I'm in possession of a railroad curve lining instrument.?ÿ It is called a "Curve Arc Liner" and was manufactured by American Railroad Curvelining".?ÿ The company no longer exist.?ÿ I'm trying to locate the operating instructions.?ÿ It was used by railroad engineering department to determine throws (+ or -) to develop a smooth riding curve.?ÿ Engineering employees would visit the curve, take degree of curvature station readings every 31' using a 62' chord.?ÿ They would then manually enter the readings into the Curve Arc Liner (all mechanical, no battery).?ÿ The operator of the instrument would then begin to turn the knob at each station which had a effect to the stations on either side.?ÿ Upon completion the field forces would the physically throw (+ or -) the curve at each station based on the results of the Arc Liner.?ÿ I believe this instrument was used in the 1940's.?ÿ I will attempt to attach a picture.?ÿ If unable and you may have info pertaining to my request, please contact me at chetrhodes@graceba.net.
?ÿ
I have no info but I must admit, that is about the coolest thing I have seen in a long time!
James
I'll have to check my notes when I get home but I thought the chord was supposed to be closer to 62 ft.?ÿ Some magic chord length makes the distance from the center of the chord to the arc of the rail, measured in inches? or tenths of ft? equal to the degree of curve (railroad chord def).
My calculation says 61.8 ft chord gives a mid-ordinate in inches equal to the railroad-definition degree of curve.?ÿ My brother used to do track work and he said they used 62 ft.
