CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY EXPERIENCE WITH 136-LB THICK WEB RAIL SWITCH POINTS
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2004
Subject Area
mode - rail
Keywords
Web rail, Turnouts, Thickness, Switchgear, Switches (Railroads), Reinforcing straps, Moments of inertia, Canadian National
Abstract
In 1999, Canadian National Railway was the first Class 1 railroad to move away from switch points with reinforcing straps and introduce the use of thick web rail into all its 136-lb turnouts. A review of the history of reinforcing straps on switch points in North America indicates that this is an obsolete practice carried on unnecessarily. The moment of inertia of a 136-lb thick web rail is nearly 2.5 greater than that of the European Zu1-60 asymmetrical thick web section, which has performed so well in tangential geometry turnouts in North America. The advantages of adopting the 136-lb thick web rail section as a standard for use in switch points is one of economy, primarily related to the labor savings in the fabrication of the switch point.
Recommended Citation
PETERS, N. (2004). CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY EXPERIENCE WITH 136-LB THICK WEB RAIL SWITCH POINTS. Transportation Research Record, Vol. 1863, p. 56-60.
