Re Rails.
Rail is always refered to in pounds per yard, e.g. ten pounds per yard and
eighteen pounds per yard. These are very light rails - the lightest
usualy available today are 14 lb per yard. The lightest that you would
consider running a loco on would be 20 lb. As far as I understand the
current situation as it relates to mining, anything under 28 lbs is
obsolete; 28 lb being the minimum acceptable for hand tramming. For loco
working the minimum in 35lbs. At Wheal George and Charlotte (Morwellham
Quay),where I work, we run on 45 lb above ground and 35 lb below.
Generally the heavier the rail the less maintainance it requires, 45 lb is
an indulgence but it doesn't half make life easier.
As to length and width of rails the definitive (ish) source is Robert
Hudson (of Leeds) catalogue of 1957. The lightest rail they offer is 12
lbs. When it comes to 18 lbs three diffrent sections are offered viz:
British Standard Old, British Standard Mines and 70 x 55 x 30. (If you need
the dimensions contact me off list).
Length - To quote the Hudson catalogue: "Unless otherwise specified we
usually supply rails in different lengths which are multiples of 3 feet or
2 1/2 metres according to the weight of the rail section to prevent as
much as possible any distortion during railage and shipment..... it is
customary to supply up to 5 per cent of the total quantity as "shorts"."
For rail up to 22 lbs the normal length supplied was 18 feet whilst
the "short" length was 15 feet.
Rick Stewart
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