RAIL PAPERS--1984. INTRODUCTION

The role of the cross tie in railroad track is discussed, initially as part of a system that also includes rails, ballast and fasteners. The history of the cross tie track structure and its rivals is described. Emerging as the dominant system, the crosstie is expected to accept and transmit vertical and transverse loads without failure or excessive deflection or deformation, to hold rails in gauge, to hold the track in line and surface in conjunction with granular ballast, to facilitate restoration of the track structure, and to do all these at resonable first and replacement cost. From the beginning of the 20th century, the track structure was analyzed more thoroughly and by 1918 an AREA committee developed the concept of track modulus. The fuction of the crosstie could then be more clearly defined. Since then the materials from which to fashion ties have also been expanded and studied. Preservatives changed the economics of the wooden cross tie and the concrete tie has entered the North American scene. Economic analysis of the competing materials has become more sophisticated, as have also track structure design procedures.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/953/953-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RAIL+PAPERS--1984.+INTRODUCTION&author=G.+Way&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record N953, Rail Papers-1984. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Way, George H
• Conference:
  • 63rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1984-1-16 to 1984-1-20
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 3-4
• Monograph Title: Rail papers - 1984
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 953
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Concrete ties; Design; Economic analysis; History; Modulus; Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Service life; Wood ties
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria; Track modulus
• Old TRIS Terms: Track structures; Wooden cross ties
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Economics; Highways; History; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391330
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036739
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM