A NEGLECTED POINT IN SWITCH DESIGN

A derailment of the first car behind a 6-coupled saddle-tank shunting locomotive at the marshalling yard at Kantara during World War I is analyzed. Kantara was at the beginning of the military railway from Egypt to Palestine The locomotive, in a facing direction through a turnout to the right-hand diverging road, took the turnout correctly. The wheel flanges of both the locomotive and the car were considerably worn; those of the car more so that those of the locomotive. Rail climbing by the rather sharp flange of the car wheel was suspected, but no signs of this were visible. There were signs which showed that the wheels had dropped on to the sleepers as soon as the space between the diverging rails permitted. The events leading to the derailment were reenacted under observation. When the leading wheels of the locomotive were partly through the switches the point of the left-hand switch commenced to open about 0.375 in. The fire of the leading wheel of the wagon entered this opening with the result described. The switches, which had a heel joint with a standard clear flangeway of 1.75 in., were struck by the wheel flange at the right rear of the locomotive as the locomotive's worn tire ran hard against the left rail. Detailed illustrations are given to describe the derailment cause.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1946-5-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 484-486
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 84

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Derailments; Railroad cars; Railroad tracks; Railroad turnouts; Structural design; Technology; Tires; Wear; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Switches; Track design
• Geographic Terms: Egypt
• Old TRIS Terms: Tire profile
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037289
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM