STEEL TIES: A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE

Steel crossties are a viable, cost-effective alternative to wood and concrete, but they are not new to the railway industry. Steel ties have been used in Europe since the early 1800s. A recent report indicated that the life of steel ties is much greater than wood ties in the same track under identical conditions. Although the traffic density, matrix, and other conditions in Europe do not apply to the United States, there is no reason, that the modern steel crosstie design would not apply in the United States. In addition, an extensive research program was recently conducted to develop and test a range of steel ties, which covered the spectrum of operating requirements from iron ore operations to secondary lines. The analyses included ballast depth and tie spacing requirements. All track system components were tested, including insulating pads and fasteners. Finally, Omark Industries developed a computer program to compare costs of different types of ties, including wood, concrete, and steel.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/953/953-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=STEEL+TIES%3A+A+VIABLE+ALTERNATIVE&author=A.+D%27Attoma&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309036739
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Track Structure System Design. 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:
  • D'Attoma, Angelo M
• 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
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 21-29
• Monograph Title: Rail papers - 1984
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 953
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric insulating materials; Feasibility analysis; Insulating materials; Rail fasteners; Railroad ties; Railroad tracks; Service life; Spacing; Steel; Technology; Tie pads; Track ballast
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Old TRIS Terms: Cross tie spacing; Steel cross ties; Track structures
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Economics; Highways; Public Transportation; Railroads; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391334
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036739
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM