Use of concrete or wooden bearer points on GW mainline

[goatdriver]

I'm in the US, so I have no first hand access to UK railways.  I'm building a GW mainline layout with Peco code 75 concrete sleeper flextrack, but they only offer one type of point with concrete bearers.  Would it be prototypically correct to mix wooden bearer points with concrete sleeper track?  Thanks in advance.

[jim.snowdon]

Technically, you can, if only because it took longer to develop the long bearers needed for pointwork. A lot then depends on the era you want to model.

 

Jim

[goatdriver]

Technically, you can, if only because it took longer to develop the long bearers needed for pointwork. A lot then depends on the era you want to model.

 

Jim

I'm doing modern era (present day).

[Ncarter2]

I'm doing modern era (present day).

Timbers S&C with concrete plain line is still fairly common on the British network. More so now than previously since NWR split its plain line and S&C renewals into separate contracts.

My section at Eastleigh has six layouts on the mainlines that are timber with concrete plain line. I would say you can safely model it that way without being pulled up for not being prototypical. Obviously I’m not on the GW route but Wessex.

[The Stationmaster]

Timbers S&C with concrete plain line is still fairly common on the British network. More so now than previously since NWR split its plain line and S&C renewals into separate contracts.

My section at Eastleigh has six layouts on the mainlines that are timber with concrete plain line. I would say you can safely model it that way without being pulled up for not being prototypical. Obviously I’m not on the GW route but Wessex.

 

Not much different on the GWML - plenty of locations with pointwork on timbers amid cwr on concrete sleepers although everything going in now seems to have the pointwork on concrete bearers.

[WillCav]

One thing to watch out for is the transition between wooden and concrete sleepers/bearers.

 

The Peco points have 4 timbers before the switch rails start - this looks too close to the pointwork compared to what I have seen on the ground.  This is not just at the toe end of pointwork either.

 

For example, if you look for Elkstone Road, London on Google Maps, the pointwork at Westbourne Park can be seen and if you zoom in, you can see the transitions being about half a point length into the plainline.  There are also rules about where fishplates (joints) can be compared to the transition - 2 sleepers either side of joint have to be the same material (see the Hither Green accident for reasons why...)

 

Will

[Fat Controller]

Isn't there normally an expansion joint towards the end of the concrete sleepers?

[The Stationmaster]

Here you go - timbered point with cwr adjacent (there is no breather switch in the cwr, just plain rail (click on picture to enlarge)

 

Isn't there normally an expansion joint towards the end of the concrete sleepers?

 

No.

[Ncarter2]

Isn't there normally an expansion joint towards the end of the concrete sleepers?

If the CWR is stressed but the S&C is not you will find it’s protected by a adjustment switch, however as above if it’s welded and a stressable layout then no and it doesn’t matter if the S&C is timber with concrete either side.

[Ncarter2]

One thing to watch out for is the transition between wooden and concrete sleepers/bearers.

 

The Peco points have 4 timbers before the switch rails start - this looks too close to the pointwork compared to what I have seen on the ground. This is not just at the toe end of pointwork either.

 

For example, if you look for Elkstone Road, London on Google Maps, the pointwork at Westbourne Park can be seen and if you zoom in, you can see the transitions being about half a point length into the plainline. There are also rules about where fishplates (joints) can be compared to the transition - 2 sleepers either side of joint have to be the same material (see the Hither Green accident for reasons why...)

 

Will

Ideally you are correct, however the railway is not exactly ideal and there are several locations I know that exist today in which the concretes are only 4 sleepers away from the tips and the end of the tied cross timbers.

 

Also the sleepers either side of joints, again standard says one thing, reality is another.

[goatdriver]

Thanks all.  I appreciate the insights.  Time to get started laying track (nice cool basement, so the summer heat wave isn't a problem).