Rail Road odditys

[ecampbell]

A couple of finds along the tracks from Carranza to the Batsto trestle.

These unusual metal pieces were occasionally under the tracks, both inside and outside the rails near the Quarter Mile Run. I've only seen them in this section of track.

They were always along side a tie but not every tie.

They span the lower part of the track but don't seem to be attached to any thing.

I was wondering what their function might have been.


Up toward Carranza I found an inscribed washer on an anchor bolt in this footing.

It is inscribed with "JMB 2003"

DUALSPORT !

Ed

 

[Jerseyman]

A couple of finds along the tracks from Carranza to the Batsto trestle.

These unusual metal pieces were occasionally under the tracks, both inside and outside the rails near the Quarter Mile Run. I've only seen them in this section of track.

They were always along side a tie but not every tie.

They span the lower part of the track but don't seem to be attached to any thing.

I was wondering what their function might have been.Ed

Ed:

In railroad parlance, this piece of hardware is referred to as a rail anchor:

As the information on the scan states, these are manufactured from spring steel and work to eliminate creepage of track. That is, the rail anchor are intended to transmit static and dynamic longitudinal forces in the rail to the crossties and roadbed. As climatic temperatures fluctuate, rail tend to expand or contract depending on whether the air temperature is hot or cold. The rail anchor transfers the longitudinal movement energy to the crossties and the underlying roadbed. Rail anchors are always installed immediately along side of a crosstie.

Regarding the washers you found on what appear to be signal bases, I suspect someone stuck them on there long after the railroad ceased using the foundation.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[ecampbell]

Thanks Jerseyman, that piece really had me confused.
When we looked down the "straight tracks" they did have alot of wobble in them.
I suspect the washer may be from an RR afficonado leaving his mark.

 

[Teegate]

Ed,

The text appears to be quite good, something that may have been inscribed on a miller. I do that all the time at work so I suspect you have someone who works with metal doing this. It is quite easy to do now with Mastercam and other software.


Guy