The Effect of Realignment on Track Lateral Stability

摘要

Maintenance of railroad track alignment, where continuous welded rail (CWR) is deployed, can impact track lateral stability, especially in areas where thermal track buckling is a potential problem. This paper documents the changes in rail neutral temperature and tie lateral resistance resulting from operations associated with realignment of a 1 deg curve. The measurements of rail longitudinal force changes demonstrated that the standard procedure used for the realignment produced a reduction in neutral temperature at all locations. The de-stressing procedures employed in these operations during cold winter temperatures, represented current accepted practice, but failed to develop the desired target neutral temperature of 95deg Fahrenheit.