Sleepers

1
A railway sleeper is a rectangular object used as a
base for railroad tracks. Ties are members generally
laid transverse to the rails, on which the rails are
supported and fixed, to transfer the loads from rails to
the ballast and subgrade, and to hold the rails to the
correct gauge.

Types of Sleepers:
• Steel Sleepers
• Wooden Sleepers
• Concrete Sleepers
 Sleepers
Pre-Stressed Concrete Sleepers

A concrete sleeper is a railroad tie

made out of steel reinforced concrete.
Fastenings
The fastening of rails is usually taken care of by the
fasteners imbedded into the concrete.
Switches & Crossings (Turnouts)
•
Railway Sleepers
Depending upon the position in a railway track, sleepers may be
classified as:
– These are the early form of sleepers which are not commonly used
nowadays
• Longitudinal Sleepers: It consists of slabs of stones or pieces of woods
placed parallel to and underneath the rails. To maintain correct gauge of
the track, cross pieces are provided at regular intervals.
• At present this type of sleepers are discarded mainly because of the
following reasons.
– Running of the train is not smooth when this type of sleepers is used.
– Noise created by the track is considerable.
– Cost is high.
• Transverse Sleepers: Transverse sleepers introduced in 1835 and since
then they are universally used.
– Timber/wooden sleepers
– Steel sleepers
– Cast Iron Sleepers
– Concrete Sleepers
 Timber Sleepers
• The timber sleepers nearly fulfilled all the requirements of ideal sleepers and hence they are
universally used. The wood used may be like teak, sal etc or it may be coniferous like pine.
– The salient features of timber/wooden sleepers with advantages and disadvantages.
– Advantages of Timber Sleepers
• They are much useful for heavy loads and high speeds
– They have long life of 10-12 years depending upon the climate, condition, rain, intensity, nature of
traffic, quality of wood etc
– Good insulators and hence good for track circuited railway tracks
– They are able to accommodate any gauge
– Suitable for salty regions and coastal areas
– Can be used with any section of rail
– Can be handled and placed easily
– They are not badly damaged in case of derailment
– They are not corroded
– Cheaper than any other types of sleepers
•
• Disadvantages of Timber Sleepers
• Liable to be attacked by vermin so, they must be properly treated before use
• Liable to catch fire
• They do not resist creep
• They are affected by dry and wet rot
• Become expensive day by day
• Life is shorter compare to others
• Disadvantages of Timber Sleepers
• Liable to be attacked by vermin so, they must be properly treated before use
• Liable to catch fire
• They do not resist creep
• They are affected by dry and wet rot
• Become expensive day by day
• Life is shorter compare to others
 Steel sleepers
• They are in the form of steel trough inverted on which rails are fixed
directly by keys or nuts and bolts and used along sufficient length of
tracks.
• Advantages of Steel Sleepers
• Have a useful life of 20-25 years.
• Free from decay and are not attacked by vermins
• Connection between rail and sleeper is stronger
• Connection between rail and sleeper is simple
• More attention is not required after laying
• Having better lateral rigidity
• Good scrap value
• Suitable for high speeds and load
• Easy to handle
• Good resistance against creep
• Disadvantages of Steel sleepers
• Liable to corrosion by moisture and should not because in salty regions
• Good insulators and hence cannot be used in track circuited regions
• Cannot be used for all sections of rails and gauges
• Should not be laid with any other types of ballast except store
• Very costly
• Can badly damaged under derailments
• Way gauge is obtained if the keys are over driven
• The rail seat is weaker
• Having good shock absorber as there is not cushion between rail foot and ballast
 Cast Iron Sleepers
• They consist of two pots or plates with rib and connected by wrought iron tie
bar of section of about 2" ½" each pot or plate is placed below each rail. The
pot is oval in shape with larger diameter 2'-0" and smaller diameter 1'-8" is
preferred.
• Plate sleepers consist of rectangular plates of size about 2' – 10' x 1' – 0".
• The relative advantages and disadvantages are given below.
• Advantages of Cast Iron Sleepers
• Long life upto 50-60 years- High scrape value as they can be remolded
• Can be manufactured locally - Provided sufficient bearing area
• Much stronger at the rail seat - Prevent and check creep of rail
• They are not attacked by vermin
• Disadvantages Cast Iron Sleepers
• They are prone to corrosion and cannot be used in salty formations and
coastal areas - Not suitable for track circuited portions of railways
• Can badly damage under derailment
• Difficult to maintain the gauge as the two pots are independent
• Require a large number of fastening materials - Difficult to handle and may
be easily damaged - Lack of good shock absorber - They are expensive
 Concrete sleepers
• R.C.C and pre-stressed concrete sleepers are now replacing all other types
of sleepers except to some special circumstances such as crossing bridges
etc here timber sleepers are used.
• They were first of all used in France round about in 1914 but are common
since 1950. They may be a twin block sleepers joined by an angle iron. It
may be a single block pre-stressed type.
• Advantages Concrete Sleepers
• Durable with life range from 40-50 years
• They can be produced on large quantities locally by installing a plant
• Heavier than all other types thus giving better lateral stability to the track
• Good insulators and thus suitable for use in track circuited lines
• Efficient in controlling creep - They are not attacked by corrosion
• Free from attacks of vermin and decay, suitable for all types of soils
• Most suitable for welded tracks- Prevent buckling more efficiently
• Initial cost is high but proves to be economical in long run
• Effectively and strongly hold the track to gauge
• Inflammable and fire resistant
• Disadvantages Concrete Sleepers
– Difficult to be handled
– Difficult to be manufactured in different sizes thus cannot be used in
bridges and crossing
– Can be damaged easily while loading and unloading