Jointed Tracks

[reddragon]

The biggest thing I miss on the railways today is sitting in a mark 1 carriage, listening to the clickety-clack of the track and the rise & fall of the telegraph cables.

Today we can relive the slow speed jointed track on a heritage railway, but the few bits left on the mainline are drowned out by diesels engines under the floor.

Does any fast running remain on jointed track?

Are there any soundtracks of fast runs on jointed track, including that of worn tracks?

 

[krus_aragon]

Chester-Wrexham-Shrewsbury had jointed track until very recently, I can't remember if it's all been replaced yet. (The North-South Express is loco-hauled, and takes this route, though it may or may not meet your definition of fast running.)

 

[bramling]

The biggest thing I miss on the railways today is sitting in a mark 1 carriage, listening to the clickety-clack of the track and the rise & fall of the telegraph cables.

Today we can relive the slow speed jointed track on a heritage railway, but the few bits left on the mainline are drowned out by diesels engines under the floor.

Does any fast running remain on jointed track?

Are there any soundtracks of fast runs on jointed track, including that of worn tracks?

Settle Junction to Carnforth is probably the best surviving stretch - assuming it hasn’t gone in the last couple of years. Nice scenery, 60 mph, every train I think will have opening windows (unless 158s ever do that route?), and for those who want the full works there’s even the possibility of a bus-seated Pacer doing the honours.

Machynlleth to Pwllheli has plenty too, although not particularly fast.

There’s still some sections round the Cumbrian Coast, although don’t think this tops 60 mph.

 

[craigybagel]

Chester-Wrexham-Shrewsbury had jointed track until very recently, I can't remember if it's all been replaced yet. (The North-South Express is loco-hauled, and takes this route, though it may or may not meet your definition of fast running.)

Last time I worked over it there was still a small section on the Up line (northbound) a few miles south of Saltney Junction. The speed limit is only 60 there though (the recently laid Down line is 90 there).

Settle Junction to Carnforth is probably the best surviving stretch - assuming it hasn’t gone in the last couple of years. Nice scenery, 60 mph, every train I think will have opening windows (unless 158s ever do that route?), and for those who want the full works there’s even the possibility of a bus-seated Pacer doing the honours.

Machynlleth to Pwllheli has plenty too, although not particularly fast.

There’s still some sections round the Cumbrian Coast, although don’t think this tops 60 mph.

IIRC, the Cambrian doesn't have anything over 55 (or since thanks to ERTMS it's in KMH, 90). Cumbrian coast is 60 max I believe, though I haven't looked at that particular sectional appendix in years.

There's a bit on Anglesey near Valley that is jointed track and has a 75 limit I believe. York - Scarborough used to have some high speed jointed track too but I don't know if that is still the case - I have a memory of it being as high as 90 for Sprinters but this is going back about 10 years or more, and of course Sprinters don't currently work that line anyway.

Personally, I enjoy going down the Heart of Wales line. Virtually in its entirety it's jointed track, Only 60mph max (and only then in limited sections) but with the movement and the noise the joints create it feels like so much more.....

 

[AM9]

There are still some extended sections of jointed track on the East Suffolk line. Here the sprinters get to speeds in excess of 60mph so the nostalgic sounds abound. It was for me a reminder of my commuting time on the GEML to Colchester whn there were stretches of 100mph running over the joints, I can clearly remember being on class 309s running east from Marks Tey up to straight to Eight Ash Green in the nineties (confirmed by looking at the speedometer in the intermediate cabs).

 

[Taunton]

I remember taking Amtrak some years ago Chicago to Los Angeles on BNSF. In the double deck sleeper I had the lower level. A misfortune. Out through the evening and night on double track welded rail, no problemto Kansas City at about 2am. Thereafter it took the loop west to Topeka, jointed track for a few hours. At 80mph that was the end of any sleep until we rejoined the main line.

 

[AndrewE]

Quite a bit of it from Carnforth to Settle Junction this summer.

 

[Western Lord]

Settle Junction to Carnforth is probably the best surviving stretch - assuming it hasn’t gone in the last couple of years. Nice scenery, 60 mph, every train I think will have opening windows (unless 158s ever do that route?), and for those who want the full works there’s even the possibility of a bus-seated Pacer doing the honours.

