Nostalgia & History > Shiny rails ... really?

Were these 'hand polished' or were they actually in use?

The RR was the Nezperce @ Craigmont ID and the date of my photo was 7/30/77 ... and no, the 'hand polished' wasn't a serious comment ; ^ ).
 

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What are those slanted things mid picture?

Marty

Looks like a cattle guard, Marty.

texchief1

MartyBernard Wrote:
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> What are those slanted things mid picture?
>
> Marty

Cattle guards.

S_W

           They not only 'look like' cattle guards, they are cattle guards and nobody has time to polish rails. Some railroad was running on them prior to when the photo was taken.

Looks like the Dakota Southern Railroad in the early 90's.. they ran Grain Hoppers over it.

This is some of the worst in-service trackage whose photo I have seen.
Bob

Pretty bad but looks used daily.
JB

Do the rails end up ahead where they appear to disappear into the weeds?

Hakk

chakk Wrote:
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> Do the rails end up ahead where they appear to
> disappear into the weeds?
>
> Hakk

I seem to see an S-curve, and we have impressive superelevation. The violent throwing of the train from side to side aids the polishing effect.
Fred

valmont Wrote: > … and no, the 'hand polished' wasn't a serious comment …

Oh, you know! It was all those daredevils who deflated the tires on their cars and took a joyride over the rails… 🤪

Posted from iPhone

While on the subject of rail polishig, do speeders and railbikes leave much of a mark on the rails?

With the modern-day get togethers of speeder owners to ride over abandoned rail lines, as well as the railbike (and handcars) of current tourist operations - I would think they might leave the impression of some usage.

Rich

What with the santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> valmont Wrote: > … and no, the 'hand polished'
> wasn't a serious comment …
>
> Oh, you know! It was all those daredevils who
> deflated the tires on their cars and took a
> joyride over the rails… 🤪
>
> Posted from iPhone

PasadenaSub Wrote:
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> While on the subject of rail polishig, do speeders
> and railbikes leave much of a mark on the rails?
>
> With the modern-day get togethers of speeder
> owners to ride over abandoned rail lines, as well
> as the railbike (and handcars) of current tourist
> operations - I would think they might leave the
> impression of some usage.
>
> Rich
>
> What with the santafe199 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > valmont Wrote: > … and no, the 'hand
> polished'
> > wasn't a serious comment …
> >
> > Oh, you know! It was all those daredevils who
> > deflated the tires on their cars and took a
> > joyride over the rails… 🤪
> >
> > Posted from iPhone

NO they don't...burnish it a little maybe...but you need a lot fo them passing to make a mark. 

5 MPH