Details on Norwood incident - Trains Magazine

zugmann

155# rail was impressive.  Almost needed a stepladder to get over it. . . . [snipped - PDN]

I used to comment that walking down track with the 152 / 155 PS rail was kind of like walking down a hallway with handrails - the durn stuff looked like it was that high !

Track with 152 or 155 PS rail also looked like narrow gauge, from a height of rail vs. gauge distance perspective:

NG gauge ratio = 3.0 ft. / 4.71 = 0.64

8" high 152 or 155 PS rail x 0.64 = 5.1" 

Oh yeah - that would be about the same as some 85 lb. rails, and that's way heavier than most NG's ever were.

Said another way, 152/ 155 PS in standard gauge track would look taller compared to the gauge than 85 lb. in narrow gauge - so the 152 / 155 would even narrower ! 

 

As MC indicates, there are some standards for the maximum rail height change at a compromise joint or a welded joint.  That is to reduce the effect of the unequal strengths and deflections in the different rail sizes, and which could lead to stress concentrations.  For example, a typical limitation would be not more than 1" of rail height change at such a joint.  So the one that MC mentions would need about 3 such joints: 8" to 7+", 7+" to 6+", and 6+" to 5-1/8"; maybe a 4th if a rail section is not available to precisely accomodate/create those 'steps' in height.   

As zug indicates, there's still some 152 / 155 PS around if you know where to look.  Since most of it is on former branch lines (coal or "mineral" traffic) or yards, is so strong and stiff, and not seeing much traffic any more, it'll still be there after we're all long gone (unless it corrodes away first from the acids from all the coal dust/ dirt . . . ). 

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)