What did I see? big yellow train

What did I see? big yellow train

Author
Discussion

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
More stability will allow for higher speeds.

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeh, was amazed in Japan when I saw the purpose built Shinkansen tracks. Totally separate network to the JapanRail trains.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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Leptons said:
Why on earth does the ballast need cleaning?
I was going to ask the same, the answers make sense too.

JB!

5,254 posts

179 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Slab track is great where there are minimal variables in rolling stock, environment and physics of the vehicle using it.

Also tamping is a great short-term fix but causes drainage issues long term, ideally you stone blow poor sections of track quality.

Also, its nice to see some other industry folks on here!

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Many aspects of civil engineering are fascinating.

'Bout time this Nation refocused on how important a part Industry and Engineering play in the balanced well being of a Nation. Having had much of its Industrial Spine systematically removed in recent decades, there are signs that the focus has changed and not before time either.

Shuffling paper and pressing keyboard buttons in the city will never be enough.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Tampers also degrade the ballast generally, and cause alignment issues. Though they're generally corrected mid tamp and Dynamic Track Stabilisation helps, where in use.

My last job was buying two new tampers for LU, the first such purchase in 35 years.

smile

One of the big reasons, apart from enhanced plain line output, was a move to concrete bearer P+C layouts. Those things are bloody heavy.

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
They also cut cables and spill their guts every other nightlaugh

legzr1

3,843 posts

138 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
I've seen a few 'DO NOT TAMP' signs damaged by tamping wink

JB!

5,254 posts

179 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
iphonedyou said:
Tampers also degrade the ballast generally, and cause alignment issues. Though they're generally corrected mid tamp and Dynamic Track Stabilisation helps, where in use.

My last job was buying two new tampers for LU, the first such purchase in 35 years.

smile

One of the big reasons, apart from enhanced plain line output, was a move to concrete bearer P+C layouts. Those things are bloody heavy.
You shouldn't be getting alignment issues??? Are you doing tamping designs or just smooth tamping?

I missed out on the shifts but the WCML will Squadron tamp with 2x Parent and Child tamper setups to tamp all 4 roads through S&C, to lift the massive concrete bearers.

Yeah something like 4kg of fines, per bed, per tamp, wheras stoneblowing is far less damaging and tends to hold longer.

Baz Tench

5,648 posts

189 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
JB! said:
iphonedyou said:
Tampers also degrade the ballast generally, and cause alignment issues. Though they're generally corrected mid tamp and Dynamic Track Stabilisation helps, where in use.

My last job was buying two new tampers for LU, the first such purchase in 35 years.

smile

One of the big reasons, apart from enhanced plain line output, was a move to concrete bearer P+C layouts. Those things are bloody heavy.
You shouldn't be getting alignment issues??? Are you doing tamping designs or just smooth tamping?

I missed out on the shifts but the WCML will Squadron tamp with 2x Parent and Child tamper setups to tamp all 4 roads through S&C, to lift the massive concrete bearers.

Yeah something like 4kg of fines, per bed, per tamp, wheras stoneblowing is far less damaging and tends to hold longer.
I'm an operator/driver on Tampers. The only time the lining is left 'incorrect' is when we don't tamp to design. It's still fine for track speed though afterwards. It depends on the area. We've tamped stoneblower sites on the WCML slows before and the cross level was shocking (although, again I think it depends on the area) They certainly hadn't held up. I'm usually on those squadron Tamps too, All good fun.

Some insist on geometry files and designs, I.e West Coast Main Line, others don't bother, and rely on the machines own automatic lift/line calculations.

I been working them for 12 years, and I still enjoy it. I'm working one tomorrow morning in fact. As said above, the worksites can be a pita sometimes. You get to know the picops (person in charge of possession) and the Engineering Supervisors over time, and that can help things along a bit. smile

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I went on a Shinkansen a few weeks ago and I think you're correct about it running on the slab. Also when it goes into the mountains where there is snow they have fitted the tracks with sprinklers to reduce the risk of freezing up.

