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topic: 3821Loose heel switches - longlevity
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posted: 23 Nov 2020 16:23

from:

Nigel Brown
 
 

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I'm trying to get an idea of the length of the period in which loose-heel switches were used and in what capacity. This is in steam days.

As I understand it, REA flexible switches were introduced in the 1920s, with the GWR introducing similar switches in the 1930s, although the GWR first started trying them somewhat earlier. Presumably they gradually displaced loose-heel switches, over a period of time, indeed in some cases may not have displaced them at all; as I understand it the GWR in sidings tended to stick to loose-heel switches rather than flexible A switches.

My guess is that high speed running lines and lines carrying heavy traffic acquired flexible switches first. But what was the time scale? At the end of WWII would there still be a number of such lines using loose-heel switches? Would this still apply into BR days.

I'd expect branch lines and possibly some secondary through routes to take longer, maybe generally into BR days? Were there still branch lines using loose-heel when the Beeching axe fell?

I'd expect a lot of sidings to continue with loose-heel, maybe through to the end of steam? Were loos-heel still being installed new?

Is the above anywhere near reasonable? Comments gratefully received :)

Nigel




posted: 23 Nov 2020 18:40

from:

Phil O
 
Plymouth - United Kingdom

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Hi Nigel,

The trailing turnouts at Cranmore station are still loose heel switches, I can't remember what the switches are on the loop turnouts. So you can legitimately use them in branchline situations and by default sidings.

Cheers

Phil.

posted: 24 Nov 2020 14:54

from:

Nigel Brown
 
 

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Phil O wrote:
Hi Nigel,

The trailing turnouts at Cranmore station are still loose heel switches, I can't remember what the switches are on the loop turnouts. So you can legitimately use them in branchline situations and by default sidings.

Cheers

Phil.
Thanks for the info. I'm wondering how general this sort of thing was.

Nigel

posted: 24 Nov 2020 18:17

from:

Phil O
 
Plymouth - United Kingdom

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In some areas they are still fitting new bullhead rail, so there's a good chance that it would be fairly widespread on lesser routes and freight only routes.

I have walked some of the route from Radstock towards Frome and ditched in the side is a lot of track including the odd turnout, but I can't remember what the switches were, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to find loose heels.


Phil.



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