I noticed at Marks Tey yesterday a piece of metal clipped to the side of 
the Rail, shown here:
http://photos.sudbury-branchline.co.uk/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0
(or http://makeashorterlink.com/?I28356ECB if that one wraps)

As the image shows it's in place of the normal Clip, but the rail isn't 
broken at all (at least no visible break) and there is no Speed 
Restriction over it (normal line speed of ~ 90-100 still in place)

Anyone know what this would be in place for/to prevent?

"Darren"  wrote in message 
news:4329d1e1$0$97111$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net...

>I noticed at Marks Tey yesterday a piece of metal clipped to the side of 
>the Rail, shown here:
> http://photos.sudbury-branchline.co.uk/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0
> (or http://makeashorterlink.com/?I28356ECB if that one wraps)
>
> As the image shows it's in place of the normal Clip, but the rail isn't 
> broken at all (at least no visible break) and there is no Speed 
> Restriction over it (normal line speed of ~ 90-100 still in place)
>
> Anyone know what this would be in place for/to prevent?


Isn't it to hold the sections of track in alignment while they weld them 
together, or cut them?

Paul

"Darren"  wrote in message 
news:4329d1e1$0$97111$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net...

>I noticed at Marks Tey yesterday a piece of metal clipped to the side of 
>the Rail, shown here:
> http://photos.sudbury-branchline.co.uk/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0
> (or http://makeashorterlink.com/?I28356ECB if that one wraps)
>
> As the image shows it's in place of the normal Clip, but the rail isn't 
> broken at all (at least no visible break) and there is no Speed 
> Restriction over it (normal line speed of ~ 90-100 still in place)
>
> Anyone know what this would be in place for/to prevent?
>
>

Ultrasonic team found something there...

In article <dgckk4$2mk$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>, Paul
Scott  writes

>
>"Darren"  wrote in message 
>news:4329d1e1$0$97111$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net...
>>I noticed at Marks Tey yesterday a piece of metal clipped to the side of 
>>the Rail, shown here:
>> http://photos.sudbury-branchline.co.uk/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos
>=0
>> (or http://makeashorterlink.com/?I28356ECB if that one wraps)
>>
>> As the image shows it's in place of the normal Clip, but the rail isn't 
>> broken at all (at least no visible break) and there is no Speed 
>> Restriction over it (normal line speed of ~ 90-100 still in place)
>>
>> Anyone know what this would be in place for/to prevent?
>
>Isn't it to hold the sections of track in alignment while they weld them 
>together, or cut them?
>
>Paul 
>
>

It is definitely a pair of clamp plates with three clamps to hold them
in place. They are normally used where a weld has been found to be
faulty either during welding or at a subsequent ultrasonic test. The
belly in the middle is to go around the weld.

However you wouldn't have a weld over a sleeper like that except,
possibly, the flash butt weld made in the factory. My guess is that a
rail flaw has been detected by the ultrasonic test team and they have
put the plates on to support the rail if the crack grows to a break.

-- 
John Alexander, <><

Remove NOSPAM if replying by e-mail

"Darren"  wrote in message 
news:4329d1e1$0$97111$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net...

>I noticed at Marks Tey yesterday a piece of metal clipped to the side of 
>the Rail, shown here:
> http://photos.sudbury-branchline.co.uk/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0
> (or http://makeashorterlink.com/?I28356ECB if that one wraps)
>
> As the image shows it's in place of the normal Clip, but the rail isn't 
> broken at all (at least no visible break) and there is no Speed 
> Restriction over it (normal line speed of ~ 90-100 still in place)
>
> Anyone know what this would be in place for/to prevent?


I would take a guess and say that it's a *cracked welded rail joint*
and the clip is used to keep the rail in place until the Permanent
Way get around to repairing it.

I am surprised that the trains are still allowed to pass over the clip
at 90/100mph, on NIR  the speed restriction would be reduced to
25/30mph as a precaution.

Wilson

John wrote:

> My guess is that a
> rail flaw has been detected by the ultrasonic test team and they have
> put the plates on to support the rail if the crack grows to a break.



Interesting.

Looking at the rail, you'd think they have put it in the wrong place, 
just to the left was a vertical gash in the metal. Not in the Rail Head 
or the Base but between (where the metal is at the thinnest) the two 
where it looks like something has struck it.

Further to the right is a weld where around 3 Meters (of that one rail 
only) were replaced after problems were discovered during the checks 
after the Hatfield Derailment.

These types of "emergency plates" are designed to go around a weld which may 
have a defect in it. They are usually purely a precautionary measure which 
would ensure vertical and lateral support should the rail break. Whether or 
not a speed restriction is imposed and also the timescale for replacing the 
defective rail are both dependant upon the severity of the defect and the 
classification of the track.
What is noticeable about this is that the plates are not secured correctly 
by the clamps at one end. Two clamps have been put on the other end but this 
is not adequate as the rail would not be properly supported if it broke. In 
this instance the wrong plates have been used "joggled" being used where 
they should have been straight. If straights had been used the plates would 
not be touching the pandrol housing and could therfore move further along 
allowing the clamps to be secured both ends.
Network Rails standards in this instance require the rail defect to have a 
much more restrictive classification as the defect should not now be calssed 
as clamped.

"Darren"  wrote in message 
news:4329de97$0$1315$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...

> John wrote:
>> My guess is that a
>> rail flaw has been detected by the ultrasonic test team and they have
>> put the plates on to support the rail if the crack grows to a break.
>
>
> Interesting.
>
> Looking at the rail, you'd think they have put it in the wrong place, just 
> to the left was a vertical gash in the metal. Not in the Rail Head or the 
> Base but between (where the metal is at the thinnest) the two where it 
> looks like something has struck it.
>
> Further to the right is a weld where around 3 Meters (of that one rail 
> only) were replaced after problems were discovered during the checks after 
> the Hatfield Derailment.