chapter 2. Curved track is more complicated to maintain than straight track, and chapter 3 is devoted to the
problems it presents. In addition, the track maintenance men must know how to recognize well-maintained
highway grade crossings and guard rails, as chapter 4 explains. The final chapter is a discussion of common
maintenance problems that track maintenance men might have to solve.
Annexes accompanying the text are annex A, sheets 1 and 2; annex B; and annex C. Annex A illustrates
stringlining of curves, annex B is the cover of a track chart, and annex C is a portion of a track chart.
TYPICAL DIVISION
Many of the important points of Railway Track Maintenance II can be best explained by descriptive
examples. The hypothetical Burton Division is described in the remaining paragraphs of the introduction; a map
of it is shown in figure 1.1. This division includes a wide variety of physical characteristics and operational
details, to present as many instructional problems as possible.
The Burton Division, a double-track line running roughly east and west, is centrally located on a major
trunkline railroad. Traffic on the division consists of through freight and passenger trains to and from other
divisions, and all the local freight. Included are heavy tonnages of mine products originating in the mountainous
section north of Hubbard. The terrain varies from swampy and flat in the west to mountainous and rolling at the
eastern end of the division. Motive power is diesel-electric.
Assume that you are the track foreman on subdivision 2 on the division. The maintenance-of-way
superintendent has asked you to make a routine inspection of the division with him and the two track supervisors
on the division. Meeting him at Ames Yard, you board the last car of train No. 4 for the trip to Jessup Yard, 150
kilometers to the east. By following along figure 1.1, assume that you are actually making the trip. The murmur
of the diesel changes sharply to a solid roar as the station platform disappears from view. The sound of the wheel
flanges against the 115-pound RE-section rail heightens with increasing speed. The inspection party is on the rear
platform. All of you will use sight, hearing, and feel to detect any faulty track. All of you will remain constantly
alert to every unusual sound, every sight, and every irregularity in the "feel" of the ride as the train rolls over the
rails.
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