Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Discussion about the Walt Disney World Railroad
Post Reply
mSummers
Passenger
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:00 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by mSummers »

I am working on a project that will involve some new tracks at a museum, however we want to do something to make crossing the tracks that are going to be embedded in pavement more pedestrian and wheelchair friendly. My first thought was to use the rubber inserts that Disney uses in the flangeways of the trolley tracks during parades, but I haven't been able to find them on the internet.

Does anyone here know if that's an off the shelf product and if so send me the details?
User avatar
CP173
1000 post Engineer
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 2:06 am
Contact:

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by CP173 »

Disney uses rubber inserts? Must be a WDW thing because I don't recall ever seeing this occur at Disneyland.
User avatar
Steve
Chief Engineer
Posts: 3683
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:03 am
Location: Burnsland, TN
Contact:

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by Steve »

CP173 wrote: Tue Aug 15, 2023 8:33 pm Disney uses rubber inserts? Must be a WDW thing because I don't recall ever seeing this occur at Disneyland.
They have been using them at WDW for about as long as I can remember, which is getting longer and longer these days. I don't know for certain that they used them during my first visit in 1983. But I do know they have been using them for a long time.
Image
Steve DeGaetano
8000 post Engineer
Posts: 9215
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by Steve DeGaetano »

I would start investigating commercial grade crossing/track maintenance companies. Sharp & Fellows, perhaps? The company that re-did the DRR main line years ago?
Steve

The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
User avatar
WesternRiverRR
Passenger
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:59 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by WesternRiverRR »

I don't remember who we bought those from - I had some insight on that (tangental) when working on the Eastern Star.

Most of my emails are long gone - but I had a quick look. Not sure if this is who the contract ultimately went to, but they were on the list at the time:

Poly-Corp

https://www.poly-corp.com/Rail/IndustrialPorts (scroll down on the page)



Flangeway Fillers

Polycorp Flangeway Fillers can be used as a retrofit for existing open flangeways or as a component of new construction. These flangeway fillers reduce safety concerns by allowing a smooth transition for pedestrian traffic or small tired vehicles such as forklifts and tool carts.



Removable Design

Road closure and detours are often the worst part of any urban construction. The track structure, because it is used by all modes of transport; vehicular, rail and pedestrian, sees excessive wear of crucial components. This results in repetitive construction costs, and delays and inconvenience for the motoring public.

Polycorp guaranteed "Removable Design" rubber interface allows access to the rail and fastening system, without the costly road construction. Detours are avoided by doing the work in controllable portions in off service hours.
User avatar
WesternRiverRR
Passenger
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:59 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by WesternRiverRR »

**Edit just to say - it's also possible that Central Shops was purchasing something like the flange way filler, and then "slicing off" the lower sections that extended down, and under, the foot of the rail - creating the narrow sections you see on Main Street.

So it may have been an off-the-shelf product that was further modified by WDW. Honestly can't remember.
(It's been 16 years - so memory is fuzzy at best! :lol: )

Good Luck!
Steve DeGaetano
8000 post Engineer
Posts: 9215
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:06 pm
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by Steve DeGaetano »

These flangeway fillers reduce safety concerns by allowing a smooth transition for pedestrian traffic or small tired vehicles
I read this and thought, "do small vehicles really get tired more than most?"
Steve

The latest edition of Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! is now available to pre-order, with a special price for Burnslanders! You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from http://www.burnsland.com/store/dlrrbook.shtml
Brian
Engineer
Posts: 519
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:14 pm
Location: Livermore CA

Re: Rubber Inserts for Trolly Tracks on Main Street

Post by Brian »

Steve DeGaetano wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 9:32 am
These flangeway fillers reduce safety concerns by allowing a smooth transition for pedestrian traffic or small tired vehicles
I read this and thought, "do small vehicles really get tired more than most?"
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Post Reply