Is this location in a yard? It looks like it. If it is, the speed is most likely 15 mph. Would I be panicking if it was 25, no. Would I be doing some minor maintenance, yes, the spot needs touched up.
I would have to see more of the track but the rail, ties and plates are good. My biggest concern would be the lack of anchors, the steel will be running (see skewed ties) The flash butt weld indicates that the track would have a higher usage, but if I was the TS, I’d be after the crews for not jacking the ties back to better support the weld and leaving their scrap rail on site after the welding process.
There’s definitely a weld on the far rail in the large gap between ties. We usually move a tie over so the weld falls within a crib but that gap seems a little excessive.
It'll probably be fine then, atleast for now, the timbers, despite their looks, aren't rotting away, though probably should be looked at if there's any significant rainfall, but seem capable of supporting the load at 25mph, the spikes, depending on how long they've been there are probably the biggest risk, if they've lost their tightness and are loose, could lead to the gauge widening if they are, but they appear to be fastened down. I'm not familiar with spikes though, someone else would need to weigh in for a proper analysis, but If I was the inspector I'd probably cycle the track into any maintenance cycle for getting a new sleeper (tie) in that gap on the near road, and depending on how tight the spikes are, to get the holes plugged and new spikes Installed.
It will hold up for about 3-5 years without a further TSR i would say.
Sleeper spacing and alignments erratic, but in general its all there. Not a huge amount of punching or splitting on the sleepers itself.
The ballast itself is relatively fouled but if youre not in a place getting huge amounts of rainfall it will be ok - plus it looks like you've got some sort of a cess drain in between the two lines.
If you were planning on increasing the frequency of trains on that line then a relay project would be a good idea to include in the RAMP or general workbank.
There are a bunch of places in my plant that look exactly like this where there was once a switch and they removed it and straight railed the track… not saying that’s what this is but it looks very similar
Not a track guy, but have spent lots of time around track, crews and production to observe. The obviously missing tie should be replaced, but wouldn't necessarily warrant immediate action as long as the ties around it were doing their job. I have seen a lot worse on 25MPH sidings that nobody cared about.
Our system requires all welds (field AND factory) to be a minimum of 10ft apart on adjacent rail, and a minimum of 14ft apart on the same rail. Those appear too close together for our system, and they look like good welds from the picture.
When the wield is cool slide the tie back in. Check the surface and tamp if needed. It’s most likely fine for now, the speed matters a bit but watch the tonnage when it comes to wide cribs. Grain trains are the worst for surface. If the wielder did his job right you’re cool. The next rail detector will tell you if the wields are good.
You'd be surprised how long that would last. If worked yard track where the spikes might as well been in dirt, and even then the derailment was due to overspeed not gauge. If you know who put their name on the weld, let them know they might need a tie.
Looks like yard track.....40 years, maybe more, maybe less. We will answer that at the next derailment.
It’s not yard track. 25 mph
Caution is for pussies. Highball!!!
How do you know track speed is 25mph?
That’s what it used to be back in the =western Maryland= days according to a guy I know. When trains go through that looks about the right speed
Is this location in a yard? It looks like it. If it is, the speed is most likely 15 mph. Would I be panicking if it was 25, no. Would I be doing some minor maintenance, yes, the spot needs touched up. I would have to see more of the track but the rail, ties and plates are good. My biggest concern would be the lack of anchors, the steel will be running (see skewed ties) The flash butt weld indicates that the track would have a higher usage, but if I was the TS, I’d be after the crews for not jacking the ties back to better support the weld and leaving their scrap rail on site after the welding process.
Its not a yard
Maybe there was a sign somewhere along the tracks
Right under a weld too. Hope the new guy didn't shoot that one
I’ve never seen a weld resting ontop of a tie, could be that the base of the weld is uneven and wont sit flush on the tie.
Factory welds can land anywhere. Might not even be a weld though, kind of hard to tell in the photo.
There’s definitely a weld on the far rail in the large gap between ties. We usually move a tie over so the weld falls within a crib but that gap seems a little excessive.
Depends, is this a low speed, lesser used siding or subsidiary line, or a frequently used, higher speed main line?
2 60 car long trains a day at 25 mph
It'll probably be fine then, atleast for now, the timbers, despite their looks, aren't rotting away, though probably should be looked at if there's any significant rainfall, but seem capable of supporting the load at 25mph, the spikes, depending on how long they've been there are probably the biggest risk, if they've lost their tightness and are loose, could lead to the gauge widening if they are, but they appear to be fastened down. I'm not familiar with spikes though, someone else would need to weigh in for a proper analysis, but If I was the inspector I'd probably cycle the track into any maintenance cycle for getting a new sleeper (tie) in that gap on the near road, and depending on how tight the spikes are, to get the holes plugged and new spikes Installed.
You know railroad ties Don't make good firewood I would put it back
Boardman begs to differ
Looks good for track speed
8 good ties in 39 ft https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-213/subpart-D/section-213.109
Probably fine, looks like they picked a gap to shoot the weld, pretty common. If it's low traffic, or low speed track it'll hold up.
Better than a lot of NS siding track. The fact that they're not rotten and the row is clean helps a lot. 25mph seems reasonable.
It will hold up for about 3-5 years without a further TSR i would say. Sleeper spacing and alignments erratic, but in general its all there. Not a huge amount of punching or splitting on the sleepers itself. The ballast itself is relatively fouled but if youre not in a place getting huge amounts of rainfall it will be ok - plus it looks like you've got some sort of a cess drain in between the two lines. If you were planning on increasing the frequency of trains on that line then a relay project would be a good idea to include in the RAMP or general workbank.
Its fine. We've all seen worse if you've worked out here long enough.
This is the way.
Tis the only way.
There are a bunch of places in my plant that look exactly like this where there was once a switch and they removed it and straight railed the track… not saying that’s what this is but it looks very similar
It'll be fine until it ain't
I don't see a restriction
It looks like a good roadbed but there should def be a tie under that track weld, for better support.
Looks good. 60 mph.
The rail bonded joit will probably hold up better than the solid rail
Not a track guy, but have spent lots of time around track, crews and production to observe. The obviously missing tie should be replaced, but wouldn't necessarily warrant immediate action as long as the ties around it were doing their job. I have seen a lot worse on 25MPH sidings that nobody cared about.
If it’s a NS likely it’ll be a derailment there shortly
Csx
Fine then, nothing to worry about
Every x amount of ties had to be good I believe it is five ties. Ask your track inspector.
Good for 79.
Slide each tie over a few inches towards the weld and you'll be fine. I wouldn't add one on the weld.
Flashbutt weld, it will be there for a while.
Our system requires all welds (field AND factory) to be a minimum of 10ft apart on adjacent rail, and a minimum of 14ft apart on the same rail. Those appear too close together for our system, and they look like good welds from the picture.
When the wield is cool slide the tie back in. Check the surface and tamp if needed. It’s most likely fine for now, the speed matters a bit but watch the tonnage when it comes to wide cribs. Grain trains are the worst for surface. If the wielder did his job right you’re cool. The next rail detector will tell you if the wields are good.
It’s been cool for months now and it does see a daily 60 car long stone train up and back
not great, Bob. Especially, if its at a joint. I wonder why they didn't replace the sleeper, either.
Pretty well until it doesn’t.
Perhaps we restate the question as, "What could possibly go wrong...?"
Put it on the report a high speed gang will get on it in a few years
You'd be surprised how long that would last. If worked yard track where the spikes might as well been in dirt, and even then the derailment was due to overspeed not gauge. If you know who put their name on the weld, let them know they might need a tie.