Humble ballast

[class411]

I chanced upon This short video about track ballast.

I'm sure it's not something that most of us think about much, but it's intriguing in how many ways it enables railways to work effectively.

[d7666]

May 4, 2022 12:44:03 GMT class411 said:

I chanced upon This short video about track ballast.

I'm sure it's not something that most of us think about much, but it's intriguing in how many ways it enables railways to work effectively.

Depending on one's anorak level of interest in these things, ballast is fascinating stuff. There is a lot more to it than merely spreading sharp edged pebbles around !!!

I'm no civils (track) engineer; I be engineer in other disciplines; IMHO permanent way is - amongst rail cranks in general - possibly the least understood element yet the most vital. Because before your train in steam or electric or diesel, and way way before what livery it is or what toilets (seems to be a fetish obsession in some magazines) it has, your train needs to run on rails. And rails sleepers (or paved) and ballast is vital.

[bpk]

I enjoyed that and learned a lot, thank you.


Permanent Way certainly is under-appreciated, I believe that's why LU holds a yearly seminar/class for employees who want to develop their knowledge of it, although places seem to be limited.

Your comment about toilets made me laugh but it's certainly true, ergo seat moquette and automated announcements! All important things of course, but we should be more educated in the meat and potatoes stuff before talking about what we garnish it with!

[miff]

Thanks- it gives a good insight and also some idea why ballast formations are still usually chosen for most railways (although not all) rather than a concrete-slab trackbed.