The traditional "clickety clack" is, of course, actually four noises caused by the wheels on the last bogie of one coach and the wheels on the first bogie of the next coach (clack-clack...clack-clack)But, being bogie-less, a Pacer doesn't go "clickety clack", just clack-clack. I remember being on an Aberdeen-Glasgow express in the 1970's towards the front of the leading coach and hearing clack-clack-clack....clack-clack, the trailing bogie of the Class 47 and the leading bogie of the Mk. 1 coach.

 

[30907]

The Mallaig line has plenty, including some 45ft rail IIRC, but at 40mph it's soporific rather than exhilarating.

 

[52290]

The traditional "clickety clack" is, of course, actually four noises caused by the wheels on the last bogie of one coach and the wheels on the first bogie of the next coach (clack-clack...clack-clack)But, being bogie-less, a Pacer doesn't go "clickety clack", just clack-clack. I remember being on an Aberdeen-Glasgow express in the 1970's towards the front of the leading coach and hearing clack-clack-clack....clack-clack, the trailing bogie of the Class 47 and the leading bogie of the Mk. 1 coach.

On a cold,frosty winter night you can still hear the "clack-clack" of a Pacer from my house at Earnshaw Bridge (Leyland) on the Ormskirk line ,somewhere around Midge Hall.

 

[Pigeon]

The traditional "clickety clack" is, of course, actually four noises caused by the wheels on the last bogie of one coach and the wheels on the first bogie of the next coach (clack-clack...clack-clack)But, being bogie-less, a Pacer doesn't go "clickety clack", just clack-clack.

 

[reddragon]

That's good!

 

[Cowley]

Brilliant

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I once had the good fortune to travel from Paddington to Bristol via Greenford, owing to Crossrail engineering works.

After passing the last GWR semaphore-signals in London at Greenford, we travelled for a few minutes at a reasonable pace on jointed track, before joining the main line at South Ruislip.

The novelty of being in an HST Mk.3 leaving London, seeing lower-quadrant semaphores out of the window and hearing 'clickety-clack' was wonderful!

 

[Journeyman]

Pretty sure the Far North Line has lots of jointed track. It's well worth a trip, especially if you stop off somewhere like Altnabreac. How this station has survived is beyond me, the phrase "middle of nowhere" has never been more appropriate.

 

[satisnek]

There's still the stretch of jointed track approaching Droitwich Spa from the Kidderminster direction. There was a restriction slapped on part of it during the summer heatwave which made me think that replacement was imminent, but this was subsequently lifted and it's still going strong. From what others have posted, it would also appear to be one of the fastest - if Droitwich's distant is 'off' then you'll hit it at 75. Don't get too excited though - in a 172 it's just a succession of crashing noises. You really need stock with opening windows to fully appreciate jointed track!

Today we can relive the slow speed jointed track on a heritage railway

But for how much longer? Track renewals on the Severn Valley are all CWR these days, as is the Broadway extension on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire (yes, there are now two heritage railways in Worcestershire, fact fans!). I used to think that by the time there was no jointed track left on heritage railways it wouldn't matter because there would be no-one alive who could remember it on the main line, but with the present rate of change I'm not so sure now!

 

[Sad Sprinter]

I know the Blackpool to Preston line was until recently. I remember the “c-clack! C-clack! C-clack!” Made a nice change from the Pendo at Preston.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Last time I worked over it there was still a small section on the Up line (northbound) a few miles south of Saltney Junction. The speed limit is only 60 there though (the recently laid Down line is 90 there).

I think that bit is spoiled by some very odd rail lengths which ruin the classic clickety-clack sequence.
Isn't the Up the southbound (towards Paddington)?
Merseyrail is now mostly welded rail, but there's still a jointed bit between Chester and Bache.
Not UK but I met a long section of jointed track in Spain recently between Burgos and Venta de Banos, a stretch that is about to be replaced by a new high-speed line.
The 250km/h-capable S120 train rode very badly on it at 160km/h.

 

[Mag_seven]

There is a jointed track section on the approaches to South Hampstead station southbound. There may be other short stretches on the Euston-Watford DC line.

 

[craigybagel]

I think that bit is spoiled by some very odd rail lengths which ruin the classic clickety-clack sequence.
Isn't the Up the southbound (towards Paddington)?

You are if course correct, I forgot that it's Saltney Junction where up becomes down and vice versa, not Wrexham.

