±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 690
Total: 690
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Downloads
04: Community Forums
05: Home
06: Home
07: Community Forums
08: Photo Gallery
09: News
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Downloads
13: Home
14: Community Forums
15: Downloads
16: Photo Gallery
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: CPGlang
20: Photo Gallery
21: Community Forums
22: Downloads
23: Community Forums
24: Member Screenshots
25: Your Account
26: Community Forums
27: Home
28: Photo Gallery
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Photo Gallery
32: Photo Gallery
33: News Archive
34: Community Forums
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: CPGlang
38: Downloads
39: Community Forums
40: Photo Gallery
41: Photo Gallery
42: Photo Gallery
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Your Account
57: Downloads
58: Community Forums
59: Member Screenshots
60: Photo Gallery
61: Community Forums
62: Home
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Photo Gallery
66: Your Account
67: Home
68: Home
69: Photo Gallery
70: Photo Gallery
71: Home
72: Photo Gallery
73: Photo Gallery
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Photo Gallery
79: Community Forums
80: Photo Gallery
81: Community Forums
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Photo Gallery
86: Community Forums
87: Photo Gallery
88: Home
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Home
93: Home
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Home
98: Member Screenshots
99: Photo Gallery
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Member Screenshots
105: Home
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Home
109: Community Forums
110: Statistics
111: Community Forums
112: Downloads
113: Community Forums
114: Home
115: Community Forums
116: Photo Gallery
117: Photo Gallery
118: Home
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Home
124: Photo Gallery
125: Community Forums
126: Photo Gallery
127: Community Forums
128: Your Account
129: Community Forums
130: Home
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Home
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Your Account
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Member Screenshots
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Photo Gallery
145: Community Forums
146: Photo Gallery
147: News Archive
148: Photo Gallery
149: Member Screenshots
150: Home
151: Your Account
152: Home
153: Downloads
154: Community Forums
155: Downloads
156: Photo Gallery
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Photo Gallery
163: Community Forums
164: Home
165: Community Forums
166: Downloads
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Home
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: Member Screenshots
177: Statistics
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Photo Gallery
181: Member Screenshots
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Home
187: Photo Gallery
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Downloads
191: Community Forums
192: Downloads
193: Home
194: Home
195: Community Forums
196: Downloads
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Photo Gallery
202: Photo Gallery
203: Downloads
204: Home
205: CPGlang
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: News
209: Home
210: Home
211: Community Forums
212: Home
213: Community Forums
214: Home
215: Downloads
216: Community Forums
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Member Screenshots
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Downloads
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Home
230: Photo Gallery
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Home
235: Your Account
236: CPGlang
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Home
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Your Account
250: News Archive
251: Community Forums
252: Member Screenshots
253: Photo Gallery
254: Home
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Home
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Downloads
263: Downloads
264: Community Forums
265: Downloads
266: Community Forums
267: Home
268: Your Account
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Your Account
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Downloads
275: Community Forums
276: Home
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: CPGlang
280: Home
281: Photo Gallery
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Home
286: Photo Gallery
287: Home
288: Statistics
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Photo Gallery
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Groups
299: Photo Gallery
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Home
303: Community Forums
304: News
305: Photo Gallery
306: Community Forums
307: Home
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Your Account
311: News
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Photo Gallery
316: Downloads
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Home
321: Community Forums
322: Photo Gallery
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Photo Gallery
328: Community Forums
329: Photo Gallery
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: CPGlang
333: Photo Gallery
334: Photo Gallery
335: Photo Gallery
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Your Account
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Home
342: Home
343: Downloads
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Photo Gallery
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Home
350: Home
351: Community Forums
352: Photo Gallery
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Home
