Derail sign
- Thread starter JimDep
- Start date
I belive these signs are to warn of a device that will derail any cars (or locomotives) that may get loose, to prevent them from hitting a closed switch thus derailing and blocking the main line. It would also prevent the cars from continuing out onto the main line and possibly being hit by other trains. Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Sam
Cheers,
Sam
Or, they are used to keep trains/cars/locos on the mainline off of a private spur or an area where there is a MOW gang.
Could a derailing device be similar to a catch-point? Take a look in the photos for anything that looks a bit like those featured in the article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_point
That said, I guess a catch point is a quite obvious sight, so it's possibly not the answer.
BidMod.
EDIT: there's a link on the page to this device - could it be the answer? it looks a bit temporary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail_(railroad)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_point
That said, I guess a catch point is a quite obvious sight, so it's possibly not the answer.
BidMod.
EDIT: there's a link on the page to this device - could it be the answer? it looks a bit temporary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail_(railroad)
That's the one I was thinking of.
knifeswitch1
Jointed Rail
They way a derail works (at least by me on the LIRR) is that they are placed on rarely used sidings or industry tracks, so that any runaway train either a) derails and wrecks before crashing into the industry -or- b) is used so a runaway train can be switched onto the siding and derail before it crashes into another actualy train. This is made possible because part of the derail has a small barrier on the lip of the rail, which the flange of a freight or passenger car will hit, and then wreck.
Dietrich :wave:
Dietrich :wave:
Nice picture, dietrich. Thanks. My dad lives in Huntington, L.I. and I took the LIRR from Huntington to Penn station last time I visited. Nice ride!
What I still don't get is that one of the derail rails signs I've seen out here on the Front Range subdivision is on a siding (or spur) that is regularly used for unloading freight at a local business.
What I still don't get is that one of the derail rails signs I've seen out here on the Front Range subdivision is on a siding (or spur) that is regularly used for unloading freight at a local business.
Well, the spur/industrial branch doesn't have to be in limited or disuse; the industry owners could have just decided to take an extra precaution to protect any cars they have on their property. Or, perhaps the line is on a slight grade towards the main, and they want to prevent runaways from fouling up the main.
There are portable derailers and permanent ones, they can be removed or "switched" as needed. Here near Chicago, on the UP Northwest Metra Line, you will find them at all industry spurs off the main, active or not. If a switching job is required at a particular spur, the derail is "Switched", or removed until after the work is done and the consist is back on the main.
Ed
Ed
The sign marks the position of a derail.
The derail itself is a block of steel that is usually hinged off to the side of the track. When a car is on the siding that has to be contained to keep it from rolling onto the main, the derail is thrown over the rail. If the car escapes and rolls down, the derail catches the wheel and lifts it over the rail to the outside of the track away from the main, and the wheel digs into the soft ground and stops the car.
When the crew is ready to move the car, the derail is usually thrown back outside the rail on its hinge to clear the track for use. If they forget to do that, the crew gets in trouble.
They also have portable derails that can be carried with the car and set wherever a derail is needed on a temporary basis.
Claude
The derail itself is a block of steel that is usually hinged off to the side of the track. When a car is on the siding that has to be contained to keep it from rolling onto the main, the derail is thrown over the rail. If the car escapes and rolls down, the derail catches the wheel and lifts it over the rail to the outside of the track away from the main, and the wheel digs into the soft ground and stops the car.
When the crew is ready to move the car, the derail is usually thrown back outside the rail on its hinge to clear the track for use. If they forget to do that, the crew gets in trouble.
They also have portable derails that can be carried with the car and set wherever a derail is needed on a temporary basis.
ClaudeCheck this out too Jim: (Scroll down to derail test)
http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/p010301/p010301a.htm
Ed
http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/p010301/p010301a.htm
Ed
hatterastom
New member
Jim all derail signs do are lock out track that are either being worked on or equipment on those tracks are being worked on. When a derail sign is present nothing is allowed to move within that area.
strench707
TCR Content Creator
I wwas at Pittsburgh Union Station on a speacila amtrak exscursion, and there was a private car there. All of pittsburgh's tracks are stubs and the car was backed all the way down and then a temp. derail was placeed about 30 feet ahead of it. I was curious at the time too and I asked amtrak employee about it. He said if a train is traveling less than 30 mph it will go off the rails. And if it is over 30, it is more likely to pass over. I believe permanent ones you cannot pass over successfully at all and less the train is really heavy and going really fast. He said if ur caught over it, ur license will be revoked and you and ur crew would be tested for drugs and alchol. They're pretty serious, I guess so they don't get sued for damaged equipment that's not theres or tresspassing, or something.
Hope this helps
Davis
Hope this helps
Davis