Friends,
I have always wondered how the real world railroads create curved track. Are the rails bent at the steel mill when made or are they bent on sight when the track is laid? I am very curious. 
Its bent in place. Continuous welded rail (CWR) is actually transported on a string of specialized, permanently coupled flat cars. It is flexible enough to bend as the train goes around curves.
As with welded rail jointed rail is laid and spiked to ties. When a curves area is reached it maybe staked for degree of curve if new track. It is then lined to the stake to forum the curve. Jointed rail is much like welded when all bolted together You can move and curve it as it acts just like spaghetti. Later RJD
Thanks guys. I really had no idea how it was done until you explained CWR. I then found this video which shows how flexible CWR really is!
Yes, side to side the rail is somewhat flexible. Up and down its less flexible. For the real tight curves of some railroads, think narrow gauge, they will sometimes use a railbender on site. And girder rail, like used in street railways, has to be curved on a machine.
Amazing to see a trail load of rail “snaking” along the track . . . . . (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)I’ve seen it a couple of times.
I think its cool to see the rail dropped of beside the track. It looks to so flexible the way it snakes alongside the ballast.
Joe, take two 5 ft lengths of brass or stainless 332 rail, clamp them together with a Hillmans or Split Jaw (no ties), and observe just how wibbly wobbly they are. Aluminum is even more loosie goosie, and .250 or .215 is wobbly at just 5 ft, without being hooked up to another rail.
Steve,
I see what you are getting at. I just did not think real steel rail used in 1:1 railroading was so flexible. I am amazed! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
