CSX main through Charlotte. Is this track condition normal?

[Specter3]

Was poking around in my favorite watching spot and saw this rail on the CSX main. Is this normal wear for a main line?
[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[StarCruiser]

That's on the outside of the rail so...probably not that serious.

It looks like the rail's getting very "weathered" and some of the steel that doesn't get burnished by the wheels is starting to flake off from rust...

[GhengisKong]

It could be the result of a rail grinder with some slag overhang on the outside of the rail head.

[wazzou]

It could be the result of a rail grinder with some slag overhang on the outside of the rail head.

I don't believe that to be the case, the Rail Grinding usually is intended to leave the rail head profile pretty much pristine.

[Doug G.]

That looks pretty much "deferred maintenance".

Doug

[nickelplate759]

Steel, indeed most metal,  "flows" (don't know the technical word for it) under pressure.  As enough wheels apply pressure on the inside of the top and inside of the rail, some metal is being slowly moved to the outside edge, and then flaking off.  I saw this on the B&M main in New Hampshire in the late 1970s - but I wouldn't consider the B&M of that time well maintained.

So, it's normal wear, but probably overdue for maintenance as a previous post suggests.

[central.vermont]

There are other problems in that shot I see as well. Very poor drainage there also by the looks of all that clay that has pumped up through the ballast.
Jon

[Doug G.]

Malleable.

Doug

[Doug G.]

I always like to see dates on rails. I wonder what they are on those.

There are some in Rochester, MN in a track alignment that's been virtually unchanged since the late 1800s with dates of 1899 and 1901 on them.

Doug

[MK]

Where is the date located?  On the web of the rail?

[Doug G.]

Yes. It is forged right into the steel (raised lettering). Or, at least it used to be.

Doug

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is that track condition normal? For CSX? Yes.

Is it good, no.

Is it dangerous? Well, it's on the outside of the rail head, so probably not.

[peteski]

Does the repeating pattern on the top of the rail surface indicate that the wheels are slipping while traveling over the rail?

[central.vermont]

Does the repeating pattern on the top of the rail surface indicate that the wheels are slipping while traveling over the rail?

Welcome back Pete. I think what you are seeing is tire tread marks from a truck that was Hi-railing.

Jon

[Specter3]

There was a high rail just through about 20 min before pic. So that would make sense. This is a very old alignment. Some of the rail less than 50 feet down from here on a siding is dated 1935.