AboutChris Holliday Expertise Questions related to contemporary passenger rail vehicles and their technology, including subway, light rail, commuter and intercity rolling stock. Includes all vehicle systems and features along with integration of the vehicles into the general railroad system.
Experience I have over 22 years of experience in the passenger rail vehicle business as both an engineering manager at a car builder and as a provider of engineering services to commuter railroads and transit agencies in the US. I have worked to apply the latest technologies to passanger rail equipment. I have worked with leaders in our industry to develop and establish Standards and Recommended practices.
Expert: Chris Holliday Date: 9/7/2007 Subject: Rail deminsions
Question I'm figuring a project that calls for rail road rails to be set in stone via drilling holes to a specific depth.The rails have been specified to be of a 130-135 #yard weight, my question is what should the diameter of the hole be, i have access to using a 8.75" dia. drill, i will also be using a cement sand grout to hold the rails in place.
Answer Thanks for your question.
I will not venture a guess to your specific hole diameter question, as I do not sufficiently understand what you are doing and, more importantly, track systems are beyond my area of expertise, which is rail vehicles.
I do know that a track systems must be designed with consideration for the vehicles that will operate on them, the speed at which they will operate and the surrounding terrain and drainage issues, to say nothing of the alignment and any obstacles to that alignment. The track system would involve rail of a sufficient weight secured to cross ties placed on a secure bed of angular ballast rock of sufficient size to properly distribute the loads and prevent settling into the underlying material, which in your case, I gather is solid rock.
I suggest you engage the assistance of a rail systems or experienced civil engineer for assistance with your installation. You will need to provide more information than you have in order to get a meaningful response to your need. Good luck!
