Re: Cleaning Ballast - Why do they need to do this?

[John MacCallum <johnmac@MYlisp.com.au>]

michael ostrowski wrote:
> 

> There are sections of track just out of Orange on the Broken Hill line that
> have mud and water seeping up through the ballast and over the ties. When it
> rains the mud and water just flow right down the middle of the track. You
> can also see clearly where the ties move up and down under the weight of a
> train. 
Snip
RSA and will do Ballast cleaning as part of track reconditioning.
At the same time they will make improvements to drainage and replace 
Sleepers and Rails if need be.

With constant movement in the track bed from Trains the Ballast
breaks up and turns to dirt. This then causes problems when it 
rains as previously mentioned.

You will often fine that where the track has sunk into the ballast
(hole in the road) it is because the Track is pumping (moving up and
down) and therefore making more mud when it rains.

-- 

Pope

Alias	John MacCallum

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