Hello Mal,

Normal practice in the past with Victorian Railways was to use a minimum
closure length of ten feet.

The problem with Thermit welds joining non-matching rail sections together
is purely with the moulds as it must conform to each rail section.

Regards,

Glen Mills

On Saturday, 1 December 2018 15:02:00 UTC+11, Mal Rowe wrote:
>

> On 01/12/2018 09:07, Dale Budd wrote:

>

>

> There are many dipped welds in this area but this joint is special.

> Evidently it is a repair of a previous fault but the job was botched. A

> metre of replacement rail has been inserted, apparently not properly

> supported. The extent of the insertion and patched paving is shown in the

> attached photo from a slightly different angle.

>

>

>

> Short patches like that are still current practice. I have seen many of

> them done recently in Raleigh Rd, Maribyrnong and last year in Dawson St

> Brunswick.

>

> However, Thermit welds are no longer used - the joints are arc welded with

> side and base plates (as seen in the attached pic).

>

> The change may be due to problems with Thermit welds in such joints, but

> is more likely due to the impossibility of doing a Thermit weld with rail

> cross sections that don't match.

>

> Mal Rowe - noting that these joints are temporary, but that can mean years.

>

>

>