N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: Ted on May 10, 2020, 03:27:06 PM

Title: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: Ted on May 10, 2020, 03:27:06 PM
Hi everyone,

Based on the ties, am I right in saying the track in the foreground is wooden sleeper and the two rails behind are concrete?

Ref - https://www.flickr.com/photos/railpics-online/32404411357/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/railpics-online/32404411357/)
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: chrism on May 10, 2020, 03:31:45 PM
Quote from: Ted on May 10, 2020, 03:27:06 PM
Hi everyone,

Based on the ties, am I right in saying the track in the foreground is wooden sleeper and the two rails behind are concrete?

Ref - https://www.flickr.com/photos/railpics-online/32404411357/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/railpics-online/32404411357/)

No, I strongly suspect that the two rails behind are steel  :P

However, I also suspect that they may be sitting on concrete sleepers.
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: ntpntpntp on May 10, 2020, 03:51:40 PM
Front track is clearly bullhead rail on wooden sleepers.

The track behind is flatbottom rail with Pandrol type clips?  Difficult to see clearly which type, but it does look suspiciously like concrete sleepers.

Found this interesting page whilst wandering round google trying to find photos of Pandrols

http://www.mmrs.co.uk/technical-articles/modern-permanent-way/ (http://www.mmrs.co.uk/technical-articles/modern-permanent-way/)
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: njee20 on May 10, 2020, 04:10:04 PM
I agree with Nick. Bullhead with wooden sleepers in the foreground, flat bottom, probably with concrete in the background.

Ps Americans have ties, we have sleepers or bearers ;)
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: Ted on May 10, 2020, 04:14:28 PM
I thought 'ties' were the things that actually held the rail to the sleeper! Doh.
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: Train Waiting on May 10, 2020, 04:15:16 PM
Quote from: ntpntpntp on May 10, 2020, 03:51:40 PM
Front track is clearly bullhead rail on wooden sleepers.

The track behind is flatbottom rail with Pandrol type clips?  Difficult to see clearly which type, but it does look suspiciously like concrete sleepers.

Found this interesting page whilst wandering round google trying to find photos of Pandrols

http://www.mmrs.co.uk/technical-articles/modern-permanent-way/ (http://www.mmrs.co.uk/technical-articles/modern-permanent-way/)

I agree with Nick.  The front line is bullhead rail in three-hole chairs on wooden sleepers.  Modellers often call these three bolt chairs but the normal fixing for these is a screw.  The lines behind certainly look like concrete sleepers and the flat-bottom rails are secured by 'Pandrol' clips.

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/93/6222-100520161341.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=93054)

Thank you for that interesting link, Nick.

Best wishes.

John
Title: Re: Wood vs concrete ties
Post by: Neil of Teesside on May 23, 2020, 07:39:51 PM
You can even get chaired bull-head track on concrete sleepers, not so common on the railway network but still in use on the Nene Valley Railway.