±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 793
Total: 793
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Photo Gallery
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: News
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Home
17: Community Forums
18: Downloads
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Photo Gallery
24: Member Screenshots
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Home
28: Photo Gallery
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: CPGlang
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Home
36: Community Forums
37: Downloads
38: Community Forums
39: CPGlang
40: Home
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Photo Gallery
44: CPGlang
45: Photo Gallery
46: Home
47: Photo Gallery
48: Home
49: Home
50: Community Forums
51: Downloads
52: Home
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: News Archive
56: Photo Gallery
57: Home
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Home
61: Community Forums
62: CPGlang
63: CPGlang
64: Community Forums
65: Home
66: Photo Gallery
67: Community Forums
68: News Archive
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Downloads
72: Downloads
73: Photo Gallery
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Photo Gallery
78: Member Screenshots
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Home
83: Community Forums
84: Photo Gallery
85: Downloads
86: Downloads
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Downloads
90: Community Forums
91: Photo Gallery
92: Member Screenshots
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Photo Gallery
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Your Account
100: Community Forums
101: Photo Gallery
102: Community Forums
103: News Archive
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Photo Gallery
108: Community Forums
109: Home
110: Home
111: Home
112: Member Screenshots
113: Community Forums
114: CPGlang
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Photo Gallery
118: Home
119: Community Forums
120: Photo Gallery
121: Community Forums
122: Community Forums
123: Photo Gallery
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Member Screenshots
127: Community Forums
128: Photo Gallery
129: Photo Gallery
130: Community Forums
131: Home
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Home
135: Photo Gallery
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Community Forums
140: Downloads
141: Photo Gallery
142: Photo Gallery
143: Photo Gallery
144: Community Forums
145: Home
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Photo Gallery
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Downloads
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Downloads
159: Photo Gallery
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Your Account
163: Photo Gallery
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Home
168: Photo Gallery
169: Community Forums
170: CPGlang
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Home
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Photo Gallery
181: Photo Gallery
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: CPGlang
189: Home
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Home
193: Home
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: Your Account
199: Community Forums
200: Photo Gallery
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Photo Gallery
208: Photo Gallery
209: Your Account
210: Community Forums
211: Photo Gallery
212: Home
213: Community Forums
214: Photo Gallery
215: Community Forums
216: Community Forums
217: Downloads
218: Community Forums
219: Downloads
220: Community Forums
221: Downloads
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Downloads
227: Community Forums
228: Home
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Photo Gallery
232: Community Forums
233: Photo Gallery
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Photo Gallery
237: Statistics
238: Photo Gallery
239: Photo Gallery
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Photo Gallery
243: Photo Gallery
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Photo Gallery
247: Home
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Community Forums
252: Photo Gallery
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Downloads
256: Photo Gallery
257: Statistics
258: Home
259: Community Forums
260: Photo Gallery
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Home
264: Photo Gallery
265: Community Forums
266: Photo Gallery
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Photo Gallery
270: Photo Gallery
271: Home
272: Your Account
273: Community Forums
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Home
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Supporters
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Photo Gallery
289: Community Forums
290: Home
291: Photo Gallery
292: Downloads
293: Community Forums
294: Downloads
295: Downloads
296: Home
297: Downloads
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: News
302: Photo Gallery
303: Community Forums
304: Home
305: Community Forums
306: CPGlang
307: Downloads
308: Your Account
309: News
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Photo Gallery
313: News Archive
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Member Screenshots
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Home
322: Photo Gallery
323: Photo Gallery
324: Community Forums
325: Downloads
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Home
330: News Archive
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Home
334: News Archive
335: Downloads
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Home
340: Community Forums
341: Search
342: Search
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Photo Gallery
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Community Forums
349: Home
350: Member Screenshots
351: News
352: Community Forums
353: Downloads
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Home
363: Photo Gallery
364: Home
365: Home
366: Photo Gallery
367: Home
368: News
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Photo Gallery
375: Your Account
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Home
379: Community Forums
380: Home
381: CPGlang
382: Home
383: Community Forums
384: Home
385: Home
386: Home
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Community Forums
390: Your Account
391: Your Account
392: Your Account
393: Home
394: Home
395: Home
396: Your Account
397: Community Forums
398: Home
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Downloads
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Photo Gallery
407: Your Account
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Downloads
415: Community Forums
416: Photo Gallery
417: Member Screenshots
418: Community Forums
419: Photo Gallery
420: Community Forums
421: Home
422: Photo Gallery
423: Community Forums
