Suitable UK Tracks?

[JackClare1995]

Hi all. So Liverpool13 and I are creating a fictional South Western UK route. We want it to be as realistic as possible, so we're using Bullhead on the branchlines and standard Concrete track on the mainlines, however I have a problem. On one of the branchlines, the speed limit will go up to about 75mph. In the real world, would Bullhead be able to carry a 222 at 75mph, or should I use Concrete track on the fast sections of branchline?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because this project is stuck behind a slow moving freight at the moment

Jack

 

[hholdenaz]

Hi all. So Liverpool13 and I are creating a fictional South Western UK route. We want it to be as realistic as possible, so we're using Bullhead on the branchlines and standard Concrete track on the mainlines, however I have a problem. On one of the branchlines, the speed limit will go up to about 75mph. In the real world, would Bullhead be able to carry a 222 at 75mph, or should I use Concrete track on the fast sections of branchline?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because this project is stuck behind a slow moving freight at the moment

Jack

You just need to put down speed limits.

Oh, and in an unrelated story, will this route take place during the steam era?

 

[JackClare1995]

I mean, in real circumstances, would it be able to carry a 222? I know that some rail profiles aren't strong enough for some trains at higher speeds, and I think the 222 is probably about as heavy as you can get in Britain :hehe:

As for the era, it's probably a more 2000-2010 era as it will have overhead wires and First Great Western lamps, but steam services could be operated, I'm sure

 

[edh6]

I don't see any reason bullhead couldn't take a 222, the track stresses would be nothing compared to a steam loco on the same track, bullhead of-course dates from the steam age. However I would expect any line used for 75mph running would have been relaid since the demise of bullhead so flat-bottom and concrete is probably the most suitable.

 

[stagecoach]

[h=3]Bullhead rail[/h]Bullhead rail was the standard for the British railway system from the mid-19th until the mid-20th century. One of the first British Standards, BS 9, was for bullhead rail - it was originally published in 1905, and revised in 1924. Rails manufactured to the 1905 standard were referred to as "O.B.S." (Original), and those manufactured to the 1924 standard as "R.B.S." (Revised).[SUP][15][/SUP]
Bullhead rail is similar to double-headed rail except that the profile of the head of the rail is not the same as that of the foot. Bullhead rail evolved from double-headed rail but, because it did not have a symmetrical profile, it was never possible to flip it over and use the foot as the head. Therefore, because the rail no longer had the originally-perceived benefit of reusability, it was a very expensive method of laying track. Heavy cast iron chairs were needed to support the rail, which was secured in the chairs by wooden (later steel) wedges or "keys" which required regular attention.
Bullhead rail has now been almost completely replaced by flat-bottom rail on British railways, although it survives on the national rail system in some sidings or branch lines. The London Underground continued to use bullhead rail after it had been phased out elsewhere in Britain, but in the last few years has there been a concerted effort to convert its track to flat-bottom rail.[SUP] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullhead_rail#Bullhead_rail [/SUP]

 

[JackClare1995]

So, basically, in the latter years, there has been an effort to replace all Bullhead track with different track? I'll have to get re-laying first thing tomorrow then!

Cheers for this guys, it's been a big help!

Jack

 

[Vern]

Most main line track these days is concrete or steel sleeper CWR and a fair proportion of secondary lines too. I'm sure there are locations where Class 222 or similar units run over sections of bullhead rail, certainly in sidings or on loops. The speed limit on any stretch of track would be determined by the Civil Engineer in conjunction with signal sighting and the braking performance of any traction on the route. Back in the day, speeds of 90 MPH or more were not uncommon on jointed track but as I say this has been progressively eradicated over the last 20 - 30 years. Going back to the mid-90's there were sections of the Far North line which still had jointed track with a speed limit of 70 MPH and in the early 2000's there was still a short section of jointed track on the Down line between Guildford and Wokingham where I believe the speed limit was 75 MPH.

For good non bullhead track search for "Nex" via CMP on the DLS, also some of the SAM track although Polish based, would not look out of place on a UK route.

 

[JackClare1995]

I remember on the Oldham Loop Line, the maximum speed limit was 50mph. I think this was due to how old the bullhead track was because there were very straight sections. I personally love jointed track. I love being thrown around on a 142 :hehe:

As for the non bullhead track, I have been using MP Track Concrete up to now, and Bullhead Wooden Grey Ballast, but I've just found and are downloading NEX LO-POLY UK FB Conc Costain and the accompanying Dirty and Oily variants.

From your personal opinion, which would you recommend out of Bullhead Wooden Grey Ballast <KUID:359834:1095> and UK Bullhead Wooden 09 <79563:90009>

Jack

 

[Vern]

If memory serves me correctly, the grey bullhead variant looks slightly better but of course it also depends what other track (ballast colour) you're matching it too.

The other factor on the real thing is route availability. Modern DMU's with heavy Cummins or Perkins engines and Voith or electric transmissions are much heavier than the first generation counterparts. When the Class 175's were first introduced on Cardiff to Manchester etc. these were subject to the lower (i.e. loco hauled) speed at locations where differential speed restrictions applied.

 

[edh6]

I'm pretty sure that NexusDJ has a reskin of UK bullhead 09 that matches the texture his flatbotom tracks, if I remember right I'd go for that, other wise UKbullhead09 is definitely the best uk track, and the license allows you to reskin your own versions too.

 

[JackClare1995]

@Vern: I ride the Manchester - Cardiff line (as far as Hereford) almost fortnightly, and having riden on both 175 and 158 combinations on the route, I've noticed that even though the 158 only has a top speed of 90mph and the 175 of 100mph, the 158 still manages to keep to the timetable which I think is written to the 175. Even a 158 with a 150/2 on the back (which can therefore technically only do 75mph) still manages to keep to the timetable pretty well between Hereford and Shrewsbury. It's a shame that 175's have to drive slower because the track layout isn't that bad, I'm pretty sure it's the track itself that slows the train down. Always get 100 out of it between Crewe and Manchester though (Speedview App)

As for the ballast, I am using a grey texture so grey Bullhead would look better I reckon.

@edh6:

I'll have a look on the DLS for that reskin The only thing with UKBullhead09 is that the whole thing looks very...well...red in colour. I'll keep the Northbound line Bulllhead Wooden Grey Ballast and change the Southbound line to (hopefully if I find it) that reskin of UKBullhead09 and compare the two

Thanks for all the help guys!

Jack

 

[ray_whiley]

Incidentally, it was not unknown for the rail on one side of a length of track to be bullhead, with flat bottom for the other rail (I have seen photos) but this would no doubt have been permissible only on sidings (as on the photos I mention).

Ray