COMPONENT PARTS OF A PERMANENT WAY

A permanent way has following components

• Soil Subgrade
• Ballast
• Sleepers
• Rails
• Fixture and fastenings

I. SOIL SUBGRADE

The purpose of the subgrade is to support the track structure with limiting deflections.
Every subgrade will undergo some deflection (strain) as loads (stress) are applied. The total
displacement experienced by the subgrade will be transmitted to other components in the track
structure. The lower deflection values will be attained when the subgrade is stiffer (i.e., the higher
the modulus of elasticity). It is important that adequate subgrade strength and stiffness be available
on a year-round basis, particularly during spring thaw and following heavy precipitation events.
The strength, stiffness and total deflection of the subgrade can be improved by:

• Carefully selecting materials that are naturally strong (sand, gravel, boulders) with a high
angle of internal friction.
• Limiting access to water to avoid buildup of porewater pressure and subsequent reduction
of strength.
• Improving the soil properties, using techniques such as compaction, in situ densification,
grouting and preloading.
• Maintain good drainage.
• Maintain stable subgrade geometry.

II. BALLAST

The granular material (broken stone or any other suitable material) which is spread on the
top of railway formation and around the sleepers. The functions of ballast may be outlined as
below.

Ballast in railway track are provided due to,

• To maintain the proper positioning of sleepers

• To check the lateral and longitudinal movement of sleeper under dynamic load.
 • To distribute the upcoming axle load uniformly from sleepers to a larger area of formation.
• To provide elasticity to the track. (Acts as elastic mat between subgrade and sleepers)
• To maintain the correct levels of the two rails in a track.
• To drain out the rain water from the track.
• To prevent the growth of weeds inside the track.

A. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD BALLAST

• Should have enough strength to resist crushing under heavy loads of moving trains.
• Should be durable enough to resist abrasion and weathering action.
• Should have rough and angular surface so as to provide good lateral and longitudinal
stability to the sleepers.
• Should have good workability so that it can be easily spread on railway formation.
• Should be cheaply readily available in sufficient quantity near and along the track.
• Should not form any dusty or muddy material on track due to its crushing under wheel
loads.
• Should allow for easy and quick drainage of the track.
• Should not have any chemical reaction on metal sleepers and rails.

III. SLEEPERS

Sleepers are transverse members of the track placed below the rails to support and hold the
rails in position. The functions of the sleepers may be outlined as below.

Sleepers are provided on the track to serve the following requirements.

• To maintain proper gauge length between the rail sections.

• To transfer the loads from rails to the ballast.
• To support and fix the rails in proper position.
• To keep the rails at a proper level in straight tracks and at proper super elevation on curves.
• To provide elastic medium between the rails and the ballast.
• To provide stability to the permanent way.

A. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD SLEEPERS

• The sleepers should be sufficiently strong to act as a beam under loads.

• The sleepers should be economical.
• They should hold the rails to maintain correct gauge.
• They should provide sufficient bearing area for the rail.
 • The sleepers should have sufficient weight for stability.
• Sleepers should facilitate easy fixing and taking out of rails without disturbing them.
• They should facilitate easy removal and replacement of ballast.
• They should not be pushed out easily of their position in any direction under maximum
forces of the moving trains.
• They should be able to resist impact and vibrations of moving trains.
• They should be suitable to each type of ballast.
• If track-circuiting is done, it should be possible to insulate them from the rails.

B. TYPES OF SLEEPERS USED IN INDIAN RAILWAY

Following five types of sleepers used in Indian railway.

i. Wooden sleepers
ii. Steel sleepers
iii. Cast iron sleepers
iv. R.C.C. sleepers
v. Prestressed concrete sleepers

Wooden Sleepers: These sleepers are considered to be the best as they satisfy all the requirements
of good sleepers and are the only sleeper suitable for track circuiting. The life of wooden sleepers
depends upon their ability to resist wear, attack by white ants and quality of timber used. Timbers
commonly used in India for sleepers are Sal, Teak, Deodar and chair wood.

The standard sizes of wooden sleepers for different gauges are as follows:

For B.G. – 2740 mm × 250 mm × 130 mm

For M; .G. – 1830 mm × 203 mm × 114 mm

For N.G. – 1520 mm × 150 mm × 100 mm

Merits of using wooden sleepers –

• Timber is easily available in all parts of India.

• Wooden sleepers are suitable for all types of ballast.
• Wooden sleepers require less fastening and simple in design.
• These sleepers give less noisy track.
• These sleepers absorb shocks and vibrations more than any other sleepers.
• These sleepers are best suited for track circuiting.
Demerits of using wooden sleepers –

• The life of wooden sleeper is less as compared to other types of sleepers.

• It is difficult to maintain gauge of the track in case of wooden sleepers.
• These sleepers are subjected to wear, decay, and attack by white ants etc.
• Track laid over wooden sleepers is easily disturbed.
• Maintenance cost is more as compared to other sleepers.

Steel Sleepers: These sleepers consist of steel made of 6 mm thick sheets, with its both ends bend
down to check the running out of ballast. At the time of pressing of sleepers, an inward slope of 1
in 20 on either side is provided to achieve required tilt of rails.

The standard length of these is 2680 mm. Steel sleepers are of two types:

• Key type steel sleepers

• Clip and bolt type steel sleepers

Key Type Steel Sleeper

Clip and bolt type Steel Sleeper

Merits of using Steel Sleepers –

• Steel sleepers can be handled easily due to light in weight.

