What's This Thing Attached To The Rails?

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by 52_Western, Sep 16, 2018.

  1. 52_Western

    52_Western Active Member

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    Hey guys,

    a few days ago, I walked on a path beside the tracks at Goodrington (Torbay), and I saw 35028 Clan Line reversing towards Churston!!

    IMG_0624.JPG

    ... along with this thing, attached to the rails:

    weird_thing.JPG

    I'd just like to know what this could be. Thanks in advance!
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2018
  2. Railfan722

    Railfan722 Well-Known Member

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    Are there any other pictures that you have of it, perhaps from a higher angle? At a first glance, it looks like a derail to prevent trains from going past a certain point, but I don't know if they're used in the UK.
     
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  3. 52_Western

    52_Western Active Member

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    Hi Railfan722, thanks for your answer!
    No, I don't have any more photos, sadly. :(
    I don't think it is a derail, as the locomotive went right over it.
    But thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it! :D
     
  4. TrainSim-Steve

    TrainSim-Steve Senior Producer Staff Member

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    That looks very much like a flange lubricator that greases the inside of the wheel flange to ease going round tight curves.

    [​IMG]

    Best, Steve
     
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  5. JJTimothy

    JJTimothy Well-Known Member

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    Catch points are used to derail trains going in the wrong direction and likely to be running away. They are usually sprung so trains going the right way can run through leaving them to snap back to the open position although they can be closed for trains that are meant to be running the "wrong" way. They pretty much look like points that don't go anywhere.

    Was this on a tight curve? If so it could be a flange oiler.

    Edit: Aah there you go. Steve posted that while I was typing.
     
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  6. 52_Western

    52_Western Active Member

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    Thanks you guys!
    Thanks for the info on the catch points! Trains are going both ways all the time, though, so can't be that. There are some curves after that bit with the oiler, so yeah, that's a flange lubricator for sure. I saw pictures of those like in your (Steve's) picture, but I never knew what these were until now. Thanks for all the info on the flange lubricator and catch points, that's really interesting! :D
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2018

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