Presented By,

Mrs. Chukhu Yadam

Dept. of Civil Engineering
Kaziranga University
SLEEPERS FOR RAILWAY TRACK
 CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION
• SLEEPERS
• Function of sleepers
• Advantages and Disadvantages of sleepers
• Conclusion
• Reference
 INTRODUCTION

A railroad tie, railway tie or railway sleepers is a

rectangular support for the rails in railroad
tracks. Generally laid perpendicular to the
rails ,ties transfer loads to the track ballast and
subgrade, hold the rails upright and keep
them spaced to the correct gauge. They can
last around 20 to 30 years .
 Sleepers
Sleepers are transverse ties on which the rails
are laid .They are also known as railroad ties
or railway ties.
 Function of sleepers

• Holdings rails to correct gauge and alignment.

• Giving a firm and even support to rails.
• To maintain the alignment and gauge of the
track correctly.
• Transferring the load evenly from the rails to
wider area of the ballast.
• Providing lateral and longitudinal stability of
permanent way.
 Types of sleepers

Depending upon the material sleepers can be

classified as:
1.Wooden sleeper
2. Steel sleeper
3. Cast iron sleeper
4.Concrete sleeper
All four types of sleepers
Wooden sleepers
Concrete sleepers
Steel sleepers
Cast iron sleepers
 Wooden sleepers:
Advantages
• Cheap and easy to manufacture.
• Has got good capacity to dampen the vibrations.
• Easy handling without damage.
• Suitable for track circuited sections.
• Alignment can be easily corrected.
• Can be used with or without stone ballast.

Disadvantages
• Lesser life due to wear , decay and attack by vermin.
• Difficulty to maintain gauge
• Susceptible to fire.
• Scrap value is negligible.
 Steel sleepers
Advantages
• Long life.
• Easy to maintain gauge.
• Lesser maintenance problem.
• Better lateral rigidity.
• Lesser damage during handling and transportation.
• Manufacturing process is simple.
• Very good scrap value.
• Not susceptible to fire hazard.

Disadvantages
• Liable to corrosion.
• Unsuitable for track circuiting areas.
• Develops cracks at rail seats during service.
• Can be only used for rails for which its is manufactured.
 Cast iron sleepers
Advantages
• Lesser corrosion.
• Lesser liable to crack at all rail seats.
• Easier to manufacture.
• High scrap value.

• Disadvantages
• Provide less lateral stability
• Unsuitable for track circuited lines
• Not very suitable for mechanical maintenance
• More susceptible to breakage.
 Concrete sleepers
Advantages
• Retain packaging wall.
• It can be used in track circuited areas.
• Can be made by local resources.
• Manufacturing process is simple.

• Disadvantages
• The damage to sleepers are very heavy at the time of derailment
• There is no scrap value for the concrete sleepers.
• Damage at the time of handling and transportation.
 Conclusion

• All sleepers should be economical that is they

should have possible initial construction and
maintenance cost.
• All sleepers Should be designed in a way that
they are not damaged during the layering
process.
• The weight of the sleepers should not be too
heavy or too light that is they should have
moderate weight for ease of handling
 References

• Ww.google.com
• Transportation engineering textbook