Low-cost conversion of bolted track to continuously welded rail Free

A major source of cost saving in the approach to conversion presented by Mr Cannon was the avoidance of rail cropping. A number of speakers queried this practice, given the difficulties it presented of battered rail ends, quality control of welding, cleaning etc. It was suggested that cropping could be cost-effective. Mr Cannon stated that his cost analysis had been based on the assumption that there was to be minimal disturbance to normal operations and that conversion work would be undertaken during the night. In many cases a good quality product could be produced, at a rate typical of the normal welding cycle time, without end cropping. In such cases it was difficult to see how cropping could turn out to be more cost-effective.