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Downloads
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Photo Gallery
364: Photo Gallery
365: Photo Gallery
366: Community Forums
367: Home
368: Photo Gallery
369: Statistics
370: Community Forums
371: CPGlang
372: Community Forums
373: Home
374: Community Forums
375: Home
376: News
377: Member Screenshots
378: Home
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Member Screenshots
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: News
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Home
394: Downloads
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Home
399: Downloads
400: Community Forums
401: Photo Gallery
402: Community Forums
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Home
409: Community Forums
410: CPGlang
411: Home
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Home
417: Community Forums
418: Photo Gallery
419: Home
420: Home
421: Community Forums
422: Home
423: Home
424: Home
425: Photo Gallery
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Photo Gallery
429: Community Forums
430: Home
431: Downloads
432: Community Forums
433: Photo Gallery
434: Downloads
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Home
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Photo Gallery
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Your Account
446: Photo Gallery
447: Community Forums
448: Home
449: News
450: Home
451: Home
452: Home
453: Community Forums
454: Photo Gallery
455: Downloads
456: Community Forums
457: Home
458: News
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Photo Gallery
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Downloads
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Downloads
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Photo Gallery
476: Downloads
477: Downloads
478: Downloads
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Your Account
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Your Account
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Home
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Home
496: Statistics
497: Member Screenshots
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Home
501: Photo Gallery
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Home
508: Home
509: Home
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Photo Gallery
516: Home
517: Community Forums
518: Home
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Home
522: Photo Gallery
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Photo Gallery
526: Community Forums
527: Community Forums
528: CPGlang
529: Photo Gallery
530: Home
531: Community Forums
532: Home
533: Community Forums
534: Photo Gallery
535: CPGlang
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Photo Gallery
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Photo Gallery
544: Downloads
545: Photo Gallery
546: Community Forums
547: Community Forums
548: Member Screenshots
549: Photo Gallery
550: Community Forums
551: Home
552: Community Forums
553: Home
554: Community Forums
555: Home
556: Photo Gallery
557: Community Forums
558: Home
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Photo Gallery
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Photo Gallery
570: Community Forums
571: News
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Photo Gallery
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: Your Account
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Photo Gallery
583: Your Account
584: Community Forums
585: Photo Gallery
586: Home
587: Community Forums
588: Home
589: Community Forums
590: Downloads
591: Community Forums
592: Photo Gallery
593: Home
594: Community Forums
595: Downloads
596: Home
597: Community Forums
598: Downloads
599: Home
600: Community Forums
601: News Archive
602: Community Forums
603: Photo Gallery
604: Community Forums
605: Home
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Photo Gallery
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Community Forums
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Home
618: Community Forums
619: Photo Gallery
620: Statistics
621: Community Forums
622: Community Forums
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Community Forums
627: Home
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Community Forums
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Community Forums
637: Photo Gallery
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Member Screenshots
641: Community Forums
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Photo Gallery
647: Downloads
648: Community Forums
649: Home
650: Statistics
651: Member Screenshots
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: News Archive
655: Community Forums
656: Photo Gallery
657: Community Forums
658: Home
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Home
663: Photo Gallery
664: Community Forums
665: Downloads
666: Community Forums
667: Member Screenshots
668: Community Forums
669: Photo Gallery
670: News
671: Photo Gallery
672: Home
673: Community Forums
674: Home
675: Community Forums
676: Home
677: Community Forums
678: Community Forums
679: Member Screenshots
680: Statistics
681: Community Forums
682: Home
683: Home
684: News Archive
685: Community Forums
686: Your Account
687: Photo Gallery
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Russian and German guage railway-third rail?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:08 pm
Post subject: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Hi Guys-
I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage. Are there any pictures or information that confirms that this was done? It would make an interesting feature for the Trumpeter BR-52.
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