424: Your Account
425: Photo Gallery
426: Community Forums
427: Photo Gallery
428: Community Forums
429: CPGlang
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: Community Forums
433: Home
434: Downloads
435: Downloads
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: News
439: Photo Gallery
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Home
444: News
445: Photo Gallery
446: Community Forums
447: Home
448: Home
449: Community Forums
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Photo Gallery
453: Community Forums
454: Community Forums
455: Home
456: Search
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Photo Gallery
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Downloads
466: Downloads
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Photo Gallery
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Photo Gallery
476: Photo Gallery
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Photo Gallery
480: Community Forums
481: Home
482: Home
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Photo Gallery
487: Community Forums
488: Photo Gallery
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Home
493: Member Screenshots
494: Member Screenshots
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Downloads
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Photo Gallery
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Home
507: Community Forums
508: Photo Gallery
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Home
512: Home
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Statistics
516: Home
517: Photo Gallery
518: Community Forums
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Photo Gallery
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Community Forums
530: Photo Gallery
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Home
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Photo Gallery
540: Community Forums
541: Home
542: Home
543: Home
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Statistics
547: Community Forums
548: CPGlang
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Statistics
552: Community Forums
553: Photo Gallery
554: Member Screenshots
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Home
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Home
564: Photo Gallery
565: Photo Gallery
566: Downloads
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Downloads
570: Photo Gallery
571: Community Forums
572: Home
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Downloads
576: CPGlang
577: Home
578: Community Forums
579: Community Forums
580: Search
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: CPGlang
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Photo Gallery
588: Downloads
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Photo Gallery
594: Community Forums
595: Photo Gallery
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Home
600: Photo Gallery
601: Photo Gallery
602: Photo Gallery
603: Community Forums
604: Home
605: Community Forums
606: Downloads
607: Community Forums
608: Home
609: Community Forums
610: Your Account
611: Community Forums
612: Home
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Home
617: Community Forums
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Home
622: Home
623: Community Forums
624: Community Forums
625: Downloads
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Home
630: Community Forums
631: CPGlang
632: Community Forums
633: Photo Gallery
634: Community Forums
635: Home
636: Photo Gallery
637: Community Forums
638: Downloads
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Home
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Home
646: Community Forums
647: Downloads
648: News
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Downloads
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Photo Gallery
655: Community Forums
656: Photo Gallery
657: Community Forums
658: Community Forums
659: CPGlang
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Community Forums
664: Community Forums
665: Photo Gallery
666: Home
667: Community Forums
668: Community Forums
669: Home
670: Community Forums
671: Community Forums
672: News
673: News
674: Community Forums
675: Statistics
676: Community Forums
677: Home
678: Community Forums
679: Community Forums
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: News Archive
683: Community Forums
684: Photo Gallery
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: News
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Community Forums
692: Community Forums
693: Community Forums
694: Downloads
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Photo Gallery
699: Community Forums
700: Community Forums
701: Photo Gallery
702: Community Forums
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Photo Gallery
708: Community Forums
709: Community Forums
710: Community Forums
711: Home
712: Community Forums
713: Community Forums
714: Community Forums
715: Community Forums
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Home
721: Community Forums
722: Home
723: Photo Gallery
724: Your Account
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Home
728: Community Forums
729: Community Forums
730: Member Screenshots
731: Community Forums
732: Home
733: Home
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Statistics
737: Photo Gallery
738: Community Forums
739: Community Forums
740: Downloads
741: Home
742: Photo Gallery
743: Community Forums
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Downloads
747: Community Forums
748: Home
749: Community Forums
750: Photo Gallery
751: Community Forums
752: Community Forums
753: Home
754: Home
755: Photo Gallery
756: Downloads
757: Community Forums
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Photo Gallery
761: CPGlang
762: Community Forums
763: CPGlang
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Community Forums
767: Community Forums
768: Member Screenshots
769: Downloads
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: News Archive
773: Community Forums
774: Photo Gallery
775: Community Forums
776: Community Forums
777: Community Forums
778: Your Account
779: Community Forums
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Home
784: Community Forums
785: Community Forums
786: Photo Gallery
787: Community Forums
788: Community Forums
789: Photo Gallery
790: Photo Gallery
791: Community Forums
792: Community Forums
793: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Russian and German guage railway-third rail?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:08 pm
Post subject: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Hi Guys-
I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage. Are there any pictures or information that confirms that this was done? It would make an interesting feature for the Trumpeter BR-52.
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

