Measuring eighths of a mile - railway maintenance

[Abscess]

Hello
Can anyone tell me how eighths of a mile are measured on the ground when carrying out maintenance surveys? I understand there are quarter mile markers, but are there similar markers every eighth of a mile or is there some other method of quickly establish this on the ground?

 

[Ploughman]

Eighths = 10 chains or 11 standard rails of 60fts.
But no one uses that anymore do they?

 

[lineclear]

Eighths are used for track quality SDs, with every eighth being categorised. The track quality SDs are measured by a track recording train.

 

[Abscess]

Thanks Guys
The Network Rail Veg surveys are broken down into eighths of a mile or 10 chain sections so I was just wondering what was the quickest method of establishing that distance on the ground (on foot).

 

[12CSVT]

Eighths = 10 chains or 11 standard rails of 60fts.
But no one uses that anymore do they?

Miles and chains are still widely used for measuring distances on the railways

 

[tsr]

Eighths = 10 chains or 11 standard rails of 60fts.
But no one uses that anymore do they?

I can't think of a bit of mainline railway on my patch which doesn't see use miles and chains extensively. Mileposts are often supplemented with chain markers, sometimes down to single chain lengths.

 

[2HAP]

HS1 is probably the exception, being measured in kilometers.

 

[Abscess]

That's what I was looking for tsr. Very helpful. What do the chainage markers look like?

 

[alxndr]

The majority of my patch has chain and half chain markers sprayed on to the web of the rail. If they're not visable then we judge by eye or pace from the nearest known mileage, although we don't need to be completely precise unlike other disciplines might. There's a GPS-based app too, but can be a bit iffy.

 

[Railsigns]

What do the chainage markers look like?

See here. Chainage markers are covered on the second page. Most lines don't have them though.

 

[Abscess]

Thank you gents. Most helpful.

 

[Llanigraham]

HS1 is probably the exception, being measured in kilometers.

And the Cambrian.

 

[Railsigns]

And the Cambrian.

The Cambrian line is measured in miles and chains.

 

[Chris M]

The spur from the GWML to Heathrow is I believe measured in km, as are the dedicated sections of the Tyne and Wear Metro. I don't know whether the parts of the route where Metro trains run over NR metals is measured only in miles and chains or in metric units as well.

 

[tsr]

See here. Chainage markers are covered on the second page. Most lines don't have them though.

OK, I probably misrepresented things (I'm a bit tired today!). You are quite correct that many places don't have them, but on the other hand they are used for track which sees a lot of trains and requires frequent and accurate identification for maintenance, or is in awkward positions for identifying locations. For example, along the cutting walls near East Croydon.

 

[TheEdge]

HS1 is probably the exception, being measured in kilometers.

I heard it claimed a few days ago the GEML north of Colchester is measured in kilometers rather than miles. I'm not convinced its true...

 

[Hellzapoppin]

The OLE structures on the Western are measured in kilometres but everything else is in miles and chains,however some projects use miles and yards which is even more confusing when trying to equate that on the ground.

 

[alxndr]

The OLE structures on the Western are measured in kilometres but everything else is in miles and chains, however some projects use miles and yards which is even more confusing when trying to equate that on the ground.

A lot of the new signalling locs being put in locs are numbered in miles and meters (divided by 10) too, which is a terrible idea.

 

[Dr_Paul]

It wasn't that long ago, relatively speaking, that the main line out of Waterloo had neat yellow markers showing the chain measurements put on posts or screwed to the wall, replacing the painted markers crudely daubed on walls. It came as a surprise to me that the railways were still using a measurement that had fallen out of regular usage, and well before the move to metric measurements.

 

[Welly]

Thanks Guys
The Network Rail Veg surveys are broken down into eighths of a mile or 10 chain sections so ...

I didn't realise there were that many dim witted linesiders in this country!

 

[Ploughman]

Miles and chains are still widely used for measuring distances on the railways

And what was the answer when someone asked a related question a few days ago?
We all use Metric. Or words to that effect.

I should have put a smiley in my original answer to show a bit of irony.

 

[Llanigraham]

The Cambrian line is measured in miles and chains.

Not according to my friend who signalled it!

 

[Railsigns]

Not according to my friend who signalled it!

All measurements on the Cambrian are given in miles and chains according to the current Sectional Appendix and the line is equipped with mileposts.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The OLE structures on the Western are measured in kilometres.

So is the OLE north of Weaver Junction on the West Coast Main Line and on all but the southernmost part of the East Coast Main Line.

That suggests metric is the standard for the OLE at least.

 

[Boodiggy]

Hello
Can anyone tell me how eighths of a mile are measured on the ground when carrying out maintenance surveys? I understand there are quarter mile markers, but are there similar markers every eighth of a mile or is there some other method of quickly establish this on the ground?

Hi, I work in track maintenance and you find different depots will have their own ways. The system used for track assets lists in miles and yards. All assets need to be in here to show they are maintained and at the correct frequency. Data from recording vehicles comes in miles and yards with the chainage in brackets. The trains have a positioning system called RTPS that tells them exactly where they are which is more accurate than the old way where someone looked out window for mileposts.
As the line I work on (WCML) we use the gantries for the OHLE as reference poins as they are a fixed structure, but any fixed structure such as a signal or bridge can be used and then simply use a measuring wheel. There should never be a case of someone turning up to work not knowing a rough mileage of where they are as this means there is not a safe system of work, they are unaware of ELR, lines and linespeeds etc. Also staff who maintain the track / OLE or anything else will be familiar with the area and all work needs to go through the correct planning and there are various documents such as the SA, hazard directory, track diagrams and more available.
Hope that helps.

 

[Abscess]

Thanks Boodiggy
That's a most informative answer.
Good to get a response from someone at the coalface.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks Guys
The Network Rail Veg surveys are broken down into eighths of a mile or 10 chain sections so I was just wondering what was the quickest method of establishing that distance on the ground (on foot).

tape measure?

 

[ComUtoR]

Every route I drive has them. Some have even been refreshed recently.