Identification of Trackside Apparatus

[jamesg]

I'm wondering if anyone can identify this trackside apparatus that appeared recently near Abbotswood Junction, between Worcester and Cheltenham.  There has been some work in the area recently; some new concrete pads have been poured near the line, they look as though they are for signals.

 

Could this be an axle counter?  Why would it be fixed to the track here, and is it likely to be permanent, or just temporary, perhaps coinciding with work on the signalling?

 

 

I'm only asking out of curiosity, but would be interested if anyone can solve this mystery.

[ClikC]

It's a flange lubricator, dispences gease to the rail to reduces rail/ flange wear and noise generated by the outside wheel 'slipping' on tight curves.

 

Regards

 

Matt

[Fat Controller]

It's a flange greaser, I believe, which puts a very small (usually) amount of grease on the inside edge of the rail, to reduce rail and flange wear.

[jamesg]

Thanks.  I would never have guessed, but now that you mention it, the apparatus is very near to a sharp right hand curve.

[Southernman46]

The general rule of thumb was that rail lubricators were fitted on curves below 1500m. This has now changed to curves of up  to 2500m radius where the possibility of rail damage has been identified / predicted by NR's "Track-ex" system. This may be why this one has suddenly appeared - although judging by the type of rail fixing it is more likely to be one that has finally been re-fitted after removal for a track renewal.

 

Rail lubricators and their maintenance were one of the many activities that fell by the wayside post privatisation and the consequent rail damage lead to the vast swathes of rolling contact fatigue. In many cases these were exacerbated by the panic re-fitting of lubricators that supplied the grease which was forced by passing wheels into the RCF cracks making them worse. So many were removed when this was identified - never to be re-fitted even after re-railing.

 

There has been a great deal of work post-Hatfield and there is a far greater understanding of the rail-wheel interface in the industry these days - from which NR's "Track-ex" system has emerged as an extremely useful tool in managing.

[joseph_locke]

Strictly speaking the photo is of the pump actuator and grease reservoir; other hoses will lead to the GDUs (grease distribution units).

[tamperman36]

the reduction in use of these could also coincide with the introduction of the class 66s as they where built with HTCR self steering bogies, these have some movement built into the outer axles on both bogies which is designed to reduce flange ware and reduce fuel consumption by reducing the friction between the flange on the rail.