- geoffsteer
Hi Guys-
I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage. Are there any pictures or information that confirms that this was done? It would make an interesting feature for the Trumpeter BR-52.
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)


Hi Geoff! Hi Folks!

I don't ever recall seeing any photos of three rail tracks in Russian. I don't remember where I read it, but I seam to remember reading that the Germans used a large number of railroad engineers units to pull up one rail and relayed it to Europe gage.

I also remember reading that the German Higher Commands had problems with getting the word out to the front line units to not destory, unless they had to, Soviet power units and rolling stock.

One other side point. Laying a third rail would have required a LOT of steel. I agree that the Germans where not the best at managing resorces sometime, but without documention, I would wonder about any claim of massive third rail installation. Possible it was done on a limited bases.

Just not sure about this one, Neutral
Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I seen a program on TV that was "Riding the rails" where something to this effect is still used.

The program I seen used different 'standards' for different countries or in this case, going from China to Russia. The train had to stop, switch the wheels under the train cars to the new standard and were off again. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
David_Reasoner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 127
Location: South Central Kentucky
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I saw an episode of "Great Railway Journeys" featuring a trip from China into Russia. As you said, they had to jack up the coaches and change wheel trucks at the border because of the difference in rail gauges used.

I suspect Roy is probably correct. A third rail approach might have been used in some areas, but shortage of steel (and possibly German arrogance, too) would have kept it from widespread use. AFAIK German policy was to convert as much track and rolling stock to their own gauge as possible.

David
Back to top
View user's profile
Paul_Jungnitsch
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 24, 2006
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:51 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

You can see the dual tracks at the Chinese-Russian border here: Trans-Siberian 1991

We all had to leave while they changed bogies, and then off we went again, took about an hour to change the train over, IIRC.
Back to top
View user's profile
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:01 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Rgr David, that's the same program I seen and was referring to.. Wink

When I watched that program, I wondered why the train owners didn't make retractable/expandable wheels to make the switch much less of an effort.

Thanks for the link Paul...
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:33 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

'wondered why the train owners didn't make retractable/expandable wheels to make the switch much less of an effort. '

Reliability and stability at high speed are some factors. If you look closely most rail cars have wheels and axles that are a single casting. The bearings support the whole piece on the rail truck and absorb the lateral forces as the train follows the tracks. Building a unit that will do that and change dimensions (but only change dimensions when it is supposed to), hold up to heavy use and works smoothly at speeds above 50 MPH isn't easy. Add in the issue of idiot proofing the change mechanism so semi literate railroad workers in the middle of nowhere don't break it and taking an hour to lift the car up, slide different rail truck under it doesn't seem so difficult. That hour was probably taken up with customs and immigration processing anyway.

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:40 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I bet you're right, I forgot about the "making it idiot proof" part...lol

And yep, I'm sure customs likes it just fine the way it is too... Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian/German guage railway-third rail?Roy and others..

Hi Roy-
Reference your line:"One other side point. Laying a third rail would have required a LOT of steel. I agree that the Germans where not the best at managing resorces sometime" You have a good point there, as usual. One thought that does occurr though is this; which would have been easier, laying down a third rail which, would have allowed the Germans to use both their own and captured Russian equipmment over the same lines. Or, convert all Russian railway equipment to German guage or German to Russian? Both of these ideas would require a massive amount of labour intensive and time consuming effort. Of the two options, the third rail seems both easier and quicker. My researches on the web led to the discovery that the third rail trick is currently in use in Switzerland and was used in Germany in certain areas to allow rails to be used by both inter-urban non-inter-urban ("non-inter-urban", cannot think of what else to call it). I'd say the idea is possible which, is hardly certain proof that it was used in Russia. I'll continue with my web based research. I hope it turns out to be true that the Germans did use the third rail in Russia as this would be a very interesting feature.
Thanks for your help Roy and the rest-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:36 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Geoff,

the idea was to regauge the Russian rails to standard gauge so supply trains could run from the Reich all the way to the front, and an amazingly huge chunk of the Russian rail system was thus converted. In some places, where the territory wasn't in German hands long enough or not safe for the Eisenbahnpioniere, the Russian broad gauge remained, and captured equipment was used on it. There certainly were some stations/yards were some type of three-rail arrangement was in place (especially former border stations), but those lines didn't wander too far outside the original property.

