Mystery Piece of Railway Infrastructure

[danny1962]

I wonder if anyone knows what this cylindrical metal thing is... it's centre shot, and about the size of a large bucket. I have seen them before whilst waiting at railway stations but I'm seeing fewer of them nowadays.

plus.google.com/photos/110055669501444994025/albums/posts?banner=pwa

I took the photo on Strood station this morning. Like many railway lines south of London, the power is delivered by a 750v DC 3rd rail. I don't know if that helps to identify the mystery object.

[yv47r]

Hi Danny, I would say with my railway hat on that this is a flange lubrication reservoir or whatever the technical name is for it.

It holds a lubricating grease that is applied to the inner face of the rail just below the rail head itself and I think slowly releases the lubricant or is activated when wheels press against it. Lubricant is then spread along the inside face of the railhead to reduce wear on the railhead side and the wheel flanges especially where the track is on a curve. Quite a common piece of kit on the network.

HTH Cheers Paul

[danny1962]

Thanks Paul, that would make sense. Soon after the point where the picture was taken the track takes a sharp left. There are quite a few sharp bends in the railway tracks in this area and you can frequently hear the high pitched scraping noise as the trains make their turns. I'm sure it must annoy the local residents.

[Flash Bristow]

I love that we have railway folk here. I'm friends with quite a few on twitter too :-)

[rillington]

well I've always said that pylon enthusiasts also seem to be railway enthusiasts.

[yv47r]

Yep the two do seem to gel together quite well really, railways ducking under pylon routes all across the countryside and suburbia