What are these fastenings for?

[trainmania100]

If you'll be so kind as to zoom in on the mpvs track there are fastenings on the sleepers on that track, but not on the opposite line.
Does anyone know what these are for? I've seen them on straight sections as well as curves
Do they hold the sleepers in place? If so what would cause them to move and not the track on the adjacent line?

 

[John Webb]

I think they are holding the sleepers in place - you will note they are on the smaller radius curve, so (if I've got it right!) the forces exerted by trains passing round the sharper bend will tend to move the track outwards more than on the larger radius. Possibly there may be underlying ballast/subsoil problems which require the extra stabilisation for the track as well?

 

[edwin_m]

Yes they are known as track anchors. I doubt the difference in radius is enough to require them on one track and not the other, as it's only 3m or so in a radius likely to be at least 200m (if it was less it would have a check rail). They are a fairly new thing so it may be that NR hasn't got round to installing them on the other track. I wonder if the clearance between the tracks is tight, as it would be reduced further if the inner track moved (outwards) but not if the outer track did.

 

[AM9]

I think they are holding the sleepers in place - you will note they are on the smaller radius curve, so (if I've got it right!) the forces exerted by trains passing round the sharper bend will tend to move the track outwards more than on the larger radius. Possibly there may be underlying ballast/subsoil problems which require the extra stabilisation for the track as well?

There are some of them on the LO curve just north of Watford High Street, under the Water Lane and A411 bridges.

 

[Boodiggy]

If you'll be so kind as to zoom in on the mpvs track there are fastenings on the sleepers on that track, but not on the opposite line.
Does anyone know what these are for? I've seen them on straight sections as well as curves
Do they hold the sleepers in place? If so what would cause them to move and not the track on the adjacent line?

They are LERPs - Lateral End Resistance Plates. Very common on tight radius curves or in S&C.
The ones in the centre of the sleepers are fairly new. The original ones were fitted on the sleeper ends.

 

[swt_passenger]

It was proving difficult to find a decent link to a photo, I’ve just searched a few previous threads on these. However have now found Vossloh’s own literature just calls them Sleeper Anchors.
https://www.vossloh.com/01_product_...-SN/Vos_Produktflyer_Schwellenanker-SN_EN.pdf

 

[Ships]

Technically these are LRPs, as they sit in the 4 foot rather than on the sleeper ends. They're installed to increase lateral stability to prevent buckling. I can't remember off the top of my head (and i dont have 2102 to hand) but I think LRPs on every sleeper is under 300m radius, every other is sub 500 or 600m

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Although I can't see any obvious joints, the track on the left might be jointed which would negate the need for the lateral resistance plates. There's an adjustment switch at the bottom of the photo which could indicate the start/end of continuous welded rail.

They're sometimes used through switches&crossings to maintain the geometry.

 

[Ships]

Both roads are CWR throughout, both have adjustment switches at the high mileage end going into old jointed. The road with pandrols is 2005 and fast clips is 2010, through the platform the radius is around 450 but does tighten to 250 at the high miles end going down to about 180m radius into the jointed beyond the platform.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

From memory, with fastclips the clip shoulder is cast in the sleeper's concrete so they offer a better resistance to track buckling.

Plenty of things are installed which are not compliant to standards yet function perfectly well.

 

[trainmania100]

Thanks everyone for the replies
The track is quite tight radius, when the MPV returned, the wheels made a deafening screech on the rails

 

[chris7153]

There are some of these on the newly laid track sections at the new Rochester station, had wondered what they were for.