This is a scanned slide from around 30 years ago. It was shot somewhere in upstate NY.
Jay Pat
Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA
Interesting set of tracks and the way they are attached to the ties.
Good catch.
Pat
Bill_de wrote:
This is a scanned slide from around 30 years ago. It was shot somewhere in upstate NY.
It is either a Y with the switch out of sight or it is a two gauge track. Probably a Y with the switch out of sight. A two gauge track would only need 3 rails. We have a two gauge track on our streetcar loop line at the museum and it is three rails. One rail on the inside of the loop and two on the outside. Standard gauge street cars use the two outside rails and the narrow gauge cars use the inside rail and the one in the middle.
BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
robertjerl wrote:
It is either a Y with the switch out of sight or it is a two gauge track. Probably a Y with the switch out of sight. A two gauge track would only need 3 rails. We have a two gauge track on our streetcar loop line at the museum and it is three rails. One rail on the inside of the loop and two on the outside. Standard gauge street cars use the two outside rails and the narrow gauge cars use the inside rail and the one in the middle.
Isn't it interesting, though, that the inner set of tracks has no tie plates, as though the load on those tracks was separate and substantially lighter.
Inner rails w/o shoes are guard rails to keep any derailments from going over the sides. If we were able to see the ends extending off the bridge/trestle, we would see that they curve inward to touch.
Tim Stapp wrote:
Inner rails w/o shoes are guard rails to keep any derailments from going over the sides. If we were able to see the ends extending off the bridge/trestle, we would see that they curve inward to touch.
I'll 2nd the guard rail idea but why are the rails on the left on separate ties?
Interesting shot.
Thanks folks for looking in. Around the bend the track had fallen into the gully below. When was saw that we did a retreat.
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I think the tracks missed the train, too, Bill. Nice shot.
kpmac wrote:
I think the tracks missed the train, too, Bill. Nice shot.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
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BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
Tim Stapp wrote:
Inner rails w/o shoes are guard rails to keep any derailments from going over the sides. If we were able to see the ends extending off the bridge/trestle, we would see that they curve inward to touch.
Interesting hypothesis; quite possible. Guard rails I've seen have usually been much tighter to the main track. The ones I've seen (and occasionally helped lay) are also very useful at switches, but are seldom if ever longer than a length of rail (usually 1/2). It is true that I have seen several continuous sets of guard rails, but they are usually separated by about a 3' gap. And all have been rigidly secured by tie plates, thoroughly spiked; they are, after all, a last ditch effort against disaster. I would be more inclined to believe that a logging operation laid the narrow gauge rails for shuttle flats, but also had to lay standard gauge tracks to bring in a small locomotives as haulers or donkey engines for draglines or loaders. Not very efficient, but necessary when rolling stock is scarce, or when an operation changes owner/operators.
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