Curve Crossings As a supplier, Century Group Inc. is proactive in the railroad industry by ensuring that all sales and technical field representatives have been through the Class I Railroad’s e-rail safe program, the Roadway Worker On-Track Safety program overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program (TWIC) implemented by Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and the U. S. Coast Guard. Safety and security at jobsites is the highest priority at Century Group Inc.
Experience There are many instances in which highway / railway grade crossings are installed in curved track. Whether it is a perfect curve, compound curve or reverse curve, Century Group Inc. has the expertise to design and manufacture custom concrete railroad grade crossing panels to fit your specific curved track configuration. Having been in the railroad construction business for over four decades, Century Group possesses the technical skills and knowledge to manufacture custom grade crossing panels for the most challenging curved railroad track situations. Concrete Railroad Crossing In Spiral Curve
Manufacturing custom concrete crossing panels for curved track insures a good fit, minimizing gaps where the panels abut each other, maintains a safe consistent flangeway filler width and insures that the panels abut at or near the center of the crossties. The greater the length and degree of curve in a railroad grade crossing, the more critical it is to manufacture a custom grade crossing panel to insure proper installation and to maintain the structural integrity and service life of the concrete crossing panels. Concrete Railroad Crossing In Compound Curve Crossing In Reverse Curve
It is very important that the railroad contractor building the new track for the curved grade crossing uses the correct tie spacing. Any curved track 3º or greater built to accept concrete grade crossing panels will require special tie spacing based on the degree of curvature of the railroad track. As previously mentioned, the greater the degree of curvature of the track or the length of the concrete grade crossing makes tie spacing even more critical to insure proper installation of the concrete crossing panels. Longer crossings in hard curves can cause the concrete crossing panels to “walk offf the ties” if the correct tie spacing is not utilized during construction of the track structure. Century Group provides its customers with the proper tie spacing based on the degree of curvature. If the concrete crossing panels begin to walk off the ties during an installation, the lag screw holes will not line up with the center of the crossties (wood) as designed. In this case, the lag screw will be installed toward the edge of the crosstie or miss the tie altogether. When crossing panels “walk off” the crossties, the panels do not abut one another in the center
www.centurygrp.com Contact the Century Group Railroad Products Division at 1-800-527-5232, Ext. 118 of the crosstie as designed. This situation allows for some of the concrete panels to not be fully supported by the crossties thus subjecting the panels to additional loading. Once an order for a curved crossing is received by Century Group, we are capable of furnishing drawings and instructions on how to space the crossties to insure a proper installation. Curved Crossing Intermodal Port Perfect Curve In many instances highway / railway grade crossings are located in a simple or perfect curve. In this situation the railroad grade crossing is located in the track having the same consistent degree of curvature thus all panels would be manufactured for the same degree of curve.
Compound Curve At times, a grade crossing will fall into an area of track where there is a compound curve. A compound curve crossing may sometimes have tangent panels and up to several different size panels to fit varying degrees of curvature. It is essential that the track is constructed with the proper tie spacing that will properly accept the various curved crossing panels.
Crossing In Compound Curve
Reverse Curves In some situations a highway / railroad grade crossing may be located in a reverse curve design where the railroad tracks are curved in one direction and reverse into a curve in the opposite direction. Normally grade crossings in reverse curves are in industrial or yard track settings with slow rail traffic. What is critical in designing and manufacturing a concrete grade crossing panel in a reverse curve is the layout of the track, making sure that crossties are spaced correctly and that the right custom panels are manufactured for the various degrees of curvature. Depending upon where the grade crossing begins and ends, it is not uncommon to have three to four different types of custom curved panels manufactured to fit the varying degrees of curvature. In many cases a crossing located in a reverse curve will require both tangent, transition and curved panels to fit multiple degrees of curvature. Knowing how to measure the curve, laying out the correct tie spacing and manufacturing the custom curved crossing panels is important to insure a good installation. Century Group’s field tech’s are available to assist in these areas.
Curved Concrete Crossing Panels
Century Group manufactures curved crossing panels for curves up to 33 degrees. Although most curves in railroad tracks are not this sharp, it is not uncommon to have tracks with a greater degree of curvature in industrial settings where rail traffic operates at very low speeds.
Custom Curved Crossing Panels
Curved Concrete Grade Crossing
www.centurygrp.com Contact the Century Group Railroad Products Division at 1-800-527-5232, Ext. 118 Technical Support Century Group’s technical support staff has over four decades of railroad construction experience and can provide information to owners, engineers and railroad contractors regarding the correct crosstie spacing, installation procedures, specifications and other critical information to insure that your curved concrete railroad crossing panels are designed and installed properly. If required, Century Group can provide onsite technical support to assist in measuring curves and/or assist with installation of the custom curved crossing panels. Century Curved Highway Grade Crossing Curved Crossings At Commuter Rail Establishing the Limits of the Grade Crossing Another important aspect in developing a curved crossing project is to find the limits of the crossing and determine the overall length of the crossing in 9’ increments to match the standard Century concrete crossing panel length of 9 foot. (Note: depending upon the location of your railroad grade crossing, regulations and laws may vary on the distance that your crossing surface must extend past the shoulder of the roadway. Generally most local and state agencies require that the crossing panel surface extends at least three foot beyond edge of curb or shoulder of the road or highway. It is advisable to check with your local and/or state officials to insure that your project meets applicable highway standards.)
Curved Concrete Railroad Crossing Curved Concrete Crossing Measuring Degree of Curve String lining to measure curves by the chord method is commonly used throughout the railroad industry. Century Group Inc. has repeatedly used this method to measure curved crossing with great success. In most cases where simple curves are involved, Century Group relies on the owner or contractor to furnish curve data to be used to produce the custom curved crossing panels to meet your specific project needs. Should you have a compound or reverse curve where a grade crossing is required, Century Group can send a field representative to measure the curves and assist the owner, engineer or railroad contractor in developing the scope of work to insure a quality concrete grade crossing installation. As mentioned previously, accurate curve data and crosstie spacing are critical for a good curved crossing installation.
Concrete Crossing In Compound Curve
Measure the rail throughout the proposed crossing location and document the actual measurement taken at each station. While measuring the degree of curvature of the crossing, document the measurements on the Century Group instruction document or a hand sketch if required. This information should be sent to Century Group by clicking on the link to email the Century Group Railroad Products Division or fax to 1-800-887-2153.
If your project calls for a grade crossing in a curve, give us a call because Century Group is second to none when it comes to resources and commitment to handle your most complicated curved railroad crossing project. Century Curved Railroad Crossing Panels on Municipal Highway www.centurygrp.com Contact the Century Group Railroad Products Division at 1-800-527-5232, Ext. 118