Railway Track & Structures - July 2008 - (Page 28)

Special trackwork use in North America. The “Clamp Tite” brace is not rail section speciﬁc, which allows the railroads to reduce inventories of spare parts. However, it can be modiﬁed based on railroad requirements. “One major trend we are seeing is with regard to crossing diamonds. The railroads are really beginning to modify their speciﬁcations and requirements in an effort to improve the life cycle of crossing diamonds, from special platework to heavy-duty insulated joints to ﬂange bearing designs. As usual, the railroads are willing to listen to any ideas with regard to special trackwork that may allow them heavier axle loads, increased velocity and better life-cycle costs. We are striving to help them attain their goals,” said Jeff Harris, sales manager at Progress Rail. VAE Nortrak turnout for DART. highest technology products that VAE Nortrak has developed for the Class 1 markets in North America. The company manufactures a variety of products, including rail crossings, diamond crossings, complete turnouts and components such as frogs, guard rails, switch points and switch stands. ND is currently working to manufacture the UP/BNSF common standard turnout for Class 1 customers in Mexico. The company is also working with Ferromex to test some high tech products developed by VAE Nortrak for Class 1 customers in the North American market. “This testing will bring beneﬁts to Ferromex in the order of maintenance and cost reduction. We will be looking to extend these beneﬁts to other Class 1 railroads in Mexico such as KCSM and Ferrosur,” said Damy. Progress Rail Services Corp. Engineering and Track Services introduced a ﬂange-bearing “Lift” Frog. The “Lift” Frog’s primary application is turnout locations where there are limited diverging moves. According to the company, the industry’s response to the “Lift” Frog has been positive with it being in use, on order or in test at all Class 1 railroads, as well as a number of regional railroad customers. The Progress Rail Services Movable Point/Swing Nose frog is in use in the Powder River Basin. The company says the ﬁrst frogs were put in test more than three years ago and are performing well. Progress Rail Services has introduced a new rail brace called the “Clamp Tite” brace. The company notes that test results have shown the brace to have ﬁve times the holding power of other braces currently in Progress Rail VAE Nortrak North America, Inc., offers a complete product line, including turnouts, turnout components, at-grade (diamond) crossings and special trackwork for both the freight and transit sectors. According to Brian Abbott, chief technical ofﬁcer at Nortrak, the company works diligently with its customer base to improve product life-cycle and operating performance. Nortrak’s HAL “super turnout” has been on test at TTCI since 2004. It features double-clothoid geometry with a zero entry angle, together with premium components: composite rodding housed in hollow steel ties, rotary assists, vanguards, thick web points and stock rails machined for patented “kinematic gauge optimization.” Abbott notes that results have been excellent with dynamic lateral forces reduced by nearly 50 percent and VAE Nortrak 28 Railway Track & Structures July 2008 www.rtands.com http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - July 2008 On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Products and Literature People Calendar Sales Representatives Website Directory Advertisers Index Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective Extending Service Life for Costly Special Trackwork Rail Welding Gets Act Together Premium Fasteners, Rail Steels Help Meet Strain of Heavy Haul

Railway Track & Structures - July 2008

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