What is the maximum freight speed allowed at rails where one joint is two inches low and another is one quarter inch low?

In this scenario, the maximum freight speed is determined by assessing the vertical alignment of the rail joints. When a rail joint is lower than the surrounding rail, it creates a potential hazard that could lead to derailments or accidents if approached at high speeds.

In general, the rules for freight movement dictate that as the severity of misalignment increases, the permissible speed decreases. A joint that is two inches low is significantly misaligned and presents a more serious risk compared to a joint that is only a quarter inch low.

For a joint that is two inches low, operational guidelines typically set a maximum speed of 40 mph for freight. However, if the joint raising only measures a quarter inch, it could allow for slightly higher speeds, perhaps around 50 mph or even 60 mph, depending on additional conditions like track condition, the type of train, and other safety factors.

In this specific case, since one of the misaligned joints is two inches low, this directly influences the maximum speed limit across the stretch of track impacted by that joint, which is set at 40 mph. Thus, the overall operational limit must account for the more severe misalignment, making 60 mph an unsafe speed.

This aligns with safe railroad operation standards,