St Dennis - 10-31-2006

[John]

Just a couple of shots from St Dennis Md today

[3rdrail]

It's a good thing the track gangs are busy on the two lefthand tracks in the first photo. Anything moving over about 1 MPH would derail on them in that condition! 

[John]

The track on the left is the Old Main Line .. it used to be in the position where the new track is going in .. they shoved it over with a dozer about 2 months ago .. the new track the track gang is working on is dead ended right now ..  but it looks like they are going to cut in a turnout .. into the #1 track on the right center .. since they switched from concrete ties to wooden .. the trak the track gang is working on is not in service .. the ballast machine is down the line a ways ..

here is a better shot ..

[One of One-Sixty]

Are they switching to wooden for the turn out?  If not why would they switch to wooden, I thought concrete was much better than wooden ties?

[3rdrail]

Are they switching to wooden for the turn out?  If not why would they switch to wooden, I thought concrete was much better than wooden ties?

Most railroads that use concrete ties continue to use wood ties for turnouts. Since the bolts to hold the rails are cast into the concrete ties, it is much more difficult to sort and place concrete switch ties than wooden ones. Aligning long concrete ties that may weigh over a ton can be a problem. Besides, most turnouts are negotiated at reduced speeds anyway.