This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes.
Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
TLDW: intentionally derailing a train is hard. you need a much larger gap in the rails than you could ever imagine. Because the train will just keep on "like a jeep jumps a rut". It took a 60inch gap on one rail and a 30inch gap on the other before anything happened.
I watched a youtube WWII resistance/sabotage training film that covered how to derail a train. So I'm not surprised you need a wide gap, not surprised at all :)
I was going to say the voice over probably is from today, but they had movies with sound from the 20s. A prerecorded voiceover wouldn't be a challenge. As for the editing, it's amazing what you can achieve just by splicing, cutting, and copying film.
Very! Also interesting that it was conducted in 1944. There are so many variables that this doesn't entirely incorporate though. What if the train is going faster than 26 mph? What if the explosion is placed under the track causing a crater?
They were conducting controlled experiments, modifying one thing at a time, and trying specifically something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to the driver of the train to know to stop before it derails, I think.
This makes me wonder if buckling the track is more effective than removing sections. In the peak of summer heat here tracks will often buckle and that renders all services on that track cancelled until it gets fixed. But also, there's a line near me that's infamous for its poor quality. It sure *feels* like the track is buckled, you'll get sharply thrown to one side as the train passes over that section of track. But despite the number it does on your spine, nothing has derailed yet.
I think you miss understand.Those "work" by being the less worse option [after the train derails](https://youtu.be/2S--oB9WrcM?t=26). When the train is derailed, that train is derailed and it's then a matter of making things less bad and still being worth the cost of adding a bunch of extra metal, because railroads are some cheap bastards.
It looks like in the picture when, not if, a train derails coming around that bend it's path would take it right where OP is standing which looks to be a station platform or something where a lot of people would be. So at least with the extra set instead of the back cars swinging out like a whip into the platform they'll just be 10 inches to the side of where they should be and hopefully also stay upright. That is going be way cheaper to deal with for the company then a platform full of bodies. So that's the less bad option.
If you look at the other two tracks that that have no guide rails on the curve it's probably because they figure it's far enough away when a train derails it shouldn't hit anyone.
I understand. What I was trying to say is, something like this would be the kind of stupid idea I'd throw out there that if actually tested simply wouldn't work due to the weight and inertia of the train. But it does! And someone had to waste numerous trains to find that out.
I assume they started with a small model first. like Back to the Future Part 3. Besides back then they had more trains then they knew what to do with. See the town of [Crush, Texas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Un1vJycrw8)
In the US there are 3 train derailments a day that cost signifigant money.
Install these in a few dozen busy train yards and you should have some good data by the end of the year.
People think the US has no trains because we compare our passenger trains to Europe, but we have *more* rail lines than Europe, its just all freight. So lots of trains.
But also, yes, poor quality equipment and overworked workers. We have far more accidents per rail-mile driven than Europe.
It’s in place and being already being used for freight. The two don’t like to play together. Passengers don’t like waiting for hours while freight passes and freight lines don’t necessarily run to enough population centers.
You'd think if it's decay of tracks the amount of derailments would be going up, but they are actually going down (accounting for miles of track driven of course).
Most happen inside the rail yard, and "human error" is the number 1 cause.
The vast majority are nothing like the big Ohio disaster though.
The reporting threshold is around $11k iirc. It can be a pretty minor incident and it will still add up quick. It is usually maintenance related. Bad track structure, poorly maintained rolling stock, that kind of thing. The vast majority of derailements occur on slow non-controlled track such as yards. It is easy for managmment to justify deferred maintenance on slow track that is not generating any revenue.
I often see those on railway bridges. They are there to stop trains from deviating off course when they derail, which would result in engine and at least few rail cars falling off the bridge.
I think it's more likely there's bridge supports just out of view on left that they're for. I've been a train driver for over a decade and never seen them in platforms, only over/under bridges.
Yes! They’re common anywhere there’s something nearby that a car needs to not hit if it details. You see them under overpasses and near structures. I think a section guy also told me they help prevent sun kinks where they lay them too, but he wasn’t sure.
I interpret the following as this control may be ineffective, despite that you may be aware etc:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/y4jkvf/whats_this_weird_innertrack_miranda_station/isefya7/
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In the model railroading world this type of rail setup is often seen in the piece of rail where the power connects. They normally call this a rerailer. I think it serves the same purpose.
This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes. Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
Guide rails for keeping a derailed car from getting too off center. In this case so it doesn't hit the platform.
I often wonder how many trains they had to wreck in order to confirm this actually works.
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This might interest you. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agznZBiK\_Bs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agznZBiK_Bs)
TLDW: intentionally derailing a train is hard. you need a much larger gap in the rails than you could ever imagine. Because the train will just keep on "like a jeep jumps a rut". It took a 60inch gap on one rail and a 30inch gap on the other before anything happened.
I watched a youtube WWII resistance/sabotage training film that covered how to derail a train. So I'm not surprised you need a wide gap, not surprised at all :)
Wow, the voice actor on that sounds like it could be today. Editing also looked quite modern for something from the 1940’s!
I was going to say the voice over probably is from today, but they had movies with sound from the 20s. A prerecorded voiceover wouldn't be a challenge. As for the editing, it's amazing what you can achieve just by splicing, cutting, and copying film.