• Less fastenings are required to keep the rail in position.
• Life span of steel sleepers is more as compared wooden sleepers.
• The gauge can be maintained and adjusted easily.
• The scrap value is more than the wooden sleepers.
• The rail section laid on steel sleepers has good lateral and longitudinal rigidity.
• Creep of rails can be checked by using steel sleepers.
Demerits of using Steel Sleepers –

• Initial cost of these sleepers is more than wooden sleepers.

• Cracks are developed at rail seat of these sleepers.
• These are not suitable for track circuiting.
• These are not suitable for all types of ballast.
• These are liable to corrosion.

Caste Iron Sleepers: The sleepers made of cast iron, known as cast iron sleepers, have been
extensively used in India as compared to other countries in the world. Cast iron sleepers are of the
following types:

• Pot or bowl sleeper

• Plate sleeper
• Box sleeper
• CST-9 sleeper Pot and Bowl Sleeper Plate Sleeper
• Duplex sleeper (used at rail joints to prevent cantilever action b/w two supports with CST
– 9 Sleeper)

Box Sleeper CST - 9 Sleeper Duplex Sleeper

Merits of using C.I sleepers

• The life of C.I sleepers is more.

• The maintenance cost of these sleepers is low.
• Gauge can be easily maintained and adjusted with these sleepers.
• These sleepers are more durable.
• Creep of rails can be checked by using these sleepers.
Demerits of using C.I sleepers

• More ballast is required than any other type of sleepers.

• The required number of fittings is more.
• C.I. Sleepers are liable to break due to higher carbon content.
• These are not suitable for all types of ballast.

R.C.C. Sleepers: Reinforced cement concrete sleepers are of two types:

• Through type
• Block and tie type

Through type Sleeper Block and tie Sleeper

Merits of using R.C.C. Sleepers

• Concrete sleepers have long life, generally 40to 60 years.

• These are free from natural decay and attack by insects etc.
• These sleepers require less fittings.
• Track circuiting is possible in these sleepers.
• These sleepers provide more lateral and longitudinal rigidity as compared to other sleepers.
• The maintenance cost is low.
• Due to higher elastic modulus, these can withstand the stresses due to fast moving trains.

Demerits of using R.C.C. Sleepers

• Due to heavy weight, handling and transportation of these sleepers are difficult.
• If not handled properly, the chance of breaking is more.
• The renewal of track laid with these sleepers is difficult.
• The scrap value is nil.
Prestressed Concrete Sleepers:

Now-a-days these sleepers are broadly used in Indian Railways. These are having high
initial cost but very cheap in long run due to their long life. In these sleepers, high tension steel
wires are used. These wires are stretched by hydraulic jack to give necessary tension in the wires.
The concrete is then put under a very high initial compression. These sleepers are heavily damaged
in case of derailment or accidents of trains.

IV. RAILS (Refer to the presentation file M1_L1)

V. FIXTURE AND FASTENINGS

These arrangements are required for joining rails end to end and for fixing the rails to
sleepers in a rail track. The functions of these arrangements may be outlined as below.

• To join the rails, end to end for formation of full-length track.

• To fix the rails to sleepers.
• To maintain the correct alignment of the track.
• To provide proper expansion gap between rails.
• To maintain the required tilt of rails.
• To set the points and crossings in proper position.

A. TYPES OF FIXTURES AND FASTENING

Fixtures and fastenings commonly used in a permanent way are of following types:

• Fish plates
• Bearing plates
• Spikes
• Chairs
• Bolts
• Keys
• Anti-creepers
Fish Plates: Fish plates are used in rail joints to maintain the continuity of the rails.

Fish Plate
Fish Plates are required for following purposes,

• They should hold the adjoining ends of rails in correct horizontal and vertical plane.
• They should allow free longitudinal movements of rails due to temperature variation.
• They should be able to resist all types of wear.
• They should be able to bear the vertical and lateral stresses which come at joints without
any distortion.
• They should allow easy renewal and replacement of rails in case of wear and damage.

Bearing plates:

Bearing plates are cast iron or steel plates placed

in between the F.F rail and wooden sleepers of a railway
track. F.F. rails if fixed directly on wooden sleepers sink
in the sleeper due to the heavy loads of trains and thus
loosen the spikes. To overcome this difficulty bearing
plates are used under F.F. rails to distribute the load over Bearing Plate
a wider area and bring the intensity of pressure within
limit.

Merits:

• They distribute the loads to wider area and prevent sinking of the rail to the sleeper.
• They avoid adzing of sleepers.
• They enable the spikes to remain tight and require less maintenance.
• Bearing plates prevent the widening of gauge on curves.
• Bearing plates increase the overall stability of the track.
• They prevent the destruction of the sleeper due to rubbing action of the rail.
Demerits:

• When the bearing plates become loose due to settlement of ballast, moisture is likely to
enter between the sleepers and plates, causing sleepers to wear.
• When any spike is damaged and it is required to be redrive at another place, all other spikes
of the bearing plates must be removed, which will reduce the holding power of the spikes.

Spikes: Spikes are used to fix rails to wooden sleepers. Spikes are of following types:
• Dog spikes
• Round spikes
• Screw spikes
• Elastic spikes

Dog Spike Round Spike Screw Spike Elastic Spike

Chairs:
These are used to hold the double headed and bull-headed
rails in required position. They are made of cast iron having
two jaws and a rail seat. In order to fix the double headed or
bull-headed rail to a chair, the rail is placed between the two
jaws of the chair.

Chairs
Bolts:

Two types of bolt are generally

used in Indian Railway.

• Hook Bolt
• Fish Bolt

Hook or Dog Bolt Fish Bolt

Keys:

Keys

Anti-Creepers:

Anti-Creeper or Anchor