Fabulous solution unless you're in the lower cabin of the split carriage and then your windows get blasted with antifreeze every 100yds or so. Not good for sleeping! irked

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Did you go on the *really* fast one, or merely the fast one? We bought a 14 day travel anywhere ticket, it didn't work for ludicrous speed.

JB!

5,254 posts

179 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Baz Tench said:
JB! said:
iphonedyou said:
Tampers also degrade the ballast generally, and cause alignment issues. Though they're generally corrected mid tamp and Dynamic Track Stabilisation helps, where in use.

My last job was buying two new tampers for LU, the first such purchase in 35 years.

smile

One of the big reasons, apart from enhanced plain line output, was a move to concrete bearer P+C layouts. Those things are bloody heavy.
You shouldn't be getting alignment issues??? Are you doing tamping designs or just smooth tamping?

I missed out on the shifts but the WCML will Squadron tamp with 2x Parent and Child tamper setups to tamp all 4 roads through S&C, to lift the massive concrete bearers.

Yeah something like 4kg of fines, per bed, per tamp, wheras stoneblowing is far less damaging and tends to hold longer.
I'm an operator/driver on Tampers. The only time the lining is left 'incorrect' is when we don't tamp to design. It's still fine for track speed though afterwards. It depends on the area. We've tamped stoneblower sites on the WCML slows before and the cross level was shocking (although, again I think it depends on the area) They certainly hadn't held up. I'm usually on those squadron Tamps too, All good fun.

Some insist on geometry files and designs, I.e West Coast Main Line, others don't bother, and rely on the machines own automatic lift/line calculations.

I been working them for 12 years, and I still enjoy it. I'm working one tomorrow morning in fact. As said above, the worksites can be a pita sometimes. You get to know the picops (person in charge of possession) and the Engineering Supervisors over time, and that can help things along a bit. smile
Yeah I'm ex WCML PWay, used to do the gun work around the tampers and work with techs and TQS. Also did tamping surveys and assisted with designs when in the tech office.

Are you Colas out of Rugby?

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
Did you go on the *really* fast one, or merely the fast one? We bought a 14 day travel anywhere ticket, it didn't work for ludicrous speed.
It wasn't the super fast one, although I did go on one of those a couple of years ago when I was here last and it was bloody fast indeed. Similar to the AVE train that runs from Barcelona to Madrid, approx 320km/h.

Tonsko

6,299 posts

214 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Still a great experience though - so smooth, even at full chat.

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
We don't want any of that fantastic new technology here. We'll stick with our decades old stock and be happy complaining!

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Rick101 said:
We don't want any of that fantastic new technology here. We'll stick with our decades old stock and be happy complaining!
... and if Nige gets his way, no HS2 being built with modern track technology to enable existing stock to approach all their design speeds, let alone new designs and their speeds.

Despite this negative slant and one or two others, I will almost certainly vote for him come May ... wink

HS2 will provide many jobs even before the first wheels turn on it if that ever comes to pass.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
JB! said:
You shouldn't be getting alignment issues??? Are you doing tamping designs or just smooth tamping?

I missed out on the shifts but the WCML will Squadron tamp with 2x Parent and Child tamper setups to tamp all 4 roads through S&C, to lift the massive concrete bearers.

Yeah something like 4kg of fines, per bed, per tamp, wheras stoneblowing is far less damaging and tends to hold longer.
I just buy (well, bought) them. smile

No alignment issues afterwards because they line and level as you say.

Baz Tench

5,648 posts

189 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
JB! said:
Yeah I'm ex WCML PWay, used to do the gun work around the tampers and work with techs and TQS. Also did tamping surveys and assisted with designs when in the tech office.

Are you Colas out of Rugby?
I am indeed. smile

Edited by Baz Tench on Monday 2nd March 18:10

Cyder

7,045 posts

219 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
Still a great experience though - so smooth, even at full chat.
Very true.

To be fair even the normal trains are impressive here, running essentially nose to tail with multiple stops and different speeds (express, local, romancecar) and yet always on time (nearly always).