Bullhead rail spring steel keys.

[Re6/6]

Does anybody know approximately when spring steel keys for bullhead rail were introduced please, with particular reference to GWR/BR(W)?

 

Many thanks.

[CloggyDog]

I take it you mean the 'simple' steel rail key (also known as the 'Mills' key, according to my LUL PWay notes) rather then the 'Panlock' type.?

 

I've checked through my various PWay references (LUL and GW/WR) and can't find any dates for their introduction. Nor does a quick-ish Google search and rummage around the more obvious sites.

 

Perhaps check if a patent was granted for the design?

[The Stationmaster]

Best I can offer John is that steel keys are mentioned in a book called 'The Permanent Way' which was published in 1948 and - although possibly not connected at all, mention of teh GWR features quite a lot in the book although I can't find any pictures apparently showing steel keys.

 

Incidentally they make excellent soldering iron rests

[Re6/6]

Yes thanks CloggyDog, it's the 'Mills' key that I'm interested in.

 

I'm actually trying to date a photo that I have showing them.

 

The earliest use of the things.will at least show me a rough 'onward' time span.

 

Thanks Mike. I do have that very useful book but can't find it after my house move!

 

A good tip that for an iron rest. I shall have to acquire one!

[roythebus]

Try Martin Wynn on the Templot/handbuilt track section, he knows almost everything about track

[martin_wynne]

Hi John,

 

C J Allen in "Modern British Permanent Way" (1915) has a whole chapter on wooden keys (p.55) with drawings and dimensions for different companies. He says "There are various patterns of metal keys on the market, but the keys used in this country are almost universally manufactured from wood".

 

Then on p.87 is described the Stuart's Patent expanding steel key, which was tightened by driving in a tapered wedge. He says it had been on the market "for only 4 years" -- but we can't be sure what that means because the book is a compilation of a series of earlier magazine articles. Of the Stuart's key he says "in that time over a million have been supplied to over 30 railway companies, of which 13 are well-known lines in this country". He says "in performance it more nearly approaches the wooden key than the ordinary type of metal key". There's no explanation of what that was, but I assume it was inferior to the Mills spring key. So that means metal keys were available by say the late 1900s, but not much used in the UK before the Stuart's type.

 

Sorry I don't have any specific info for the GWR, but I do have a GWR note somewhere that metal keys must not be used for check rails. That's because excessive side pressure can break metal keys into pieces, after which they are utterly useless for restraining the rail. Whereas a wooden key is solid, and even if crushed a wooden key can recover and still fills the chair jaw to some extent. (But it's a bit academic if the force breaks the jaw off the chair casting.)

 

regards,

 

Martin.

[Southernman46]

(But it's a bit academic if the force breaks the jaw off the chair casting.)

which I managed to do on 12 in a row with my foot (I suspect they were cracked already) in Plat 16 at Waterloo during a SM inspection one Friday night................needless to say my guys didn't do what they were originally planned to do for the rest of that night. Happily some serious cash has been spent on renewing the older bullheadand PAN8 lockspike track in the platforms there - they were always a serious risk and headache for me.

 

I always used oak keys - steel rarely (especially that shite new design)and panlock only if no other alternative - they have no ability to retain resilience on tightly curved track over a period of time.

[Re6/6]

Many thanks all. Much appreciated.