Re: Questions about Rail Grinding

[ahonan@zipworld.com.au (Andrew Honan)]

As I understand rail grinding, it only comes into play on heavy
haulage lines where track owners are extracting low maintenance costs.
For example the Hamersley Iron line has a very well developed grinding
program on hard headed rail. Curves in particular have different
cambers. But all this pre-supposes continous welded rail, 63kg rail,
concrete sleepers and heavy tonneage freight.

Much of our interstate lines are not to this standard.
 
Regards Andrew Honan

On Wed, 29 Dec 1999 13:44:48 +1200, David McLoughlin
<davemcl@AXE*THISiprolink.co.nz> wrote:

>Frank Hood wrote:
>> 
>> I have questions about rail grinding. Which I hope some people who work in
>> the industry will answer.
>> 
>> 1.    Which systems Railway or Transit (streetcar/ Subway) grind their
>> rails?
>> 2.    How often does it take place?
>> 3.    Why do they grind?
>> 
>
>It's a good question. I am not au fait with the technical detail, but I
>do know that ALL streetcar systems need to use rail grinding machines to
>smooth away rough spots on rails especially on curves. Eventually this
>grinding wears down the rails which on curves and pointwork especially
>need regular replacement.
>
>The action of the tram's trucks "grinding" round a sharp curve causes
>corrugations in the rails which need to be "ground" off.
>
>For example in Melbourne Australia, the Bourke Street diesel bus routes
>were replaced with trams in 1955-56. Most of the straight track on these
>routes is still in excellent condition after 45 years (!) because there
>is little wear on a straight track, but sharp curves such as the
>Smith/Gertrude 90 deg hard turn on the 86-Bundoora have had to be
>replaced several times since then and need regular grinding. You should
>hear the squeals of trams turning this sharp corner! A lovely sound to
>tram-lovers like me especially when viewed/heard from the rearmost seat
>of an articulated tram that kinks around the bend.
>
>Various tram systems in places like Russia and Poland often do not have
>the money for this kind of preventive maintenance and it shows in the
>rough ride on their trams.
>
>I don't think railway lines need similar grinding because they usually
>don't have the sharp bends that streetcar lines often have.
>
>
>David McLoughlin
>Auckland New Zealand