P-Way question: third rail

[drivin_me_nuts]

Are there any permanent way bods here who may be able to answer my question.

I noticed on a recent journey around London Bridge that certain sections of the third rail in this vicinity have clipped to them (and I mean clipped to them with spring clips) long strips of metal (aluminium?). They are connected to each other by a number of interconnections.

Does anyone have any idea what they are for?

Cheers.

[160]

I'm having trouble picturing this as not from London bridge. Do you mean sections of third rail different sides of the track are clipped together or something different?

[Ross1988]

Could be isolation? Can you get a picture?

[160]

Ross1988 said:

Could be isolation? Can you get a picture?

Could be this or it could be poor bonds so they are using these as temporary bonds until they can replace the proper ones. Or it could be to ensure that the third rail is common so you don't get issues with potential difference.

[Stedman]

I'm guessing you're on the Southern side of things as there's quite a bit of working going on there at the moment...?

[Ross1988]

I used to work for COSTAIN and know some of the engineers there. If you get a picture up then I can ask them as it's a COSTAIN site.

Replacement bonds is not a bad shout. Do they all feed into one box and come out of it it to either side? Sort of like a spider? 3rd rail I'm not hugely familiar with in afraid.

[160]

If that was aimed at me I actually work about 80 miles away from the nearest electrification but there's a common theme across the whole network.