 

[bishdunster]

Are there still some jointed sections on the Castle Cary to Dorchester line? must admit not been on there for 3/4 years now though

 

[jimm]

The biggest thing I miss on the railways today is sitting in a mark 1 carriage, listening to the clickety-clack of the track and the rise & fall of the telegraph cables.

Today we can relive the slow speed jointed track on a heritage railway, but the few bits left on the mainline are drowned out by diesels engines under the floor.

Does any fast running remain on jointed track?

Are there any soundtracks of fast runs on jointed track, including that of worn tracks?

There is still a short section of jointed flat-bottom rails on timber sleepers on the Cotswold Line where trains run at 90mph and where it is still possible to ride in a coach without underfloor engines (and will continue to be so on IETs in the unmotored coaches once HSTs disappear in a few weeks' time).

It is on the down line (ie Worcester-bound) passing Evenlode, just south of Moreton-in-Marsh. It probably won't survive that much longer, as the rails have late 1950s date stamps.

 

[47271]

Until relatively recently (and I mean within the last two years) the short double track section of the Aberdeen to Inverness line between Insch and Kennethmont appeared to be entirely jointed. Not only that, it still had full telegraph wires at its side. I imagine the line speed there is probably 80 or so, others will know better than me.

They could use it as a film set, it is (or was) a picture perfect 1930s main line!

 

[youngiecj]

Still quite a few long sections between Grantham- Boston. Although slowly being replaced.

 

[AndrewE]

Until relatively recently (and I mean within the last two years) the short double track section of the Aberdeen to Inverness line between Insch and Kennethmont appeared to be entirely jointed. Not only that, it still had full telegraph wires at its side. I imagine the line speed there is probably 80 or so, others will know better than me.

They could use it as a film set, it is (or was) a picture perfect 1930s main line!

Except that there are hardly any film companies with that much of an eye for detail (if any at all.) If they can't even get steam/Diesel/electric locos shown consistently on their train shots are they going to be worried about the presence of wires?
Mind you watching them was very soothing on the eye and almost hypnotic, I think some of the heritage railways have put some up in places, maybe the lot at Cheddleton? It's not the same at 25 mph though.

 

[delt1c]

The ultimate rail fan experience, joined track, Mk1 steam heat stock, telegraph poles and wires passing beside open windows listening to loco, whilst enjoying a coffe and apple pie from an RMB and tasty totty sitting opposite. On the negative side i am old enough to have experienced this

 

[AndrewE]

The ultimate rail fan experience, joined track, Mk1 steam heat stock, telegraph poles and wires passing beside open windows listening to loco, whilst enjoying a coffee and apple pie from an RMB and tasty totty sitting opposite. On the negative side i am old enough to have experienced this

Watch it! this isn't the "What do you miss from BR days" thread... but I fully agree with you! (A BR colleague told me a long time ago that when you start reminiscing it's a sign that you are getting old! He may have been right.)

 

[Parallel]

The Barnstaple line still has some, especially between Newton St Cyres and Morchard Road. There is still a bit more north towards Umberleigh and Barnstaple, but the 'rougher' parts through Portsmouth Arms has been replaced. There is also some between Yeovil and Dorchester. The speeds aren't particularly high though.

There may be some on the Cornish branches too - Possibly to Looe and Newquay but I can't remember for sure.

The Fishguard line still had some too when I rode it last year.

 

[47271]

Except that there are hardly any film companies with that much of an eye for detail (if any at all.) If they can't even get steam/Diesel/electric locos shown consistently on their train shots are they going to be worried about the presence of wires?
Mind you watching them was very soothing on the eye and almost hypnotic, I think some of the heritage railways have put some up in places, maybe the lot at Cheddleton? It's not the same at 25 mph though.

Ha ha, yes, I said that they 'could' use it as a film set, I don't believe that it would ever happen.

Unless of course Network Rail spotted the opportunity and promoted a double track route in this way - the scenery west of Insch could be made to look like just about anywhere in the UK...

 

[AndrewE]

There used to be some unusual jointed track between Crewe and Derby when I commuted that way 10 or 15 years ago. I was told that it was 40-foot lengths imported from the USA during or just after the 2nd World War and the rail length was determined by the hold dimensions of the ships used to bring it across the Atlantic. Don't know how true that is, but it certainly made it sound as though a class 153 was flying!