Using a magnet to remove scrap from a railroad track - GIF

[ToolTalkBot]

Using a magnet to remove scrap from a railroad track.




Previously:

Cleaning shop floor with magnets - GIF
Dropping a magnet through a hollow copper bar - GIF
Hammer with magnetic soft face - GIF
Handheld lifting magnet - GIF
Homemade magnetic vise - video
Magnetic doorstop - GIF
Magnetic invisible fasteners - GIF
Magnetic manhole cover remover - GIF
Pulling wire using magnets - GIF
Truck-mounted magnetic road sweeper - GIF

[hemmjo]

So, all of those bent wire things in the hopper were picked up from along the tracks?

[Karl_H]

So, all of those bent wire things in the hopper were picked up from along the tracks?

Looks to me that "those bent wire things" were just replaced with the green "wire things." They pulled the old ones and just left them on the ground, then put in the new ones. Now they are finishing things up by collecting the old ones.

[hemmjo]

Now you have made me wonder what are those bent things for? I have walked a lot of railroad track in my near 76 years. Have never seen anything like that.

Of course I freely admit, LOTS of things I have never seen before. Maybe next week I can see all the rest..

[desbromilow]

I know them (the clips) as "Pandrol" clips. They are essentially springs which engage in the base (part of the sleeper) and press down on the top of the rail flange. The clip is essentially a spring, so it uses the elastic properties of the spring to restrain the rail in poistion. The Rail could have a plastic saddle piece between the sleeper and the rail flange, and the pandrol clip can also have a plastic piece between it and the rail flange - the plastic pieces essentially insulate the metal rail from the sleeper - this is important for certain track occupancy detection systems

Track maintenance work I recently observed had some of the removed clips being reused, but not all. I was not in a position to ask what criteria was used to determine if a clip was reused (work gang had a tight timeframe to get the switch replaced.)

[hemmjo]

Interesting. All I have ever seen used is the old style, iron railroad spike. All the rail lines around wher I am have been in use close to or over 100 years. Wefor sure need an upgrade here in the USA.

Found this video. have to copy and paste the link. It will not post here. (or I can't make it work

[thevillageinn]

Various spring type clips or bolts are used primarily for concrete ties/sleepers where the spikes are common for wood.

[Elizabeth Greene]

Interesting. All I have ever seen used is the old style, iron railroad spike. All the rail lines around wher I am have been in use close to or over 100 years. Wefor sure need an upgrade here in the USA.

I still see the old-style railroad spikes used too, for wooden crossbeams. They hold down a metal plate and the metal plate holds the rail to the plate with these clips.