Ribbon Rail?

Question

What was length of rail,how many coal cars to haul,& the weight???

Answer 1

The ribbon rail which I am familiar with is manufactured in 1320', or quarter mile, sections.

They are loaded onto specially designed flat cars.  There are "uprights" that have rollers on them, usually 5 high and 8 wide.  They correspond to numbers and letters.

The rail is secured to the equipment via "tie down cars" that lock all the individual rails into place.  When the foreman on the crew laying the rail wants a particular piece unsecured, he radios the man on the tie down car to release, for example, 8-A, or whatever number/letter designation he needs.  Other measures for security include "cutting lever blocks" that keep anyone from uncoupling the equipment while it is loaded with rail.

When transporting, there are at least two "idler cars", usually empty box cars, to protect the crew, and others as well, should one or more pieces were to break loose.  The idlers keep the stuff from going all over the place like really heavy spaghetti.

There are two other cars, one containing a powered winch setup, used to drag the rail off the cars, through an "eye" on yet another car, before being secured to the ground via cable.  Once the rail is tied-off, the train backs out from under the rail.  The eye is adjustable through hydraulics, placing the rail right where the foreman wants it.

The rail is usually distributed far in advance of its actual installation, and in those instances, where there are grade crossings, for example, a back-hoe digs a small trench to lay it in, then covered with gravel or thin asphalt until it is laid, then the crossing is repaired.

As far as tonnage, the gentleman above is quite correct.  Rails have different weights, so the amount of weight is a variable.  The number of cars is calculable, considering they are usually the 40' variety, so if we divide 1320 by 40 we get 33 cars, plus idlers and and hydraulics, we get 37 cars.  But, different railroads have different means, so these figures may vary a little.

Answer 2

Uhh, your question is kind of confusing. Coal cars don't haul rail for one.

"Ribbon rail" comes in 1000ft lengths, and is transported on flat cars with special racks to hold several strips of rail. As is indicated, these trains would have to be at least 1000 feet to carry the sections. When its layed and welded, its continuous.

The weight is determined by the rail. If its 135lb rail, its 135 pounds per yard.

Answer 3

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1967/67...

http://www.akrailroad.com/contin_weld_ra...