rack rail 'line-up' question-how is it done in real life?

stevedenver

stevedenver

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How do real rack locos, which also are run adhesion, without rack, as on the Ballenburg line, go from adhesion rail onto a rack and get the teeth to mesh?

Obviously, it seems, the rack is a tight fit, and, I presume, one cant simply run a loco over the rack and hope it will lift and drop fit into place. How is this done on 1:1 rack trains?

ah , life's mysteries.
 
there is a short, transition section, which has a mesh tack on it, to locate the rack cog. ..hard to explain, but itas on qiute a few videos ive seen.. the mesh track moves/sets the cog. to the racjk
 
There can be a slight 'crunch' - broadly akin to SWMBO trying to find reverse. In Switzerland there is a trackside A sign and the driver slows right down before he hits the ramp. On the big lines like the MGB you would never know, but on minor lines like the Yverdon Ste. Croix the transition can be a bit 'crunchy'. Stuttgart had a rack tram route (9?)with the transition ramp in the street so they must have it off to a fine art.
 
Have a look here (pictures). It looks like the teeth just get bigger.
http://www.geolocation.ws/v/W/File%3ACH%20Gleis%20Furka-Bergstrecke.jpg/-/en
 
On many steam locos the rack drive was separate so it was allowed to freewheel until engaged then the driver powers up the second regulator and the adhesion drive free wheels. On something like Snowdon where there is no adhesion section the wheels are free to rotate on the axle with only the cog powered.
There are valves that allow the pistons to move without compression but still allow lubrication to flow into the cylinders not under power.
 
I believe the transition section is also sprung, so it can 'bounce' of any mis-aligned teeth....
 
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