Railway Track & Structures - October 2008 - (Page 15)

The pedestals would not obstruct rail traffic or track maintenance or repairs. To minimize sensitivity of the assembly to impacts from highway traffic, the hinges and activating mechanisms can be designed so that they do not carry any live loads. The Railroad Highway Crossing is covered under U.S. Patent #5,474,266 issued in 1995. It is somewhat similar in configuration to smaller devices used to cross railroad tracks in industrial plants and other such locations. crossings. It allows construction of safe, high-speed rail lines over long distances at substantially reduced cost. The Rail Highway Crossing provides effective separation of rail and highway traffic in congested areas. The Rail Highway Crossing allows better, easier maintenance of railroad track through highway grade crossings. This product has not yet been reviewed, tested, or approved by the Federal Railway Administration. If you have comments or questions, please contact the author. Reference U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook – 2nd edition FHWA-TS-86-215. Operation The simplest way to operate the Railroad Highway Crossing is by electric power, driving through a gear reduction and crank operator. A hydraulic operator such as a hydraulic cylinder could also be used. The operating device should be self-locking in the raised barrier position, and robust enough to minimize the likelihood of damage should an automobile or truck impact a raised section. Manual cranks or other devices can be provided to allow the gate/crossing to be operated in the event of power failure. Control of the Railroad Highway Crossing can be automatic, via track circuits or by a GPS-type positioning system. Various types of sensors can be used to detect the presence of vehicles or pedestrians on the gate/crossing, so that operation can be delayed until the area is clear. Annunciators and other warning devices can alert pedestrians or trespassers to the danger of an oncoming train and direct them to get in the clear. If a railroad signal system is present it can be tied in to the Railroad Highway Crossing so that a restrictive or absolute stop indication is provided if for any reason the gate/crossing is not fully raised at the approach of a train. For lightly used lines or where trains operate at low speeds, an actuator reached from the locomotive cab by the train crew can cause initiation of operation of the Railroad Highway Crossing. This type of installation could be equipped with or without other crossing protective devices such as warning gates or flashing lights. Conclusion The Railroad Highway Crossing provides inexpensive, secure separation of highway and railroad traffic at grade www.rtands.com Railway Track & Structures October 2008 15 http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - October 2008 Contents On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Railroads Building Solid Foundation for More Capacity with Crossties Safety in High Density Areas M/W Challenges: CN Places New Bridge in Only Six Hours Products and Literature People Calendar Website Directory Advertisers Index Sales Representatives Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective

Railway Track & Structures - October 2008

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