RAILforum: section crew information

This is topic section crew information in forum Central US at RAILforum.

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Posted by Greg V (Member # 790) on :

To anyone who can help -- My father spent 54 years on C&NW, many other relatives on DM&IR. I spent many summers in chicago area (Proviso Yards) working section in the summer. My 8 year old volunteered to interview me for a school project regarding my summer jobs on the railroad, and I'll be darned if I can remember the specifics he wants to know. My father is deceased, wonder if anyone can help with a few questions.1) what is the typical length of rail segment 2). How much does that segment weigh 3). BEFORE mechanical units were used, about how much (length) of rail would typically be laid in a day 4). Currently, with automated units, about how much (length) would be laid in a day 5). is rail made of steel or iron. thanks for any help- --best wishes to all of you. Greg.

Posted by Quentin (Member # 791) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Greg V:
To anyone who can help -- My father spent 54 years on C&NW, many other relatives on DM&IR. I spent many summers in chicago area (Proviso Yards) working section in the summer. My 8 year old volunteered to interview me for a school project regarding my summer jobs on the railroad, and I'll be darned if I can remember the specifics he wants to know. My father is deceased, wonder if anyone can help with a few questions.1) what is the typical length of rail segment 2). How much does that segment weigh 3). BEFORE mechanical units were used, about how much (length) of rail would typically be laid in a day 4). Currently, with automated units, about how much (length) would be laid in a day 5). is rail made of steel or iron. thanks for any help- --best wishes to all of you. Greg.

A typical rail segment is 39 feet long. This length is due to the fact it fits well in the 40' gondola cars used to haul them. Rails come in different sizes, typical mainline use today is 136 lbs per yard. Rail is made with steel alloys, with special hardening techniques for longer usable life. I am unsure of the amount of track which has been or can be put down per day, but in the 1800's some amazing amounts were placed during the race to the west.

Posted by Greg V (Member # 790) on :

THANKS A MILLION -- YOU SAVED THE DAY.Greg..

Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :

To add a bit to the foregoing:

1) Bolted rail (39 foot segments) is almost never laid anymore. Virtually all new rail is welded into 1,500 foot segments which are moved to the location on a special train of flat cars. A rail gang can lay as much as several miles per day.

2) The all-time record for track construction was by Charlie Crocker's Chinese on the Central Pacific. To win a bet, he had them lay more than ten miles of track (rail and ties) on a graded right-of-way in one day.

Posted by pelican (Member # 754) on :

Rail is produced at steel mills today typically in 78 foot sticks. These are shipped to a welding facility of the rr or a contractor. It is there that they are assembled into longer strings and are loaded on cars for distribution to the field. There are only a few places in North America rolling rail today and they face competition from abroad, as some railroads have installed foreign produced rail.