Photo Trackwork of concern

[Dog Star]

[with a nod to Sir Alec Clifton taylor for the title]

My first idea was to start a topic for photos of prototype trackwork which is concerning in some way. On further thought this topic can be used as a Scrapbook of best intents... maybe those who hanker after building their own PW might be persuaded to share pikkies.

Any way, to start - the photo below has been provided by another WT as an example to make one think. The original is likely to have been recorded by a GER photographer and probably in the early years of the twentieth century, say 1900 to 1910. The location is Stonea in East Anglia, to the south east of March:-



Found the concerning part yet? Try this enlargement:-



If you need a pointer, look at the sleepers between the two crossings... unless I am mistaken then some of the sleepers for the "crossover road" do not support both rails of the crossover line.

What might you say to any layout team if you spotted something similar at an exhibition?

regards, Graham

 

[flexible_coupling]

It's an odd look - although something tells me that there's an optical illusion at play (if you're referring to the sleeper I've outlined in orange that seems to be going to nowhere)...

 

[Dog Star]

The sleeper that you have outlined in orange, at the right hand end, is passing under both legs of the crossing vee and then "stops". If you look further to the right of the crossing vee then there are at least three "sleeper ends" between the rails of the crossover road... and something like 8 feet between sleepers that are holding the rails to gauge.

 

[iploffy]

Where is Jordan as he loves and has done enough of this to be able to write a book, track spikes and all

 

[Dog Star]

Jordan rather prompted this topic with his suggestion of an "alternative" style of magasine which, with the subsequent suggestion of archive articles, lead me along the lines of "prototype for everything" or even "Bazzing Around" (who remembers those offerings from Bernard Wright in Model Railways????).

FS or S7, HO or OO-SF/EM/P4, the essence of the initial post was to highlight some shocking / scandalous / comical trackwork from the great age of Victorian steam railways.

regards, Graham

 

[OzzyO]

Found the funny part yet? Try this enlargement:-
View attachment 34425

When this photo was posted I thought the funny part was the check rail on the cross over line.
One thing that does look consistent is that the main line sleepers do all run under both main running rails, with a few sleepers spanning four rails. I have a couple of thoughts on this.
1) did the G.E.R. use interlaced sleepers on their point work at one time? If that is the case some of the short sleepers have been replaced with long ones. Or.
2) some of the sleepers have rotted and the bad bits have been cut off and new bits inserted as near as possible to the old position, only inserting long sleepers that would cover four rails as and when to just keep the rails in alinement?

OzzyO.

 

[Dog Star]

In case peeps think that the first photo is a "one-off", a bit of bad workmanship/poor maintenance then consider this photo of Manor Park:-

 

[Eastsidepilot]

The GER did use interlaced sleepering and the LNER standard crossings also had short timbers used in the layout.


Col.

 

[Dog Star]

Thank you Colin.

To paraphrase:- there is nowt as queer as the LNER and its subsidiaries (or the GER and the Eastern Counties) when dealing with PW.

 

[oldravendale]

For real Comedy track, as I have often shown, you need to cross The Pond.....
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/3/4/8/5348.1331879562.jpg

My sides are still aching! Did that train eventually get anywhere?

Brian

 

[OzzyO]

Can I raise a point of Order with the Chairperson of this topic?
The title distinctly says "comedy".... those diagrams are making my brain hurt. Are we now writing Comedies with no laughs at all??

For real Comedy track, as I have often shown, you need to cross The Pond.....
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/3/4/8/5348.1331879562.jpg

That is only laid like that to test the new ideas on compensation on P48 locos!

OzzyO.

 

[Dog Star]

Can I raise a point of Order.
The title distinctly says "comedy".... those diagrams are making my brain hurt. Are we now writing Comedies with no laughs at all??

Memo from Chair of Topic to Editor of New Magasine - comment noted, action taken.

The revised title of this topic covers the initial post and the recent paparazzi shot of testing new P48 products at Dale HQ.

 

[Steph Dale]

...recent paparazzi shot of testing new P48 products at Dale HQ.

Now you are having a laugh...

Steph

 

[oldravendale]

Yes, but veeeeeerrrrrrrryyyyyyy slooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyyy...

I'm utterly amazed that it didn't fall off.

B

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I've posted this before,

.......... but here it is again 'cause I enjoy it

Col.

 

[Steph Dale]

So were people who viewed my layout, that copies the idea....
http://westernthunder.co.uk/index.php?threads/new-year-new-layout-portway-center.3212/page-2

shameless plug... to be seen at the Cradley Heath Show, Oct 19th.
http://frankc76.wix.com/chmrc#!exhibitions/cxxj
Now with DCC sound, if Mr Dale Junior extracts digit....

I'll have you know my digit has been gainfully employed for the past few weeks actually...
Cheeky s*d!

Steph

 

[oldravendale]

I've posted this before.......... but here it is again 'cause I enjoy it

Col.

Now that's just taking the P188! Absolutely wonderful. Where and when, Col? Any ideas? I thought initially it may be one of the sugar cane lines in Cuba but I'm now leaning towards somewhere Far East.

Brian

 

[Osgood]

However bizarre, you have to admire the skill in making that work! Would the overhang disqualify the creator given it must be a 'space' challenge?

 

[oldravendale]

If anyone thinks my model trackwork is bad... I am but a humble amateur.
Skip to 2:07, watch, and weep....

That is absurd! I love it!

Brian

 

[Ressaldar]

minimum erection time and no van hire at exhibitions, let down by ensuring that the stock is correctly placed on the track. Wonder how long it took to work out the length of the coupling and rigidity on the 'climber'?
Great all the same.
cheers
Mike