Guard rails

[Andrew Foster]

A friend just sent a link to a delightful narrow gauge line in New Zealand when I asked if anyone had ever come across a double deck railway bridge (not a road/rail bridge). He came up with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkH00I4VudU. A striking feature is the use of guard rails outside the running rails on the bridges instead of the more usual check rails between them. Has anyone seen this anywhere else? I'm pretty sure I haven't.

The structural requirements of a double deck bridge are going to keep the remaining brain cells quite busy for a while!

Andrew

 

[PhilP]

I can't see the point of them.. Unless the idea is they will 'catch' the wheel-flange if it does ride-up over the running rail??

That, or it is just a way of adding longitudinal strength to the rail on the bridge deck. - Sort-of, if you get my drift!?

 

[ntpntpntp]

Must admit I thought guard rails outside were more of a strengthening thing, but could be wrong of course. I've seen plenty of examples of bridges having check rails inside and guard rails outside the running rails.

 

[bobg]

Perhaps our new member who lives on the Coromandel can throw some light?

 

[Geoffrey the garden navvy]

Guard rails and check rails inside the track look good on the real thing and model bridges and tressles however dont forget the old problem of wear not to say damage to track cleaning pads when they meet the ends of these. Check rails of all sorts point inculded seem to need a filing down to ease the safe passage of pads. Especally GRS hand built points, a great product but the end of the check rails are really sharpe!

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Check rails (and close spaced sleepers) on bridges are there in case there is a derailment. Check rails are designed to keep the errant stock on the bridge, at least. Outside checks perform the same function.

 

[KandNWLR]

Standard practice here on the continent from what I can judge from today´s journey.

 

[Bredebahn]

I visited the Driving Creek railway a few years ago. They have practices which are distinctly unconventional and the track work is, in places, verging on downright dangerous! Good fun to visit but amazed that the trains stay on the rails......

 

[ge_rik]

Google image search suggests outside check-rails are used

Though inside check rails seem more common

Rik

 

[PhilP]

John comments on not knowing how they stay on the rails..
Rik's first picture shows 'something' lying across the track, and the second picture 'appears' to show a severe case of 'gauge widening' just before the bridge deck..

Ironic!
Or iron in it??