21/10/2022

Cross Sectional Elements of Railway Track

Engr. S. A. Ghafar BUITEMS

Lecture: 04
1

Rails

• Rails provide a smooth path for the movement of

trains at high speed.

2
 21/10/2022

Functions of Rails
• The rails provide a level, smooth and continuous surface
for the movement of trains.
• The friction between the wheels of the train and the rail is
about 20% of the friction between the pneumatic tyres and
the roads.
• The rail serves as a lateral guide for the running of wheels.

Functions of Rails
• The rail bear the stresses developed due to
–vertical loads transmitted to it through axles
–wheels of the rolling stock, due to braking forces and
thermal stresses.
• The rail transmits the heavy load of the rolling stock etc.
to the larger area of the formation through sleepers and
ballast.
• Distribute the load over wider area of the ballast

4
 21/10/2022

Railway tracks
 The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the
permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails,
fasteners, sleepers and ballast (or slab track), plus the
underlying sub grade.
 For clarity it is often referred to as railway track or railroad
track.
 A double-track railway usually involves running one track
in each direction, compared to a single-track railway where
trains in both directions share the same track.

Railway Tracks Elements

6
 21/10/2022

Formation
Ballast

Natural Subgrade

Cross Section of a Railway Track

Track Components

• Rails
• Sleepers
• Fittings and fastening
• Ballast
• Formation

8
 21/10/2022

Functions of Track Components

• RAILS
–Rails are the steel girders over which the train moves
and transmit the wheel loads of the trains to the sleepers
below.
• SLEEPERS
–The sleepers hold the rails at exact distance or gauge
throughout with the help of fittings and fastening and
transfer the load from the rails to the ballast below.
9

Functions of Track Components

• BALLAST
–Ballast holds the sleeper in position and provides a
uniform level surface.
–Ballast act as an elastic bed to absorb the blows and
shocks of the moving train.
–They also provide drainage to the track and transfer the
load to larger area of the formation below.

10
 21/10/2022

Functions of Track Components

• FITTINGS AND FASTENING
–They provide a grip between the rails and the sleepers.
–The rails are fastened with the sleepers by fittings and
fastening.
• FORMATION
–Formation is the foundation of the railway track made
up of locally available earthern material.
–It distribute the load over wider area of the natural
ground.
11

Gauges on World Railways

• Standard Gauge
–SG • England, USA,
– 1435 mm or 4’ 8.5” Canada, Turkey,
–% 62 of total length China
• Broad Gauge
–BG • Pakistan, India,
– 1676 mm or 5’ 6” Brazil, Argentina,
–15 % of Total length Russia

12
 21/10/2022

Gauges on World Railways

Cape Gauge-CG
 1067 mm or 4’ 6” • Africa, Japan,
 8 % of total length Australia & Newsland
Meter Gauge-MG
• Pakistan, India,
 1000 mm or 3’ 3.5”
Argentina, France and
 9 % of Total length Switzerland

13

Gauges on World Railways

• 23 various other gauges • Various countries

–6 % of total length

• Narrow Gauges
– 2’6” or 2’
–Development of poor area
where there is less traffic

14
 21/10/2022

Choice of Gauge
• The choice of gauge is very limited as each
country has a fixed gauge
• However three factor are kept in mind
 Cost consideration
 Traffic Consideration
 Topography of the country

15

Construction Cost
• There is only a marginal increase in the cost of track
if wider gauge is adopted
o Cost increases proportionally due to land
acquisition, earthwork, components of track for
wider gauge

o Cost due to bridges, culvert, buildings and tunnels

increases only marginally due to wider gauge
16

16
 21/10/2022

Construction Cost
–Cost of constructing station buildings, platform,
level crossing is more or less remains constant

–Cost of rolling stock is independent of the gauge

–Gauge increase – cost of construction increases –

speed & carrying capacity increases

17

Traffic Consideration
–Wider gauge carry more traffic, more revenue
generation

–Wider gauge more speed because speed is a function

of diameter of the wheel which in turn is limited by
the width of the gauge

–Traction and signaling is independent of the gauge

18
 21/10/2022

Topography of the Country

–Wider gauge require more space

–Steeper gradient and sharp curves can be

provided as compared to the wider gauge

–Mountaineous regions narrow gauge is

preferred as compared to wide gauge
19

19

Loading & Construction Gauge

• Loading Gauge
–Maximum width and height to which a rolling stock i.e
locomotive, coach or wagon can be loaded or built
–It is generally located at the exit of the goods yard
–It ensures that the wagons are not over loaded and the
top and width of the load will clear all the structures
e.g bridges, tunnels along the route

20
 21/10/2022

Loading Gauge

21
21

Loading & Construction Gauge

Construction Gauge
–Is decided by adding necessary clearances
to the loading gauge so that the vehicle can
move safely with infringement
–It fixes the width and height of bridges
and tunnels along the route.
–It is more than loading gauge

22
 21/10/2022

Loading Gauge

Gauge Height above Rail Width

British Railway (4’8 ½”) 13’6” 9’6”
European Railway (4’8
½”) 14’-0” 10’2”
American Railway (4’8
½”) 16’ –0” 11’-0”
BG 15’ 6” 12’ 0”
MG 11’ 3” 8’6”
29
NG 10’6” 7’6”

23

Gradient

• The rise or fall in the track level per unit length

of the track is called gradient.
• The track is normally divided into sections such
that the gradient between sections is the same.
• It is not practicable to have same gradient
through out the length of track since longitudinal
slope of the country is not uniform

24
 21/10/2022

Gradient

• When a train moves along a rising gradient or

falling gradient extra pull is required
• The extra pull required is the same as would be
required to lift the train up the height through
which it rises in every foot it traverses.
• If a train rises 1 foot in 100 feet, the gradient
is called 1 in 100 or 1%

25

Types of Gradient

• Ruling Gradient
• Momentum Gradient
• Pusher gradient
• Station Yard Gradient

26
 21/10/2022

Ruling Gradient

• The steepest slope at which the track is laid without

causing reduction in speed or load carrying capacity of
train is called ruling gradient.
• A ruling gradient limits the maximum weight of a train,
which can be hauled over the section by the locomotive.
• For broad gauges, ruling grade of 1 in 100 or 1 in 200 is
quite common.