- geoffsteer
Hi Guys-
I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage. Are there any pictures or information that confirms that this was done? It would make an interesting feature for the Trumpeter BR-52.
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)


Hi Geoff! Hi Folks!

I don't ever recall seeing any photos of three rail tracks in Russian. I don't remember where I read it, but I seam to remember reading that the Germans used a large number of railroad engineers units to pull up one rail and relayed it to Europe gage.

I also remember reading that the German Higher Commands had problems with getting the word out to the front line units to not destory, unless they had to, Soviet power units and rolling stock.

One other side point. Laying a third rail would have required a LOT of steel. I agree that the Germans where not the best at managing resorces sometime, but without documention, I would wonder about any claim of massive third rail installation. Possible it was done on a limited bases.

Just not sure about this one, Neutral
Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I seen a program on TV that was "Riding the rails" where something to this effect is still used.

The program I seen used different 'standards' for different countries or in this case, going from China to Russia. The train had to stop, switch the wheels under the train cars to the new standard and were off again. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
David_Reasoner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 127
Location: South Central Kentucky
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I saw an episode of "Great Railway Journeys" featuring a trip from China into Russia. As you said, they had to jack up the coaches and change wheel trucks at the border because of the difference in rail gauges used.

I suspect Roy is probably correct. A third rail approach might have been used in some areas, but shortage of steel (and possibly German arrogance, too) would have kept it from widespread use. AFAIK German policy was to convert as much track and rolling stock to their own gauge as possible.

David
Back to top
View user's profile
Paul_Jungnitsch
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 24, 2006
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:51 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

You can see the dual tracks at the Chinese-Russian border here: Trans-Siberian 1991

We all had to leave while they changed bogies, and then off we went again, took about an hour to change the train over, IIRC.
Back to top
View user's profile
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:01 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Rgr David, that's the same program I seen and was referring to.. Wink

When I watched that program, I wondered why the train owners didn't make retractable/expandable wheels to make the switch much less of an effort.

Thanks for the link Paul...
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:33 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

'wondered why the train owners didn't make retractable/expandable wheels to make the switch much less of an effort. '

Reliability and stability at high speed are some factors. If you look closely most rail cars have wheels and axles that are a single casting. The bearings support the whole piece on the rail truck and absorb the lateral forces as the train follows the tracks. Building a unit that will do that and change dimensions (but only change dimensions when it is supposed to), hold up to heavy use and works smoothly at speeds above 50 MPH isn't easy. Add in the issue of idiot proofing the change mechanism so semi literate railroad workers in the middle of nowhere don't break it and taking an hour to lift the car up, slide different rail truck under it doesn't seem so difficult. That hour was probably taken up with customs and immigration processing anyway.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:40 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I bet you're right, I forgot about the "making it idiot proof" part...lol

And yep, I'm sure customs likes it just fine the way it is too... Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian/German guage railway-third rail?Roy and others..

Hi Roy-
Reference your line:"One other side point. Laying a third rail would have required a LOT of steel. I agree that the Germans where not the best at managing resorces sometime" You have a good point there, as usual. One thought that does occurr though is this; which would have been easier, laying down a third rail which, would have allowed the Germans to use both their own and captured Russian equipmment over the same lines. Or, convert all Russian railway equipment to German guage or German to Russian? Both of these ideas would require a massive amount of labour intensive and time consuming effort. Of the two options, the third rail seems both easier and quicker. My researches on the web led to the discovery that the third rail trick is currently in use in Switzerland and was used in Germany in certain areas to allow rails to be used by both inter-urban non-inter-urban ("non-inter-urban", cannot think of what else to call it). I'd say the idea is possible which, is hardly certain proof that it was used in Russia. I'll continue with my web based research. I hope it turns out to be true that the Germans did use the third rail in Russia as this would be a very interesting feature.
Thanks for your help Roy and the rest-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:36 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Geoff,

the idea was to regauge the Russian rails to standard gauge so supply trains could run from the Reich all the way to the front, and an amazingly huge chunk of the Russian rail system was thus converted. In some places, where the territory wasn't in German hands long enough or not safe for the Eisenbahnpioniere, the Russian broad gauge remained, and captured equipment was used on it. There certainly were some stations/yards were some type of three-rail arrangement was in place (especially former border stations), but those lines didn't wander too far outside the original property.

