Fwd: Kooyong Tram Square and track inserts
  Richard Youl

William,

I agree that those inserts were put in there with the intention of them being ‘easily’ replaced instead of replacing the rail but if so it seems that nobody told the maintenance staff that those inserts should be replaced regularly. The rustiness of the inserts indicates that tram wheels are not reaching the inserts and this is creating a much wider rail flangeway gap for the trams and an unnecessary gap on the other side of the railway rail.

I would, because of neglect, have to rate the design as a Fail.

Richard

Begin forwarded message:

From: "William Jackson" apairofjacks@...>
Date: 22 March 2019 at 7:48:47 pm AEST
To: tramsdownunder@...>
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Kooyong Tram Square and track inserts
Reply-To:tramsdownunder@...

Richard
I think I have an answer to your question about the “small inserts at the end of the tram rails”.
Given the width of the trains wheels, see below - Xtrap, and if we look at the “insert” we see it’s also worn to the width of the trains wheel and to the same level as that of the heavy rail. My guess is, as the trains wheels pass over the tram rails groove it will natural drop a little bit. Over time that dropped section will get bigger and bigger and bigger. It is my belief that they’ve put in the insert with the idea of replacing that small piece rather than a length of tram rail. How it’s retained and how it’s done is anybody’s guess! It certainly hasn’t done much for the ground around it!!!
It is quite amazing how wide the gap is for the trams wheels to negotiate.
Regards,
William



From: 'Richard Youl'
Sent: Thursday, 7 March 2019 2:30 PM
..

I’m yet to understand the purpose of the small inserts at the ends of the tram rails. I could only suppose that they are intended to be replaced from time to time when they wore out, but if so that is well overdue. Needless to say the trams bang somewhat with some rather large gaps to jumps over.

Anyway with all these fascinating crossings due to be replaced in the next few years no longer will engineers have to worry about innovating some better way of designing them.

Regards,









On 2 Mar 2019, at 10:52, William Jackson apairofjacks@...> wrote:

Glenferrie Rd tram square, photo for Richard ;)
This takes a massive battering with every train that passes over, I can’t vouch for the tram traffic but can’t imagine it’s much better. If you look closely (rail traffic is horizontal – that visible being the down line, tram traffic vertical) you’ll see a groove through the railway head the width of a tram wheel, what has caused this I have no idea. I thought maybe tram rail grinding, (maybe the trammies amongst us might know) but with this additional width for the rail wheels to pass over, in addition to the flange groove, makes for a massive shuddering ride. It is quite surprising to me how narrow the tram groove is.
It’s very noticeable how the surrounding concrete has been and is shattering itself to pieces and has be plugged (no more gaps style) with bitumen. One day this will be separated.
William – Track work voyeur

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