On 22nd March 2017 a team from Haigh Rail came to stress the first 1.000 metres on the GWSR's extension to Broadway. Two anchor points of 5 fully cliped up panels are located at 500m each side of a central pulling point. The gap to be closed in the middle is calculated according to a number of variables, including the length and size of rail, and the temperature of the rail.
The rail is put on small rollers every 8 sleepers, and pulled together with hydraulic rams. It is then welded together, and the whole length fully clipped up.
This short film shows the stressing process, during which the two rails are pulled together for a distance of approximately 10 inches.
A description of the day's work can be foud on the extension blog of the GWSR:
broadwayextens...
15 сен 2024