Railway Sleepers

Railway Sleeper:
Railway sleepers are the components on which the rails are arranged with proper gauge. These
sleepers generally rests on ballast and is also called as ties in some regions. The load from rails
when train passes, is taken by these sleepers and is distributed it to the ballast uniformly.

Functions of Railway Sleepers:

The following are the basic functions of Railway sleepers

a) To hold the rails strongly and to maintain uniform gauge.

b) To transfer the load from rails to the ballast or ground.
c) To reduce the vibrations coming from rails.
d) To offer longitudinal and lateral stability.

Classification of Railway Sleepers:

Based on the materials used, railway sleepers are classified into following types.

1. Wooden sleepers
2. Concrete sleepers
3. Steel sleepers
4. Cast iron sleepers
5. Composite sleepers

1. Wooden Sleepers
These are sleepers made of wood. Wooden sleepers are used since olden days. These are still
widely using in some western countries. Either hardwood or softwood can be used to make
wooden sleepers. However, hardwood sleepers made of oak, jarrah, teakwood are more
famous.
Benefits of Wooden Sleepers:

a) Wood sleepers are cheaper than others and easy to manufacture.

b) They are light in weight so, they can be easily transported and handled while installing.
c) Fasteners can be easily installed to wooden sleepers.
They are good insulators so, rails are well protected.
d) Any type of gauge can be maintained by wooden sleepers.
e) They are suitable for all types of rail section.
f) They are well suitable for tracks in coastal areas.

Drawbacks of Wooden Sleepers:

a) Life of wooden sleepers is very less compared to others.

b) Weak against fire.
c) Easily affected by humidity which will cause dry rot, wet rot etc.
d) Vermin attack can be possible if it is not properly treated.
e) Poor creep resistance.
f) Good Attention is required even after laying.

2. Concrete Sleepers:

Concrete sleepers are manufactured by concrete with internal reinforcement. Concrete

sleepers used in many countries due to its high stability and small maintenance. These are
more suitable for high speed rails. Most of the concrete sleepers are made from pre-stressed
concrete in which internal tension is induced into the sleeper before casting. Hence, the
sleeper withstand well against high external pressure.

Benefits of Concrete Sleepers:

a) Concrete sleepers are heavier than all other types hence, gives good stability to the
rails.
b) They have long life span so, economically preferable.
c) They have good Fire resistance.
 d) Corrosion is not occurred in concrete sleepers.
e) Vermin attack, decay etc. are not occurred. Hence, they are suitable for all types of
soil and moisture conditions.
f) Bucking strength is more.
g) Concrete is good insulator so, these sleepers are more suitable for circuited tracks.
h) Concrete sleepers holds the track strongly and maintains gauge.

Drawbacks of Concrete Sleepers:

a) Because of heavy weight, handling is difficult.

b) For tracks on bridges and at crossings, concrete sleepers are not suitable.
c) Damage may occur while transporting.

3. Steel Sleepers:

Steel sleepers are more often used because of stronger than wood and economical than
concrete. They also have good life span. They are molded in trough shape and placed on ballast
in inversed trough shape.

Benefits:

a) They are light in weight so, easy to transport, to place and to install.
b) They are recyclable hence possess good scrap value.
c) Life span of steel sleepers is more and is about 30 years.
d) They are good resistant against fire.
e) They have good resistance against creep
f) They cannot be attacked by vermin etc.
g) They are well suitable for tracks of high speeds and larger loads.
h) They holds the rail strongly and connecting rail to the sleeper is also simple.
Drawbacks:

a) Steel can be effected by chemicals easily.

b) Steel sleepers requires high maintenance.
c) They are not suitable for all types of ballast which is provided as bed for sleepers.
d) If derailment is happened, they damaged very badly and not suitable for re using.
e) These are not suitable for all types of rail sections and gauges.

4. Cast Iron Sleepers:

Cast iron sleepers are widely used in the world especially in Indian railways. They are available
in 2 types, pot type sleepers and plate type sleepers. Pot type sleepers are not suitable for curves
sharper than 4 degrees. CST 9 type sleepers more famous in Indian railways.

Benefits

a) Cast iron sleepers can be used for long period up to 60 years.

b) Their manufacturing is also easy and it can be done locally so, there is no need for longer
transportation.
c) Vermin attack is impossible in case of cast iron sleepers.
d) They provide strong seat to the rail.
e) Damaged cast iron sleepers can be remolded into new sleepers hence, scrap value of cast
iron is good.
f) Creep of rail can be prevented by cast iron sleepers.

Drawbacks

a) Cast iron is brittle in nature and it can be damaged easily while handling. So,
transportation, placing is difficult to deal.
 b) Cast iron sleepers can be easily damaged and corroded by salt water so, they are not
suitable for coastal regions.
c) They may damage badly when derailment happened.
d) Cast iron is expensive in market when compared to some other sleeper materials. Hence
it is uneconomical.
e) So many fastening materials are required to fix the rail to the sleeper.
f) Proper Maintenance is required.

5. Composite Sleepers:
Composite sleepers are modern type sleepers which are made from waste plastic and rubber.
Hence, it is also called as plastic sleepers. They have many combined properties of all other
types.

Benefits:

a) Composite sleepers are serviceable for longer spans about 50 years.

b) Composite sleepers are eco-friendly sleepers.
c) They are light in weight but possess great strength.
d) Their scrap value is good because of recyclable property of composite sleepers.
e) They can be resized easily like wooden sleepers. So, they can be used for any type of rail
section.
f) Vibrations received from rails are reduced well by these composite sleepers.

Drawbacks:

a) Composite sleepers are not that much good against fire.

b) The cost of sleepers may increase for large scale production.
Sleeper Density:

It is defined as the number of sleepers required under one rail length of railway track. It is
expressed as (n + x) where n is the length of one rail in meter and x is constant whose value
varies from 3 to 6 (length of one rail is 13 m for B.G. Track and is 12 m for meter gauge (M.G.)
track. In India the sleeper density is taken as (n + 3) to (n + 6).

Problem 1: Find out number of sleepers required for 5.0 km long broad gauge railway track
using sleeper density as (n + 6).

Solution:

For B.G. Track, length of one rail = 13.0 m

The number of sleeper required under one rail length = (n + 6) = (13 + 6) = 19.

Total number of rails for 5.0 km = 5000 m long B.G. Track = 5000 / 13 = 384.6

Total number of sleepers required for 5.0 km long railway track = 19 × 384.6 = 7,307.69

Ans. Total number of sleepers = 7,308

Problem 2: A meter gauge railway track has sleeper density of (n + 5). Determine the number
of sleepers required for 1.5.0 km long railway track.

Problem 3: A 3.6 km long M.G. gauge railway track has number of sleepers of 5400, find out
the expression for the sleeper density of meter gauge railway track.