I have always wondered why sidings and spurs are set lower than the main-line? Can't find any info on it anywhere! Anybody know the answer?
They build up the ground under the main and put the tracks on a pile of gravel so the water will drain better. Keeps the ties from rotting. Keeps the iron from rusting. Keeps the track from getting out of alignment as it sinks in the mud. Keeps water from shoving it out of alignment in heavy storms. Also, they will go to the trouble to build a roadbed up through slight depressions in the ground, evening the line out, because mainlines are more likely to see a train which is hauling just about all it can without slipping its drivers--especially back in the steam days. That happens less often off the main line. Spurs aren't worth the money to do all that. Yards might be worth the money to do all that, if it didn't take (number of tracks) times as much money to do it. So, you can't find the information because you have your question backwards. They aren't set lower. The main line is set higher!
"So, you can't find the information because you have your question backwards. They aren't set lower. The main line is set higher!" LOL ... the story of my life! Yeah, that makes sense. I should have thought about the water issue. The Yreka Western has a place we call, "The Swamp." It is located below a small earthen dam, which is built on a porous volcanic base. The water seeps out from under the dam and collects under the rails. Over the years, we have dumped I don't know how many hundreds of yards of ballast, and tried to support the rails by placing hundreds of ties ... all of which simply disappear into the swamp. I've always imagined there is a rice farmer in China that keeps finding ties floating in his paddy! LOL Thanks for your response.
I always thought, maybe erroneously, that sidings and spurs were lower to also help prevent improperly braked cars from rolling back onto the main.
Mains end up higher, as they receive much more care, including freshened ballast, than sidings. Rick may also have a point.