Timewise, the effort to regauge the rails was about as consuming as laying a third rail, but with regauging you didn't need further quantities of the valuable steel, and manpower was cheap in the form of forced labor.

Incidentally, the Russians used broad gauge because the Tsar wanted to deny possible attackers the use of their trains all the way from the West Coast to points inside the Rodina.

Hitler envisioned an ever broader gauge super-railway from Berlin to Siberia, there used to be a book out on it, but I can't remember the title, and I don't think it was ever translated into English. Schiffer should have a book on Eisenbahnpioniere, maybe you want to check that source.

And no, German railway guns were never regauged to Russian standards, the wider gauge of the Trumpeter K5 is in order to run it on garden railway hardware/ No 1 gauge rails.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?Thanks Jens

Hi Jens-
Thank you for the definitive answer, its nice to have this cleared up. Like I said in my initial post, the third rail would make an interesting feature. Well, I could have the BR-52 in a railyard where, as you said the third rail could be seen.
Could you, please, explain this line of yours:
"And no, German railway guns were never regauged to Russian standards, the wider gauge of the Trumpeter K5 is in order to run it on garden railway hardware/ No 1 gauge rails."
I know it is not in reply to anything I said and seems to be saying Trumpeter gave their K5 inaccurate tracks because those tracks could be used with existing "garden railway hardware". I am wondering about this as it is, probably, a good indication of what we can expect to see in their BR-52 kit.
Thanks again-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:52 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Ah,

don't worry Geoff, not aimed at you, just some general pre-emptive mentioning of facts since somebody somewhere is going to perk up, and will state that K5s were regauged because Trumpeter wouldn't dare to be un-prototypical... Their K5 is the better detailed of the two, but Dragon's is 1/35 through and through.

I would have loved to see the cranes necessary to lift a K5 in order to change its trucks- I can see a queue of K5s lined up at the DORA assembly yard, waiting to use the crane.

That would have been a great opportunity for some third-rail action, but the crafty railroad engineers regauged the track before the K5 was sent within firing range.

Incidentally, I hadn't even thought about the fact that the BR52 would probably run on No 1 gauge, which does translate into 1/32, but that's probably going to happen.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
Indrakrishnamurti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 12, 2006
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:09 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Jens and all,

It would not have been possible to have a three rail arrangement with the gauges (1435 mm and 1524 mm) would have been too close to allow the wheels running on the broader gauge to clear the inside gauge. The distance between the two would have been less than 10 cm. See the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_gauge) here for some information.

If the difference between gauges were larger, say 1435 mm and 1067 mm (as in pre-WW II Indonesia), it would have been possible to have three- rail mixed gauge track. It still required complicated switches/turnouts though.

Cheers,

Indra

- Jens_O_Mehner
Geoff,

the idea was to regauge the Russian rails to standard gauge so supply trains could run from the Reich all the way to the front, and an amazingly huge chunk of the Russian rail system was thus converted. In some places, where the territory wasn't in German hands long enough or not safe for the Eisenbahnpioniere, the Russian broad gauge remained, and captured equipment was used on it. There certainly were some stations/yards were some type of three-rail arrangement was in place (especially former border stations), but those lines didn't wander too far outside the original property.
Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
LeeW
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 26, 2006
Posts: 61

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Well you could set it up with the middle rail as the common rail but that would mean either desiging it that way from the begginning or adding more ties.
Back to top
View user's profile
jch_in_uk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage.


If you think about it, it's not really practical on existing railways, the 'standard gauge' is 4 foot 8 inches, the 'broad' (Soviet) gauge is 5 foot 3 inches, so the difference is 7 inches.

You could just about fit the extra rail on the sleeper (tie to our US colleagues), but there would not be a lot of space left outside the new rail on the sleeper.

In addition, points and crossovers would be a nightmare.

Dual gauge tracks do exist, usually only on narrow gauge railways, where the whole rail set-up was much lighter.

Hope this helps.

JH
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum