Sleepers

and fastenings
 Main function of Sleepers
• Holding rails to correct gauge and
alignment.
• Firm and even support to rails.
• Transferring the load evenly from rails to
wider area of ballast.
• Elastic medium between rails and ballast.
• Providing longitudinal and lateral stability.
 Laying of Sleepers
• Sleepers shall be laid square to rails on
straight and radially on curve.
• The sleeper spacing should be marked on
outer rail in case of curved track.
• Closer spacing should be provided at joint
sleepers of fish plated joints and between
joint sleeper and shoulder sleeper.
• Rail joints should be suspended.
Suspended Joint
 Sleeper density
• The sleeper density is the number of
sleepers used per rail length.
• Described as M+1, M+2, M+3 etc. Where
M is the length of standard rail in meters.
• In case of LWR/CWR, this is expressed in
number of sleeper per Km of track.
• Sleeper density depends upon max.
permissible speed and traffic density.
 Types of Sleepers
 Wooden Sleepers

 Cast Iron Sleepers

 Steel Sleepers

 Concrete Sleepers
Wooden Sleepers
 Classification of wooden sleepers

• Untreated Sleeper – ‘U’

• Treated Sleeper – ‘T’

 Advantages/Disadvantages of
wooden Sleepers
Advantages
i) Easy to manufacture and handling.
ii) Suitable for track circuited area.
iii) Can be used with or without ballast.
iv) Suitable for bridges, Points/Crossings.
v) Suitable for gaunteletted track.
vi) Alignment can be easily corrected.
 Contd. …
Disadvantages:
i) Lesser life.
ii) Liable to damage by beater packing.
iii) Difficult to maintain the gauge.
iv) Susceptible to fire hazards.
Description of Wooden Sleepers
Size of wooden sleepers in mm :
B.G. : For ordinary track 2750x250x130
(9’x10”x5”)
Durable and non durable types of sleepers.
Life of Sleeper:
Durable –19 years (B.G.)/ 31 years (M.G.)
Non-Durable- 12 to16 years.
• Adzing of wooden sleeper
• End Binding of sleepers
• Stacking of sleepers
• Auguring of sleeper – T and U category
• Fixing of screw spike
• Dating
Number of Screw/Spike per Rail seat

Joint sleepers, Bridge timbers turn out Four

sleepers

Intermediate sleepers on curves on Three

other than branch lines

Intermediate sleepers on curve on Two

branch lines and on straight
Canted Bearing plate
 Use of Bearing Plates
• ‘T’ Category sleepers
• Girder Bridges
• Turn outs
• Ash pits and examination pits
• On sharp curve of radius less than 600 m on
B.G. and M.G.
Cast Iron Sleepers
 Cast Iron Sleepers
Type of Cast Iron Sleepers:
A) C. I. Pot Sleepers
B) C S T- 9 Sleepers
Advantages of Cast Iron Sleepers:
i) Lesser corrosion.
ii) Easy handling due to light weight.
iii) Higher Scrap value.
Pot sleeper
CST-9 Sleeper
 Contd. …
Disadvantages of Cast Iron Sleepers:
i) Not suitable for high speed route.
ii) Difficult to maintain the Gauge.
iii) Lesser lateral stability.
iv) Not fit for track circuited area.
v) Not suitable for mechanical maintenance.
vi) Tie bars weakened by corrosion.
Usual defects in CST-9 Sleepers
• Cracks at rail seats or fracture
• Wear of lug and rail seat
• Tie bars weakened by corrosion, broken or
damaged by falling of wagon parts.
• Corrosion of tie bars inside the cast iron
plates.
ST Sleeper
 Steel trough Sleepers
Types of S.T. Sleepers
i) ST sleepers with Pressed up lugs.
ii) ST Sleepers with loose jaws.
iii) Bolt and clip type ST Sleepers.
iv) Special ST Sleepers for Turn out.
v) ST Sleepers with pad plates for use with
elastic rail clip.
ST Sleeper with pressed up lug
ST Sleepers with loose jaws
 Contd. …
Advantages of ST Sleepers:
i) Longer life
ii) Better Stability
iii) Lesser damage during handling /Transport
iv) Easy to maintain Gauge
v) Simple Manufacturing Process
vi) High Scrap value
 Contd. …
Disadvantages of ST Sleepers:
i) Liable for corrosion.
ii) Not fit for track circuited area.
iii) Develops cracks at rail seat during
service.
iv) Can only be used for rails for which it is
manufactured.
Usual defects in ST Sleepers
• Rusted and corroded metal
• Cracks at rail seat or near the lugs
• Elongation of holes
Inspection of sleepers- Over 20 years old
Precautions during maintenance
Reconditioning of sleeper
Concrete Sleepers
Concrete Sleepers & Fastenings
Types of concrete Sleepers:
i)Mono-block Prestressed Concrete
Sleepers.
a) PSC-12 for 52 Kg Rails
b) PSC-14 for 60 Kg Rails
ii) Two block reinforced concrete Sleepers.
 Contd. …
Main features of PSC-12/PSC-14 Sleepers:
Length : 2750 mm
Weight : 267 Kg
Reinforcement : 18 number 3mm dia HTS
stands
Dist bet. Insert at rail seat :148mm/162 mm
Service Life : 50 to 60 years.
 Contd. …
Advantages of concrete Sleepers:
i) Greater stability.
ii) Track geometry maintained for much.
longer duration hence economical.
iii) Best suited for machine maintenance.
iv) Suitable for Track circuiting area.
 Contd. …
v) No chances of damage by fire/ corrosion
vi) No possibility of theft.
vii) No chances of gauge widening.
viii) 60 Kg Sleeper can be used for 52 Kg rail.
ix) Best suited for LWR track.
x) Best performance on P & C, S.E.J. Guard
rails , Level Crossings, Check rail in curve.
 Contd. …
Disadvantage :
i) Handling and laying is difficult being
heavy.
ii) Damage is very heavy in case of
derailment.
iii) No scrap value.
iv) Not suitable for manual packing.
 Contd. …
Conditions for laying Concrete Sleepers:
i) Track should be deep screened.
ii) Cuttings having rocky bed should have
clean ballast cushion of at least 300 mm.
iii)On Arch bridges formation cover min. 1 m.
iv) On other bridges ballast cushion not less
than 300 mm.
 Elastic Fastenings
Grooved rubber pads:
• Provided between rails and sleepers.
• It absorbs the shock.
• Resists lateral movement of the rail.
• Prevents abrasion of the bottom surface of
rail.
• Laid in such a way that grooves are parallel
to rail .
 Elastic Rail clip (Pandrol Clip)
• Fixed in Insert to hold the rail.
• Made from Spring Steel bar of 20.6 mm.
• Toe Load 900Kg to 1100 Kg (MKIII).
• On Fish plated Joint ‘J’ Clip can be used.
• Can be driven with ordinary 4 lbs hammer.
• Can be fixed on wooden,Steel, and Cast
Iron Sleepers with Special arrangement.
 Contd. …
Liners :
i) Metal Liners – Provided on Non track
circuited Areas.
ii) Insulated Liners- Provided on Track
circuited areas.
Most commonly used is GFN Liner
Different types of Liners used in
Track

S.No Sleeper Rail Metal Liner

1 60Kg 60Kg T-3740

2 60Kg 52Kg T-3741/T-3742
3 52Kg 52Kg T-3738
 Contd. …
S.No. Sleeper Rail GFN Liner

1 60Kg 60Kg T-3706

2 60Kg 52Kg T-3707/T3708

3 52Kg 52Kg T-3702

THANKS