In rail track construction, two parallel steel rails are anchored perpendicularly to tie members (i.e. rail ties) for maintaining a consistent distance or gauge between the two rails. Train or streetcar wheels are generally in the form of conical, flanged wheels with the smaller diameter end of the wheel being located on the top of the rail and the larger diameter, flanged-end of the wheel being located on the inner or “gauge” side of the rail as the train or streetcar travels over the tracks. The train wheels run along the upper surfaces of the steel rails with the flanged inner end or larger diameter end of the wheel being guided along the inside edge of the track.
The design and structure of rail crossings where rail tracks intersect with or share vehicular roadways or pedestrian crossings can present certain challenges with regard to the competing requirements of rail traffic versus vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. More specifically, the structure of rail car wheels requires that a gap be provided along the inside edge of each track to allow the larger diameter end or the flanged-end of the wheels to engage the tracks. The engagement between the flanged-end of the wheel with the inside edge of the rail ensures that the train stays in contact with the rails as it travels along the tracks. The gap along the inside edge of the rails that is required to accommodate the wheel flange can present certain challenges in rail track or rail crossing constructions, and especially in situations where the rails are embedded within long lengths of roadways such as in the case of streetcar track constructions where the streetcars share the same roadway as the vehicular traffic over various distances. A large gap adjacent the rails is undesirable for vehicular traffic as it creates an uneven road surface and presents certain dangers to pedestrians as well as bicycle traffic, strollers, wheel chairs, etc. More specifically, people walking across the tracks can get their shoes/heels stuck in the gap and the smaller width bicycle tires, stroller wheels and/or wheel chair wheels can get also get stuck in the gaps. Having large gaps adjacent the rails also presents the problem of possible debris build-up within the gap which can lead to derailment of a passing train or rail car.
Rail seals made of rubber or another elastomeric material are often used in the gap between the rails and the surrounding road surface to help fill and/or reduce the size of the gap adjacent the rails. The rail seals are formed with a recess or flangeway in the upper surface thereof adjacent the rail head to provide an adequate gap for receiving the flanged-end of the train wheel while still providing a generally even, continuous surface between the rails and the road surface. In the case of streetcar tracks or rail crossings where the tracks are embedded within the road surface (i.e. poured asphalt or concrete), track maintenance and repair is somewhat difficult in the sense that the surrounding road surface must be dug-up and the rail seal removed in order to gain access to the rails. Accordingly, repairs and maintenance can be quite costly in the sense that the rail seal and the surrounding road surface must be replaced.
Accordingly, there is a continuous need to improve rail track construction, especially in the area of streetcar track design, to ensure that the requirements of rail traffic, vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic are met.