How To Make Points And Railway Junctions

Madman

Madman

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I just watched this interesting film on Youtube about the pre-fabrication, then the installation of some track work. The amount of work that goes into making the points, crossings, etc. is quite impressive.

However, aside from some of the machine shop work, no one is wearing any sort of gloves while doing the heavy work. Not to mention hard hats or dust masks in the foundry. I do realize that the time frame looks to be somewhere in the '30s. These men were probably happy just to have a job.

Have a look at some of the remarks....:speechless:

 
Madman said:
I just watched this interesting film on Youtube about the pre-fabrication, then the installation of some track work. The amount of work that goes into making the points, crossings, etc. is quite impressive.

However, aside from some of the machine shop work, no one is wearing any sort of gloves while doing the heavy work. Not to mention hard hats or dust masks in the foundry. I do realize that the time frame looks to be somewhere in the '30s. These men were probably happy just to have a job.

Have a look at some of the remarks....:speechless:

Click to expand...

Very good! Perforating the timber for the creosote seems a good idea! I wonder what the process of manufacturing new pointwork is like in the 21st century? Thanks for posting!
 
Yes I've watched that before, it's quite fascinating. Well worth the re-watch. Typically informative film of its age, they don't make them like that anymore.
 
BCalcott said:
Here's a couple of photos I took of a new 1068mm gauge turnout we were inspecting for work. I took these at the CRSBG turnout factory in China in 2013. I have some more photos of the factory somewhere but I think they're at work.



Our 1:9 concrete sleeper turnout trial lay by Ben Calcott, on Flickr



Inspecting the turnout by Ben Calcott, on Flickr


CRSBG railway by Ben Calcott, on Flickr


Model of the CRSBG factory in China by Ben Calcott, on Flickr[/QUOTE

So there is a precedent for LGB track being made in China!
Click to expand...
 
Well I tried to say that there was a precedent for LGB track being made in China but it hasn't appeared in the above posting! (It shows when I clicked on to edit - strange!).
 
It certainly looks easier than trying to assemble a 5 inch point kit, took me a day and a half to do....... But then there was more of then and they knew what they were doing!
Dave
 
Wait, now we're make our train tracks in China !.....:swear:
 
Interesting film - The pointwork was being constructed at Sandiacre in Derbyshire at the north end of Toton Sidings on the LMS's Erewash Valley line, which is only a couple of miles from where I live.
 
trammayo said:
Very good! Perforating the timber for the creosote seems a good idea! I wonder what the process of manufacturing new pointwork is like in the 21st century? Thanks for posting!
Click to expand...

No Creosote for starters - it's now politicaly incorrect (or banned by the green lobby) anyway, I don't think they treat concrete with creosote :giggle::giggle::giggle:
 
I think you'll find that creosote is still allowed for commercial use, like sleepers and telephone poles. The rueping process (in the film) means little or no personal contact with the liquid. Must be a bit fumey though, with the heat.
 
Correct - you can still get creosote for commercial use. Minimum container size is 25lt as far as I know - presumably to deter 'domestic' use. There are no restrictions on buying it - anyone can. As a commercial product you should know all about H&S, Safety data sheets and PPE.
 
Way back in 1984, I was supervising the addition onto a warehouse. The foundation called for piles to be driven. Once that process was completed, the crew had to "Top" the portion of each pile to make them all level. It was the middle of Summer and hot. The guys cutting the piles donned heavy shirts and trousers, along with heavy gloves and go course masks. Even though I was standing maybe 20 feet from where the cutting was being done, I could still feel the creosote burning my skin and going up my nose.

My point here is, in the film, when those guys open the chamber where the creosote is being infused into the ties under pressure, they are right there as the creosote laden steam rushes out at them. They didn't even flinch.....:sick:
 
That was in the days when men were men, took pride in their work, and sold their soul to the company for a few shilling a week, no holidays, etc. When I look back to my youth, pouring 20 gallon of creosote into a tub to soak fencing stakes, crop spraying and mixing the chemicals was just another job. You just got on with it.
 
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