European Railroad Discussion > expansion joint ?

While watching some British cab ride views, I have spotted some of these joints. I have seen them in the US at bridges. However these don't seem to be near anything. The two photos are from the same youtube video abut not at the same place. The smaller one was more than 10 minutes before the larger one.

Why are they there?

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Yes they are expansion joints continuous welded rail.

3rdboxcar Wrote:
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> Yes they are expansion joints continuous welded
> rail.


Is there a reason they are common in England and not common in the US?

santafedan Wrote:
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> 3rdboxcar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Is there a reason they are common in England and
> not common in the US?
I don't know for sure but could the way CWR rails are stressed differ between North America and the UK?

86235 Wrote:
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> santafedan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 3rdboxcar Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > Is there a reason they are common in England
> and
> > not common in the US?
> I don't know for sure but could the way CWR rails
> are stressed differ between North America and the
> UK?
That might be the answer.

My guess is that in the US the temperature differences are much greater and then this style of slip joint might become too severe to work.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Here's a closer view of one, Brussels Midi Station, Belgium, 6/20/08. Gerry

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GPutz Wrote:
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> Here's a closer view of one, Brussels Midi
> Station, Belgium, 6/20/08. Gerry


Thanks. This is interesting.

My understanding is that these expansion joints are only inserted between stretches of rail where one is long welded and therefore usually under some kind of stress and short stretches (such as bridges switches et cetera) which are not expected to ever be stressed. it may be the case that these situations occur more commonly in the UK or indeed that expansion is more tolerated.

It is certainly an interesting question to which somebody must have the right technical answer!

spflow Wrote:
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> My understanding is that these expansion joints are only inserted between stretches of rail where one is long welded and
> therefore usually under some kind of stress and short stretches (such as bridges switches et cetera) which are not
> expected to ever be stressed.

That type is generally called a "Curved Expansion Joint" and looks different than the joints pictured above. Here's a link to a manufacturer's website with diagrams and a further link to pictures of Curved Expansion Joints used at the ends of bridges, etc.

http://www.cmi-promex.com/content/curved-rail-expansion-joints



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/18 18:40 by illini73.