[PRCo] Re: Fwd: RE: Brooklyn Trolley Track

[Dennis Lamont]

The flat section, known as the "tram" was intentional and was intended to get the steel wagon tires off the adjoining pavement. 
Attached is the patent and pass design for Jaybird if anyone out there want to roll it again.
The flat section was indeed intentional ...It replaced the same contour as the corresponding strap rail with the advantage that it could be laid on ties not stringers.Jaybird was designed for dirt roads where the teamsters best choice (backed by law) was the rail on a muddy day. Later on it was rolled in sections to match standard paving blocks in 6, 7 & 8 inch heights.  The second attachment is a failed jaybird design ...a nine inch girder designed for granite block.  They could not figure out a one piece pass design so they rolled a top half and a bottom half and welded them together electrically every four feet (the bulge in the middle.  This was an Arthur Moxham (Johnson's rolling expert) patent.  This design did not work and later they managed to roll it in a full section.  The proper section was used in all the granite block streets in Cleveland as originally laid.  The Johnson Company's were experts in the welding of rail joints
 electrically, both spot weld and forge weld were available in large installations but nowhere near as convenient as the thermite process.The Jaybird book is out of print but an internet version is available.  We have a fairly complete photograph collection of the plant in Lorain from a pasture to a giant. including the rail mill.
Dennis ....spent 32 years there
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