Marking on rails

[SWT Driver]

 

[Wyvern]

Going back to OT's post on units of length, there was a Horizon programme tonight "How long is a piece of string?"

It will probably be repeated or be on iplayer.

It describes, for instance, that if you could measure the length of the coast of Cornwall with infinite accuracy, it would be infinitely long.

 

[boing_uk]

On a similar vein to the OP, what do the yelow patches on sleepers mean? At the northern end of Preston Station on the Goods Lines between P and the RES platform, yellow patches have been painted on the sleepers approaching the points, with numbers on in multiples of five.

Just curious as to what they mean.

 

[chappers]

On a similar vein to the OP, what do the yelow patches on sleepers mean? At the northern end of Preston Station on the Goods Lines between P and the RES platform, yellow patches have been painted on the sleepers approaching the points, with numbers on in multiples of five.

Just curious as to what they mean.

Sound like Cant Markings to me - is the said section of line on a curve?

 

[boing_uk]

Not really.

Its the points where the up and down goods lines meet, which while curved, the linespeed is only 35mph (20 TSR).

And they're not what I would say were cant measurements, as they go up from 0 to about 45 I think (thats as far as I could see last night). Plus, I have seen these on straight track (between Cherry Tree and Pleasington IIRC) and these go much higher?

 

[chappers]

Not really.

Its the points where the up and down goods lines meet, which while curved, the linespeed is only 35mph (20 TSR).

And they're not what I would say were cant measurements, as they go up from 0 to about 45 I think (thats as far as I could see last night). Plus, I have seen these on straight track (between Cherry Tree and Pleasington IIRC) and these go much higher?

The standard for cant or track geometry markings is black lettering on a yellow base or plate. Cant markings always increase in 5mm increments

The linespeed has no relevance - if a track is curved it needs cant markings. 0 to 45mm cant on 35mph linespeed track seems perfectly plausible to me. Of course they can go higher should the track geometry dictate. As for why they would be on straight track I'm not certain - could still be descending a transition?

Any pictures would help clear up any confusion.

 

[boing_uk]

I learn something new every day.

I will try and get some piccies at Preston, next time I happen to be stood on the platform... however the bit between Pleasington and Cherry Tree... I dont know how good the picture quality would be out of a manky 158 window at 70mph

I may even be wrong about the location; unfortunately, that may be somewhat difficult at this time of year as I dont travel while its light - I leave home in the dark and get back in the dark.. *sighs*

 

[chappers]

I learn something new every day.

I will try and get some piccies at Preston, next time I happen to be stood on the platform... however the bit between Pleasington and Cherry Tree... I dont know how good the picture quality would be out of a manky 158 window at 70mph

I may even be wrong about the location; unfortunately, that may be somewhat difficult at this time of year as I dont travel while its light - I leave home in the dark and get back in the dark.. *sighs*

If the section of line you are referring too is running at 70mph linespeed, then a very minor curve with low cant could feel like its running on the flat if the cant deficiency is right. I would speculate that if the train stopped (or ran at a speed significantly lower than linespeed) you would notice it is on a slight curve. You'd be amazed at how gentle radius, low canted curves seem to disappear when your clattering along at speed!

 

[boing_uk]

No the section of line I am referring to IS straight... I have the OS CAD Drawing tile for Blackburn. However I shall have a look to reconfirm whether what I thought I saw is in fact correct.

 

[TDK]

I bow to your more uptodate knowledge, Chap however although the UK completed its legal transition to SI units in 1995, many imperial units are still in official use:

• draught beer must be sold in pints ;
• road-sign distances must be in yards and miles ;
• road-sign length or width (but not weight) restrictions must be in feet and inches (although an equivalent in metres may be shown as well), and ;
• road speed limits must be in miles per hour, therefore instruments in vehicles sold in Britain must be capable of displaying miles per hour.

And aircraft still quote their altitude in feet

 

[Broken Viking]

I think if we went to metric, we would need to put, for want of a better phrase, bi-lingual signs in (miles and Km) so that everybody can at least understand one lot of signs

Interestingly enough, I believe they've done just that on the CTRL for the benefit of French and Belgian drivers. 8)

I was changing trains at Ashford Intl. a while ago (Whilst Eurostars still used Waterloo as their terminus) and distinctly recall seeing metric speed limit markers - White figures on black background and labelled KM/H - Fitted beneath the regular Imperial ones.

unless they are private signs - eg. if I ran my own car park, I can limit vehicles to 200kg

Ye wouldn't get a lot of customers then! Aside from the occasional very light laden Smart, the only vehicles I know that weigh less than 200Kgs are motorcycles with engines less than 450cc... :razz:

 

[jopsuk]

Nautical Miles are still (internationally) official in maritime and I'm pretty sure aviation use.

US military uses kilometres- but then they also format dates like the civilised world.