Route Building Question: Track Laying Practices circa 1900?
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 5:24 pmFirst the terminology, consulting various sources it seems that:
Cant = the rotation of the rail tipping it inwards to better meet the coning of railroad wheels and/or to counter the tendency of the outside rail on a curve to roll outwards under the lateral force of a moving train. (IE rail heads are at the same height, but NOT sitting perfectly vertical)
Superelevation = the raising of the outside rail on a curve so that trains are tipped slightly inward toward the center of a curve to counter the lateral forces of a moving train. (IE rail heads are NOT at the same height, and not sitting perfectly vertical)
Some texts seem to use the term Cant for Superelevation: However I accept that there maybe an elevation difference *implied* that I'm overlooking.
So my question is this: When and where did US railroads start using either of these practices? I notice Horseshoe Curve has it in game, and seems to have it in films of back when. Would local or regionals bothered? Would a small 15-20 mile line with 15-20 mph curves have this?
What I've found on the subject seems to show that "All modern highspeed rail use it" (duh...) and an old railway gazette from the 1920's treated it like it was under debate as to if it should or should not be common practice.
Cant = the rotation of the rail tipping it inwards to better meet the coning of railroad wheels and/or to counter the tendency of the outside rail on a curve to roll outwards under the lateral force of a moving train. (IE rail heads are at the same height, but NOT sitting perfectly vertical)
Superelevation = the raising of the outside rail on a curve so that trains are tipped slightly inward toward the center of a curve to counter the lateral forces of a moving train. (IE rail heads are NOT at the same height, and not sitting perfectly vertical)
Some texts seem to use the term Cant for Superelevation: However I accept that there maybe an elevation difference *implied* that I'm overlooking.
So my question is this: When and where did US railroads start using either of these practices? I notice Horseshoe Curve has it in game, and seems to have it in films of back when. Would local or regionals bothered? Would a small 15-20 mile line with 15-20 mph curves have this?
What I've found on the subject seems to show that "All modern highspeed rail use it" (duh...) and an old railway gazette from the 1920's treated it like it was under debate as to if it should or should not be common practice.