The LNER Encyclopedia

I took the attached photograph on 16 March this year at Hertford East. It shows the track immediately in front of the platform 2 buffer stops.

What caught my eye originally was the compound insulated block joint between two different types of bullhead rail; something I've never seen before. After looking at the shot on a large screen though my attention was caught by the white plate on the platform wall with the number 854 on it.

I've also seen these at Rye House and Waltham Cross. Can anyone explain what they do?

Beats me. What's odd though is that the brickwork looks undisturbed by any chasing which, if that device is electrical in any way, there would surely be a few new bricks, or at least a bit of mortar touch-up.

These are to be seen at many locations on platform faces, and my guess is that it marks the intended rail-top level.
However, and the purpose of my post; the rail on the left must be amongst the puniest on the network! Could an expert make a stab at the lbs/yd?

The plate is track datum plate - further details here: http://www.railsigns.uk/info/other1/other1.html

They are Datum plates and are fitted to platform faces approx every 10 metres. On curves this may come down to 5 metres.
They determine the dimension to be maintained horizontally and vertically.
Ones fitted with Red blocks are of a historic clearance, by which I mean that no design work is known other than the clearances have been recorded and accepted for various types of stock.
Ones fitted with Green blocks are fitted where a track redesign has been undertaken and non standard clearances may be in effect.

The plates can also be found at any other structure along the track such as bridges culvert headwalls.
They can also be found on OHLE Masts instead of registration plates.

I have fitted hundreds of them arond the NE region.

1H was 2E wrote:the rail on the left must be amongst the puniest on the network! Could an expert make a stab at the lbs/yd?

I’m afraid I can’t help you with the weight of this rail, but it certainly forms part of a pretty unsatisfactory piece of track. Look at the condition of the wooden keys, the amount of corrosion on the web and foot of the far-side lighter rail and the missing coach screw fixing in the chair of the heavier section rail.

I’m attaching two photos of the same block joint taken from different angles, which may help somebody with a copy of the appropriate British Standard or the Permanent Way Institution’s “Bible” to have a go at estimating the weight of the lighter rail for you.

Thanks to those who answered my question about what I now know are datum plates. That was very helpful.

The head seems shallow, which could be wear; but the foot seems very shallow as well. The corrosion on the far rail could follow the path of a stereotypical fatigue flaw. Curious that the chair has two larger sized holes on the outside; old chairs for lighter rail I recall usually seemed to have one larger and one smaller hole - I have an old LNWR one in the garage and will double check when it's not dark & cold out...
I have noticed on my recent travels that there seems to be some very derelict looking track about; often with fairly mature silver birch trees in the 4 foot. Usually protected by a sleeper just after the turnout points; but in BR days track was recovered pretty quickly - and steel scrap prices are much higher now. Just south of Bolton there's such a siding; about 400 yards from the connection, and almost hidden by more S-B trees, is a "Sealion" or "Seacow".
Perhaps, knowing the breadth of knowledge there is on this forum, someone can explain why silver birch (and only silver birch) grow so quickly on derelict railway land.

I would guess that the worn rail to the left will form an old Buffer stop.

At another guess, The rail weight looks like it might be something like very worn 60lb Bull Head or similar and therefore the wrong chairs are also fitted.

Note that there are no details entered on the plate other than the single 3 figure number indicating the offset.
No vertical figure.
No Cant.
No Plate number
No indication as to which track it applies to.

G'day Gents

I can almost guarantee that the old, narrow, worn rail is part of a set of buffer stops, these were always made out of old worn rail, and with the tightfisted approach these days, they'll have to fail before there replaced.

Silver Birch trees are what you call 'first Generation colonizer's' SB seed's love stoney barren ground.

manna

manna wrote:I can almost guarantee that the old, narrow, worn rail is part of a set of buffer stops, these were always made out of old worn rail, and with the tightfisted approach these days, they'll have to fail before there replaced.

I heard a tale many years ago back in the early 1970s that in Ferme Park Up yard back in the day if a goods train was a bit to long to get in on a empty road they would let the brake and a couple of wagons 'push the stops back a bit further' and let the brake and the wagons drop off the road into the dirt!!.

G'day Gents

A driver tried that a Hertford North, early one morning, boy did that cause early morning chaos

manna

FINSBURY PARK 5 wrote:

manna wrote:I can almost guarantee that the old, narrow, worn rail is part of a set of buffer stops, these were always made out of old worn rail, and with the tightfisted approach these days, they'll have to fail before there replaced.

I heard a tale many years ago back in the early 1970s that in Ferme Park Up yard back in the day if a goods train was a bit to long to get in on a empty road they would let the brake and a couple of wagons 'push the stops back a bit further' and let the brake and the wagons drop off the road into the dirt!!.

manna you old Kings Cross secondman

FINSBURY PARK [5] formerly Micky & Hatfield no3 also a onetme 'tele lad' at Welwyn Garden City box.

Form One on it's way

Glad you liked it pinza.

G'day Gents

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.......and it won't be the last

manna