Grey/Purple Paint On Tracks

[AlterEgo]

Hi all

Quick question to satisfy my curiosity. On approach to Euston there are several areas of track which have been sprayed with some sort of paint. It's greyish-purple in colour.

Does anyone know why? I've never seen this before anywhere.

 

[The Snap]

No doubt they will be markings for use by engineers and gangs. That's incredibly vague I know, but it's likely that's what the marks will be for.

Sorry I haven't been more detailed!

 

[AlterEgo]

That is what I suspected. Whole areas have been sprayed rather than individual pieces of track!

 

[The Snap]

Seems quite strange. No chance of it being graffiti? . Does there seem to be some 'system' to the spray marks?

 

[AlterEgo]

No it's definitely not graffiti. The colour is quite odd and it looks as though it serves a purpose. I can only think they are markers for areas of track that need attention....

 

[Hydro]

I can't think what automatically drops paint now other than Stoneblowers to show the track has been treated.

 

[AlterEgo]

I can't think what automatically drops paint now other than Stoneblowers to show the track has been treated.

Doesn't the NMT drop paint? I think it may be yellow paint though.

 

[The Snap]

Doesn't the NMT drop paint? I think it may be yellow paint though.

I think if it did, Hydro would have said....

Didn't know that about the Stoneblower, good to know!

 

[Hydro]

No track recording vehicle drops paint any more, it used to be red, earning them the nickname of "Blood Trains".

 

[DarloRich]

No track recording vehicle drops paint any more, it used to be red, earning them the nickname of "Blood Trains".

thank you! I said that and was shot down! lol

 

[Hydro]

Most information on what we do and how we do it is painfully out of date or inaccurate!

How has the paint been applied? In streaks down the four foot, continuous lines, individual sleepers...?

 

[DarloRich]

Most information on what we do and how we do it is painfully out of date or inaccurate!

whispers - dont tell them we do things - what else will they have to complain about!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
is the paint to mark sections up for removal/replacement? Where is it placed? What section of line - up/down/fast slow? What Location?

 

[AlterEgo]

Most information on what we do and how we do it is painfully out of date or inaccurate!

How has the paint been applied? In streaks down the four foot, continuous lines, individual sleepers...?

Looks like it's been sprayed all over the track over an 8 foot stretch. Everything is covered indiscriminately. There seems to be no concentration on sleepers or rails.

 

[Hydro]

Sounds like a spill!

 

[The Informer]

I think if it did, Hydro would have said....

Didn't know that about the Stoneblower, good to know!

The yellow marks are reference points whilst stoneblowing. That's what I do!!!

 

[boing_uk]

Occasionally, while my brain is switched off and I am drooling and gazing out of the window, I have spotted yellow spray marks, about 3m long, in the four-foot, toward the cess rail and usually at points which I estimate to be where there used to be rail joints in sections of what are now CWR.

Sometimes they are possibly a single rail length apart, sometimes a double length. Most recently I spotted them somewhere between Bolton and Salford, although I have seen them fairly recently I think on the Fylde line as well.

Am I correct to assume that it is some way of highlighting track defects? If so, on CWR, why are they still in rail lengths? Am I also correct in assuming that it is a historical thing in the formation, which is reflected in slightly different behaviour in the ballast at these locations? Or is it the rail itself? I know that the down line between Kirkham and Poulton is partially rail that was welded in-situ, as it can be heard.