as at a harbour).
Do such double check rails serve any real useful purpose?

And what do you think of the state of the track shown in picture 5?? Worrying??

 

[Manchester77]

The manchester metrolink has lots of double check rails. Mainly on the Oldham-Rochdale line

 

[Freightmaster]

...as shown in the first picture...

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...363350313658/Steam-train-at-a-station-004.jpg

That looks more like a dual-gauge section of track to me.

And what do you think of the state of the track shown in picture 5?? Worrying??

I'm pretty sure that particular picture is to illustrate the line
as it was before refurbishment.


MARK

 

[cjp]

That looks more like a dual-gauge section of track to me.


MARK

You may well be correct as this site http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/11795001says that

The railway represents the largest infrastructure of the country with a total length of 965.5 kilometres (600 mi). Its single track uses a gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6.0 in).

Which leaves me the question of when (or why) are Double Check rails as reported by Manchester77 thought to be required?
Speed? Radius of curve? Or both?

 

[Holly]

That looks more like a dual-gauge section of track to me. ...

Picture 8 seems to show real double check rails, for the rather obvious purpose of protecting the bridge in the event of derailment.

 

[Freightmaster]

It's not easy to tell due to the angle of the photo,
but all four rails on the track in the station appear
to be 'polished' like running rails?

If that is the case, and it isn't a dual (or triple) guage section,
how about gauntleted track? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantlet_track


MARK

 

[Manchester77]

You may well be correct as this site http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/11795001says that

Which leaves me the question of when (or why) are Double Check rails as reported by Manchester77 thought to be required?
Speed? Radius of curve? Or both?

On the single line section for Rochdale Railway Station to Newbold they are as you go over the bridge and down until the points. This is o prevent derailment as its on a shap curve.

They are also present in the Irk Valley Junction area for the same reason

 

[Harbon 1]

I don't think I have ever seen double check rails (if that is what they are called) in the UK as shown in the first picture of this gallery http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2013/mar/19/ecuador-greatest-train-repoens-rail-travel-in-pictures#/?picture=405658761&index=0 except on the odd occasion when the tracks are in a roadway (such as at a harbour).
Do such double check rails serve any real useful purpose?

And what do you think of the state of the track shown in picture 5?? Worrying??

Double check rails are usually to stop a derailed train going for an adventure over the side of a viaduct

 

[dstrat]

As seen on Digswell here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBqQqvWWylI&feature=player_detailpage#t=337s

 

[Trog]

As seen on Digswell here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBqQqvWWylI&feature=player_detailpage#t=337s

Guard rails not check rails.

 

[dstrat]

Fair enough..I just try and act as if I know things
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, I'm now confused - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch#Guard_rail_.28check_rail.29

Says its the same thing?

 

[yorkie]

Fair enough..I just try and act as if I know things
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, I'm now confused - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch#Guard_rail_.28check_rail.29

Says its the same thing?

I don't know the terminology but that looks very Americanised to me.

Anyway they definitely aren't the same thing! Look at the rails at Digswell - for them to be any use a train must have already derailed! They are clearly there to 'contain' a derailment. That's quite different to a rail that guides the wheels!

You only need to look at the video/images to see a huge difference there!

 

[david_VI]

I've always been confused as to what check rails really do.. Just to confirm.. They stop the train from being able to tip over by stopping the flange? Hence the noise you get as well?

 

[jamieP]

I've always been confused as to what check rails really do.. Just to confirm.. They stop the train from being able to tip over by stopping the flange? Hence the noise you get as well?

Not as such. This YouTube video should help http://youtu.be/ZuR5QTlfOzk

 

[david_VI]

Not as such. This YouTube video should help http://youtu.be/ZuR5QTlfOzk

That was a great video but still i'm confused. It appears miles away from the rail, how does the flange even get near it? Especially on those long bridges..

 

[507 001]

A check Rail is mounted almost directly to the rail, whereas a guard rail is mounted to the sleepers.
the former is used to prevent a derailment by stopping flange climb, the latter to contain a derailment on a high/narrow structure.


At least that was what I was always told.

EDIT* Check Rail http://www.pandrol.co.za/assets/images/Check_rail_1.jpg

 

[cjp]

A check Rail is mounted almost directly to the rail, whereas a guard rail is mounted to the sleepers.
the former is used to prevent a derailment by stopping flange climb, the latter to contain a derailment on a high/narrow structure.


At least that was what I was always told.

EDIT* Check Rail http://www.pandrol.co.za/assets/images/Check_rail_1.jpg

That sounds sensible to me but it brings me back to my original question which was about the purpose of double check rails since it seems to me that the check rail on the outside of any radius bend will do nothing to prevent flange climb.

(On curve there will be increasing forces between the outer running rail and wheel flange but nothing between the inner face of the wheel and the air which lies between it and outer check rail. As the wheel rises due to the profile of the wheel and the forces involved then it move still further from the same check rail. I contend therefore that the outer check rail, of a set of double check rails, serves no useful purpose.
Or am I missing something, some real life situation that proves otherwise?)

 

[Ploughman]

The only time I have seen "Double Check" rails is in areas within Level crossings, Yards or pointwork and in one instance an overlap of rails by a few metres in a curve reverse.