Subject:
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Re: Train Stoppers
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Wed, 8 Mar 2000 16:40:28 GMT
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Viewed:
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1274 times
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At the edge of my memory, I can remember, as a kit, hearing a news story
about derailers being stolen. It made the news as the items stolen were
explosive in nature. I assume it would be a small charge which would be set
off by the train/carriage itself. Could this really have been the case?
Scott A
"Jeff Christner" <regult@aol.com> wrote in message
news:38c66db9.4306028@lugnet.com...
> On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 14:48:48 GMT, Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Tony Priestman wrote:
> > >
> > > On Wed, 8 Mar 2000, Larry Pieniazek (<Fr34wr.101@lugnet.com>) wrote at
> > > 04:10:03
> > >
> > > >
> > > > A device called a derail is used. This device, which looks a bit like • a switch
> > > > frog and a bit like an anvil, mounts trackside. It rotates clear, or • rotates to
> > > > drop in place. When in place, it sits up about 3 inches above one rail • and cars
> > > > rolling to it will have one wheel lifted off the track and then dumped • on the
> > > > outside of the rail, which effectively derails the truck (the other • wheel is
> > > > pulled off). Derailed cars usually don't roll much farther, hence the • main is
> > > > protected.
>
> Derails also have to be installed on the correct side of the track. If
> they are on a siding or industrial track they are installed on the
> rail of that track that is furthest from the main, that way the wheels
> are lifted up, over the rail, and dumped on the side away from the
> main.
>
> > > I have an image in my mind of a thing like a switch, but it's just a
> > > break in one rail, so that if it's open, the stock will fall off, but • if
> > > it's closed, it just looks like an ordinary stretch of track. Does this
> > > ring any bells with anyone?
> >
> > Yes. I believe this is how derails used to be done a long time ago. But
> > doing it this way requires actual trackwork, in that a section of rail
> > needs to be removed, and some very precise relaying of track (with
> > plates below to support the single point moving to and from) has to be
> > done.
>
> This type of derail is commonly called a switch point derail for
> obvious reasons. The only ones of those around here protect
> drawbridges are are controlled by the drawbridge operator and/or
> dispatcher. In this case the switch point derails are installed
> alongside the drawbridges signals. Anyone going past a stop signal
> will be derailed before hitting the bridge.
>
> > The modern device I described can be installed on an existing siding and
> > the installation consists of drilling 2 holes in the web of the rail,
> > and bolting this device on, then mounting the lever that flips it to the
> > side of the track.
>
> These are usually called flip-flop derails. They are used just about
> everywhere. Nearly every industry has one protecting the mainline from
> cars in the industry.
>
> The working LEGO derail design I've used in the past is to use a 1x2
> brick and a 1x2 plate with 4 wide headlight holder, as used on many
> Town vehicles. Attach the 1x2 plate to the top of the 1x2 brick and
> then attach it to the track. Place it on the inside of the rail, so
> that the 1x2 plate with 4 wide headlight holder faces the rail, with
> the studs from the headlight holder actually be over part of the rail.
> It will derail any cars that go over it in a somewhat prototypical
> fashion. It seems to work better with normal 4 alxe cars as opposed to
> 2 axle ones.
>
> > > It serves the same function that Larry describes, with the open end
> > > facing away from the main line to catch anything heading that way that
> > > shouldn't be. This would be used (I imagine) with an interlock for the
> > > switch off the main line, so that both have to be thrown at the same
> > > time.
> >
> > I have heard of this but it's not that common in the US, most derails
> > are manual and depend on the brakeman remembering to throw them. There
> > are, of course (always!!) exceptions. Derails are (almost?) never used
> > to protect interlockings, just sidings.
>
> Many derails around here are connected to mainline switches with
> electronic locks. You have to throw the switch first before removing
> the derail, otherwise the switch won't move if you get the derail
> first. There are also electronic timers which don't allow you to throw
> a switch after a certian amount of time has passed after starting the
> timer on the switch, this also protects the main, but in a different
> way. Often times these electronic timers and locks are installed
> together.
>
> > Interlockings and drawbridges are sometimes protected by "smashboards"
> > which don't actually protect, but do offer evidence that the engineer
> > ignored the signal indication. (a smashboard is just as it sounds, a
> > mechanism to put a board into the path of the train when a signal has a
> > certain indication, such that the train will smash it if it proceeds
> > through)
>
> The only smashboard, if you can call it that, at our drawbridges are
> their counterweights. Hitting those will indeed indicate that you have
> passed a stop signal, although at that point, it probably won't matter
> much to you anyway.
>
> > At low density interlockings you sometimes saw gates across the lower
> > density track. This is less common nowadays as most interlockings are no
> > longer human tended, they are controlled from the CTC board, hundreds of
> > miles away.
>
> In and around the steel mills here, there are literally tons of these
> gates protecting interlockings. One has to get down off the engine,
> look for approaching movements, then use the crank on the gate to
> swing it over the path of the crossing track. The gates look very much
> like normal road crossing gates wtih reflective tape and red
> (non-flashing) lights.
>
> BTW, several of the industries around here have the spring loaded end
> of track bumper blocks. I guess they got tired of their other ones
> getting knocked off the track all the time.
>
> > --
> > Larry Pieniazek - lpieniazek@mercator.com - http://my.voyager.net/lar
> > http://www.mercator.com. Mercator, the e-business transformation company
> > fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
> >
> > Note: this is a family forum!
>
> Jeff Christner
>
> Visit Sixby Fire Tech at - http://members.aol.com/regult/
>
> Help support my LEGO habit. Ship by rail.
> Visit http://www.nscorp.com/ to find out how.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Train Stoppers
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| (...) I believe those are "track torpedoes" which are (were) set out several hundred (thousand) yards behind a train stopped on or fouling the main. They detonate with an explosive sound when train wheels go over them, thus making an audible (...) (25 years ago, 8-Mar-00, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Train Stoppers
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| (...) Derails also have to be installed on the correct side of the track. If they are on a siding or industrial track they are installed on the rail of that track that is furthest from the main, that way the wheels are lifted up, over the rail, and (...) (25 years ago, 8-Mar-00, to lugnet.trains)
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