PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LONG WELDED RAILS

From 1938-1948, flash-butt welded rails, 300-ft. long, have become the accepted practice of London Transport, for both maintenance renewals and new works, and were used on more than 70 miles of main line by 1949. Some of the problems involved in the production and maintenance of this type of track are described. The machined joints, in tunnels, and the expansion switches, on open sections, were used to relieve rail stresses. Wooden keys were also used instead of steel key for stress relief. Methods used by two automatic flash-butt welding plants to produce and test the long rails are briefly discussed. A temperature variation of 50 deg F, is the maximum to which this type of track should be subjected without being freed from stress. The long rails are unkeyed during early spring and at mid-summer. Examination of track maintenance records on 60 ft and 300 ft long welded rail revealed a savings in favor of the 300-ft rail.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1949-3-18

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 284-285
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 90

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drop tests; Maintenance of way; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Stresses; Structural design; Technology; Welded rail
• Uncontrolled Terms: Track design
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail drop tests; Rail stress
• Subject Areas: Design; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037279
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 4 1994 12:00AM