TYPES OF SLEEPERS AND SLEEPER MAINTENANCE

Wood, steel, and concrete sleepers are compared based on experience to date with each type. No alternative has been found to the cross-tie or sleeper and timber was almost universally preferred at the time. Steel sleepers begin to fail from corrosion followed by cracks around the baseplate. Concrete sleepers may fail through cracking with ultimate exposure of the reinforcement. On an annual cost basis concrete may prove to be the cheapest sleeper - but this opinion is based on an estimated 50 year life for pre-stressed sleepers and experience is insufficient to justify the estimate. Preservation of wood sleepers is usualy by creosoting. The article concludes that treated timber sleepers with fastenings are approximate in cost to steel sleepers, with concrete sleepers costing more than either.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Authors:
  • Train, JCL
• Publication Date: 1947-6-13

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 615
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 86

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Concrete; Concrete ties; Corrosion; Costs; Cracking; Creosote; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue (Physiological condition); Preservation; Railroad ties; Soil compaction; Steel; Technology; Wood ties
• Geographic Terms: Africa; India; United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Corrosion fatigue; Creosoting; Steel cross ties; Wooden cross ties
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037912
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 4 1994 12:00AM