New Trackwork East of White City

[Deleted]

Hi, been reading the forum for a while, thought it was time I registered and asked a couple of questions:

Does anyone know why the recently relaid trackwork at White City has been done using bullhead rail? I thought this was now obsolete - looks especially odd married to the modern composite conductor rail that's been used.

At the risk of answering my own question I wondered whether it was because not all of the junction components have been renewed as possibly the work was only required to connect up the new subsurface sidings.

[Deleted]

It's actually a lack of space - the AET-turned-manager who supervised the project told me personally that there is not enough space on the eastern side of the station for BS113 flatbottom rail point machines. As a result, BS95 bullhead rail point machines were used (presumably screwed renewed at the Railway Equipment Works at Acton).

The western side, however, is a whole 'nother pile of eggs - there may be enough space on that side for flatbottom rail to be used in the crossovers.

[Deleted]

u can get a flat bottom 4' design in either standard or low configration so space i think is a rubbish answer you got more like time and money and before you say these points are driven by air yes you are right but the central as these at the east end driven by hydralic motors

[Tom]

To relay in FB rail would have needed different (longer) switches, which was impractical in the available space.

I'm not sure about the complete details, but I believe that if FB was used, switch tips would have to move because of the longer switches and that would require a lot more changes to the signalling.

And I wasn't supervising - I was the Design Authority's Representative!