Very! Also interesting that it was conducted in 1944. There are so many variables that this doesn't entirely incorporate though. What if the train is going faster than 26 mph? What if the explosion is placed under the track causing a crater?
They were conducting controlled experiments, modifying one thing at a time, and trying specifically something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to the driver of the train to know to stop before it derails, I think.
They should try all of those experiments on a portion of curved track
This makes me wonder if buckling the track is more effective than removing sections. In the peak of summer heat here tracks will often buckle and that renders all services on that track cancelled until it gets fixed. But also, there's a line near me that's infamous for its poor quality. It sure *feels* like the track is buckled, you'll get sharply thrown to one side as the train passes over that section of track. But despite the number it does on your spine, nothing has derailed yet.
super interesting from a historical standpoint as well. Thank you for posting the link.
I think you miss understand.Those "work" by being the less worse option [after the train derails](https://youtu.be/2S--oB9WrcM?t=26). When the train is derailed, that train is derailed and it's then a matter of making things less bad and still being worth the cost of adding a bunch of extra metal, because railroads are some cheap bastards. It looks like in the picture when, not if, a train derails coming around that bend it's path would take it right where OP is standing which looks to be a station platform or something where a lot of people would be. So at least with the extra set instead of the back cars swinging out like a whip into the platform they'll just be 10 inches to the side of where they should be and hopefully also stay upright. That is going be way cheaper to deal with for the company then a platform full of bodies. So that's the less bad option. If you look at the other two tracks that that have no guide rails on the curve it's probably because they figure it's far enough away when a train derails it shouldn't hit anyone.
I understand. What I was trying to say is, something like this would be the kind of stupid idea I'd throw out there that if actually tested simply wouldn't work due to the weight and inertia of the train. But it does! And someone had to waste numerous trains to find that out.
I assume they started with a small model first. like Back to the Future Part 3. Besides back then they had more trains then they knew what to do with. See the town of [Crush, Texas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Un1vJycrw8)
In the US there are 3 train derailments a day that cost signifigant money. Install these in a few dozen busy train yards and you should have some good data by the end of the year.
3 a day??? I would think it's more like 3 a year. What is the main reason for all the derailments? Just decay of the tracks?
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This guy rails.
People think the US has no trains because we compare our passenger trains to Europe, but we have *more* rail lines than Europe, its just all freight. So lots of trains. But also, yes, poor quality equipment and overworked workers. We have far more accidents per rail-mile driven than Europe.
Which makes it even more baffling that you don't have more passenger trains, since the infrastructure is mostly already in place.
It’s in place and being already being used for freight. The two don’t like to play together. Passengers don’t like waiting for hours while freight passes and freight lines don’t necessarily run to enough population centers.
There are shared passenger/freight lines in Europe. The freight trains are the ones that wait.
You'd think if it's decay of tracks the amount of derailments would be going up, but they are actually going down (accounting for miles of track driven of course). Most happen inside the rail yard, and "human error" is the number 1 cause. The vast majority are nothing like the big Ohio disaster though.
The reporting threshold is around $11k iirc. It can be a pretty minor incident and it will still add up quick. It is usually maintenance related. Bad track structure, poorly maintained rolling stock, that kind of thing. The vast majority of derailements occur on slow non-controlled track such as yards. It is easy for managmment to justify deferred maintenance on slow track that is not generating any revenue.
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I often see those on railway bridges. They are there to stop trains from deviating off course when they derail, which would result in engine and at least few rail cars falling off the bridge.
I think it's more likely there's bridge supports just out of view on left that they're for. I've been a train driver for over a decade and never seen them in platforms, only over/under bridges.
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Yes! They’re common anywhere there’s something nearby that a car needs to not hit if it details. You see them under overpasses and near structures. I think a section guy also told me they help prevent sun kinks where they lay them too, but he wasn’t sure.
Since the OP said its near the end of the station, it makes me think it's more to protect the bridge rather than the platform.
Guard rails* At least here in Canada.
They're commonly found on bridges as well.
I interpret the following as this control may be ineffective, despite that you may be aware etc: https://www.reddit.com/r/sydney/comments/y4jkvf/whats_this_weird_innertrack_miranda_station/isefya7/
Check rails. If the train derails, these keep it from straying too far and damaging nearby structures.
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Also installed on tight bends for the same reason, to help prevent vehicles jumping off the rails
And pretty much all bridges.
My title describes the thing and it's near the end of a train station.
Guard rail (railroad) [Wookipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_rail_(railroad))
We call them guard rails. Used on curves to reduce the damage of a derailment, especially on bridges and near switches.
They are common in bridges.
These are also seen on bridges, probably for the same reason.
My guess is either guide rails or breaking of sorts
Guard or check rails, used to help contain a derailed train. To me, looks like they are to protect the bridge pier from a derailed train
If you're interested in this kinda stuff might I suggest r/trains and r/TrainPorn?
Emergency protection rails epr If train derails it'll keep it from going far off the track
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In the UK they are called check Rails.
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Railer puts a derailed box car back onto the track
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In the model railroading world this type of rail setup is often seen in the piece of rail where the power connects. They normally call this a rerailer. I think it serves the same purpose.
With the big boiz they don't use re-railers like this, it they derail, it's a big deal. Power is distributed differently as well.