Timewise, the effort to regauge the rails was about as consuming as laying a third rail, but with regauging you didn't need further quantities of the valuable steel, and manpower was cheap in the form of forced labor.

Incidentally, the Russians used broad gauge because the Tsar wanted to deny possible attackers the use of their trains all the way from the West Coast to points inside the Rodina.

Hitler envisioned an ever broader gauge super-railway from Berlin to Siberia, there used to be a book out on it, but I can't remember the title, and I don't think it was ever translated into English. Schiffer should have a book on Eisenbahnpioniere, maybe you want to check that source.

And no, German railway guns were never regauged to Russian standards, the wider gauge of the Trumpeter K5 is in order to run it on garden railway hardware/ No 1 gauge rails.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?Thanks Jens

Hi Jens-
Thank you for the definitive answer, its nice to have this cleared up. Like I said in my initial post, the third rail would make an interesting feature. Well, I could have the BR-52 in a railyard where, as you said the third rail could be seen.
Could you, please, explain this line of yours:
"And no, German railway guns were never regauged to Russian standards, the wider gauge of the Trumpeter K5 is in order to run it on garden railway hardware/ No 1 gauge rails."
I know it is not in reply to anything I said and seems to be saying Trumpeter gave their K5 inaccurate tracks because those tracks could be used with existing "garden railway hardware". I am wondering about this as it is, probably, a good indication of what we can expect to see in their BR-52 kit.
Thanks again-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
Jens_O_Mehner
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 511
Location: Giessen, Germany
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:52 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Ah,

don't worry Geoff, not aimed at you, just some general pre-emptive mentioning of facts since somebody somewhere is going to perk up, and will state that K5s were regauged because Trumpeter wouldn't dare to be un-prototypical... Their K5 is the better detailed of the two, but Dragon's is 1/35 through and through.

I would have loved to see the cranes necessary to lift a K5 in order to change its trucks- I can see a queue of K5s lined up at the DORA assembly yard, waiting to use the crane.

That would have been a great opportunity for some third-rail action, but the crafty railroad engineers regauged the track before the K5 was sent within firing range.

Incidentally, I hadn't even thought about the fact that the BR52 would probably run on No 1 gauge, which does translate into 1/32, but that's probably going to happen.

Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
Indrakrishnamurti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 12, 2006
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:09 am
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Jens and all,

It would not have been possible to have a three rail arrangement with the gauges (1435 mm and 1524 mm) would have been too close to allow the wheels running on the broader gauge to clear the inside gauge. The distance between the two would have been less than 10 cm. See the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_gauge) here for some information.

If the difference between gauges were larger, say 1435 mm and 1067 mm (as in pre-WW II Indonesia), it would have been possible to have three- rail mixed gauge track. It still required complicated switches/turnouts though.

Cheers,

Indra

- Jens_O_Mehner
Geoff,

the idea was to regauge the Russian rails to standard gauge so supply trains could run from the Reich all the way to the front, and an amazingly huge chunk of the Russian rail system was thus converted. In some places, where the territory wasn't in German hands long enough or not safe for the Eisenbahnpioniere, the Russian broad gauge remained, and captured equipment was used on it. There certainly were some stations/yards were some type of three-rail arrangement was in place (especially former border stations), but those lines didn't wander too far outside the original property.
Cheers,

Jens O.
Back to top
View user's profile
LeeW
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 26, 2006
Posts: 61

PostPosted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:14 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

Well you could set it up with the middle rail as the common rail but that would mean either desiging it that way from the begginning or adding more ties.
Back to top
View user's profile
jch_in_uk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Russian and German guage railway-third rail?

I've been told, by someone who admitted they were not certain of their facts, that the Germans added a third rail to Russian tracks that accomodated the Russian tracks to thier own guage. I mean that the Russian guage was left in place and the added third rail was there so that it and the other rail would be the German guage.


If you think about it, it's not really practical on existing railways, the 'standard gauge' is 4 foot 8 inches, the 'broad' (Soviet) gauge is 5 foot 3 inches, so the difference is 7 inches.

You could just about fit the extra rail on the sleeper (tie to our US colleagues), but there would not be a lot of space left outside the new rail on the sleeper.

In addition, points and crossovers would be a nightmare.

Dual gauge tracks do exist, usually only on narrow gauge railways, where the whole rail set-up was much lighter.

Hope this helps.

JH
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum