2016-11-29

I think I mentioned before that beside the rolling stock not much has changed on the Alishan Forest Railway.


I think I mentioned before that beside the rolling stock not much has changed on the Alishan Forest Railway. It does for example still run on pretty much the same tracks. Literally.

If you look at modern railway tracks, you will often find that the rails are being held in place with sturdy springs, which are secured with equally sturdy screws and nuts. Not here.

On the left is a switch, the only reason you see screws holding the rails. On the right is the regular track, held in place with - nails. This is not a museum exhibit, this is the live track where the trains to and from the mountain run every day.

Exciting, isn't it?

13 comments:

Ellie D. Galen Hussey said...

Do you think there'd be much sideways force on the tracks?

John Bump said...

Tens of tons in turns, Ellie D. Galen Hussey, and a fair amount even going straight: the wheels are tapered towards the inside, so they are constantly pushing the rails outwards.
All our local railroads, including mainlines that see strings of 120 cars each loaded with 40 tons of coal, still have spikes as shown in your picture, Olaf Fichtner. The only place I've seen concrete sleepers with spring retention on the rails is on very light commuter rail.

Ellie D. Galen Hussey said...

Ahh, cool :)

Trinh Phan said...

I think I mentioned before Full tường nhéOlaf Fichtner

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner said...

Das ist ei ganz altes Gleis welches teilweise noch mit Schienennägeln gehalten wird. Die Halterung an der Lasche ist zur Sicherheit.

JAnnabelle said...

Looks exactly like the US

Olaf Fichtner said...

John Bump you better not compare US railways with those of other countries, unless you have a handkerchief ready...

Olaf Fichtner said...

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner das sind die aktiven Gleise, ich bin nicht sicher ob es irgendwo auf der Strecke etwas moderneres gibt...

Olaf Fichtner said...

Annabelle von Potter sad, isn't it?

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner said...

Olaf Fichtner Gleis sieht doch gut aus.

Olaf Fichtner said...

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner es liegt ja auch nicht auf einem Berg...

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner said...

Olaf Fichtner
:-)

JAnnabelle said...

Olaf Fichtner you got that right...our whole infrastructure is crumbling / antiquated yet we still keep pumping money into middle east