Rail Grinder

3919 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Jennings, Nov 22, 2007

zedbob

Discussion Starter · Nov 18, 2007

I have pic's of a Loram Rail Grinder machine sitting at Dundee sidings, its quite a machine dwarfing the 158's and 170's it was sitting beside.

Whats the point in grinding the rails? I would have thought that would have been something to aviod as it would shorten the life of the rails.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

poliss

· #2 · Nov 18, 2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgrinder explains everything.

alastairq

· #3 · Nov 18, 2007

simply re-faces the rails...which can get 'damaged' by the action of wheels...especially on sharp curves.

PaulRhB

· #4 · Nov 19, 2007

QUOTE (zedbob @ 18 Nov 2007, 20:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Whats the point in grinding the rails? I would have thought that would have been something to aviod as it would shorten the life of the rails.
It stops any surface imperfections or cracks spreading into the rail by grinding them out, Gauge corner cracking caused the Hatfield derailment.

7113

· #5 · Nov 19, 2007

I would just like to add that when working in the dark they put on a very noisy but at the same time spectacular pyrotechnics display.

Regards

Doug

· #6 · Nov 19, 2007

I was intrigued by this. Found some photos here:

photo1

photo2

photo3

photo4

photo5

7113

· #7 · Nov 19, 2007

See I told you it was spectacular - I defy Piermaster to get that effect on his layout.

Regards.

Piermaster

· #8 · Nov 19, 2007

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 19 Nov 2007, 16:45) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>See I told you it was spectacular - I defy Piermaster to get that effect on his layout.

Regards.

No I couldn't! However I have seen many rail grinders in action and the major company here in Europe and UK is Schweerbau, who have bought up all Loram (USA) British & European operations. Their UK offices are in Saffron Walden, Essex and nowhere near a railway line!

Here is Schweerbau's RGU2000 rail grinder at London Underground Hainault Depot on the Central Line.

LU will soon be taking delivery of a purpose-built tube-gauge combined rail-grinding and milling unit in the very near future. I've been informed that it may be put on show at the newly refurbished London's Transport Museum either at Covent Garden or the Museum Depot at Acton prior to it entering service.

Dave

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7113

· #9 · Nov 20, 2007

I don't know why, but that RGU2000 strongly reminds me of a Praying Mantis.......

Regards

Oakydoke

· #10 · Nov 20, 2007

Here's some bigger ones.

http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/7924779241
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/7922179226
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/79200
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/79200b
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/79201a
http://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/7923179237

7113

· #11 · Nov 20, 2007

QUOTE (Oakydoke @ 20 Nov 2007, 11:54) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Here's some bigger ones.

Now some of those are the business - surely an interesting modelling project fore someone!

Regards

zedbob

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 20, 2007

thanks for your replies, stay tuned for more ramdom Q's...

Here is a pic of said grinder resting in Dundee

(fingers crossed this works)

(It didn't!! doh!)

My gallery can be viewed here Zb's Rail Grinder photo's

(I don't have either enough brain power or a magic wand to get the pic's to show on this post)

pedromorgan

· #13 · Nov 21, 2007

just for a little more info, as the trains run over the rails the surface gets work hardened and is more suceptable to cracking. particularly at the gauge corner. (the inside edge fo the rail) the rail grinder takes off a layer that has been work hardened in order to prelong the life of the track.

The major cause of the hatfield crash wat the condition of the rails. they had been ground several times and had severe gauge corner cracking. instead of replacing them they just ran the grinder over them. they had been treated so many times that they just gave way.

Peter

Jennings

· #14 · Nov 21, 2007

I do somewhere have lots of side / detail shots of a Loram grinder taken a few years ago when one was conveiniantly parked at Yeovil Junction.

If anyones interested i may well upload a few of them at some stage.

Dave: I like that LU grinder ... Looks odd i have to say, but it must make quite a sight if your peering down a tunnel and see that thing coming in your direction.

7113

· #15 · Nov 22, 2007

QUOTE (Jennings @ 21 Nov 2007, 18:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>but it must make quite a sight if your peering down a tunnel and see that thing coming in your direction.

Which is sort of what I was getting at earlier - it really does have a "face"

Regards

Jennings

· #16 · Nov 22, 2007

I was thinking more of it doing its pyrotechnics act in a tunnel (Approcaching Holborn for example).

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

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