"Insta-Track" (TM). At the WW&F Railway Museum, track-laying definitely follows a very scripted process. Once a pair of rails are in place, crews immediately begin attaching temporary gauge bars to hold the rails securely at the proper gauge distance. Since the rails are not spiked to the ties until after the work train passes over them, it is vital that they be securely held in position. The museum refers to the temporary gauge bars as "Insta-Track" and they are effective at holding the rails firmly enough to allow the train to proceed. The "Insta-Track" clamps are pressure-treated 4x4s, notched at the proper 24" spacing. Steel or wood slide plates on the top sides of these timbers are then positioned and clamped against the web of the rail on both sides, to provide additional support and prevent it from rolling. Typically, three of the Insta-Track clamps are used to support one complete section of rail. Once the train passes, and the spiking crew is done with their work, the "Insta-Track" clamps are removed and brought forward for re-use.