27

Momentum Gradient

• The gradient steeper than ruling gradient provided

over the section of track wihout reduction in speed or
load carrying capacity
• If falling gradient is followed by a rising gradient.
• While the train goes down, it gains momentum
• The gain in momentum is utilized in negotiating
the gradient.

28
 21/10/2022

Pusher Gradient
• In Hilly areas gradient steeper than ruling gradient
are called pusher gradients.
• They are provided in hilly areas.
• It becomes impossible to provide normal gradient
because it increase the length of the track considerably.
• In such conditions if engine designed for ruling gradient
is used load has to be reduced drastically or speed has to
be reduced.
• This difficulty is overcome by providing an extra engine.
29

29

Station Yard Gradient

• The grades in the station yards have to be sufficiently low
in order so that
–Boggies left standing on the tracks donot start moving
automatically due to effect of gravity combined with a
strong wind and or a gentle push.
–Locomotives which have at starting to overcome a
resistance which is twice as much as when they are already
on the move, are not encumbered with a further resistance
due to grade.
• In Pakistan, the upper limit for gradient for station yards is 1
in 400 while a gradient of 1 in 1000 is recommended.
30
 21/10/2022

Changing the Direction of Locomotive

• Turntable
• Triangles
• Turntable
–This consists of a rectangular platform with a track on a
pair of girders, braced and supported on or suspended
from the central pivot.
–It is installed in a circular pit and two or more track
radiate from the edge of this pit.
–The level of track on the turntable and the radiating
track is kept same.
31

Turntable

32
32
 21/10/2022

Turntable
• For turning the engine, the turntable is revolved on the
pivot till the track on it comes in line with the track on
which the engine stands.
• Thus the turntable is locked in position and the engine is
moved on to it. The locking bolt is removed and the
turntable is rotated manually or by power.
• The bottom of the pit is sloped towards the center where
a sump and drain is provided to drain off the rainwater.
Turntables are provided on all the main junctions.

33

Arrangement

D A
F F
• Stage 1
–ABC B

•Forward
• Stage 2
–CBD C
F
•Reverse

34
 21/10/2022

Level Crossing

35

Guard Rails
End Flare

Check
Block
LEVEL
CROSSING

36
 21/10/2022

Level Crossing

• Is an arrangement of the crossing of a

railway track and a highway at the same
level
• Grooves are left in the roads along the
inner edge for the wheel flanges
• These grooves are provided by guard rails

37

Level Crossing

• For smooth entry or exit for the wheel

flanges, the guard rail is widened at the
end.
• This gradual widening is called end flare.
• Level Crossing
–Guarded
–Unguarded

38
 21/10/2022

Gated Level
Crossing

46
ROAD

Railway
Track

39

Rail X-section

40
 21/10/2022

Running Rails

41

Types of Rail Section

• Double Headed
• Bull Headed
• Flat Footed

42
 21/10/2022

Double Head
 The original rails used were double
headed made of I section or dumb-
bell section.
 The idea being that when the top of the
double headed rail was worn, the rail
could be inverted and re-used.
 Such rails are supported in chairs, which
rest on sleepers.
 It was found that the lower head was
dented by the chairs and could not be re-
used.

43

Double Headed

44
 21/10/2022

Bull Headed

• The bull headed rails has more metal added to the

head, which permit more resistance to wear.
• The lower face was of sufficient size to be able to bear
the stresses, which are induced in it by the moving
load.

45

Bull Headed

46
 21/10/2022

Bull Headed

47

Flat Footed Rail

• A flat footed rail is of an inverted T shape.

• The advantage of these rails lies in the fact
that they are stronger than the bull headed
rails and no chairs are necessary and the
foot of the rail is spiked direct to sleeper.

48
 21/10/2022

Head

FOOT
FLAT FOOTED RAIL

49

Comparison of Flat footed and Bull headed

Rail Sections

• Alignment- the B.H rail keeps better alignment of

the track than the F.F rail.
• Lateral Stability – the F.F rails provide more
lateral stability than the B.H rail.
• Cost- F.F rails are less costly.
• Flat footed rails are easier to lay and require less
no of fastening.

50
 21/10/2022

Comparison of Flat footed and Bull

headed Rail Sections

• Maintenance of F.F rail is easier.

• The fastenings attached with the F.F rail have a
greater tendency than the B.H rails to get loose,
particularly if they are laid on wooden sleepers.

51

Weight of the Rail Sections

• A rail is designated by its weight per yard. Thus, a 90
lbs rail is a rail weighing 90 lbs per yard of its length.
Weight of the rail is governed by:
• Axle loads
• Gauge of the track
• Maximum speed which is permitted
• Sleeper Density

52
 21/10/2022

Weight of the Rail Sections

• As a rule on a BG track, a rail may be expected to carry
an axle load 560 times the weight of the rail per yard.
• Heavier sections proved to be economical in the long run
as it has longer life and less maintenance.
• Stability of heavier sections will be more and chances of
buckling of the track are less.

53

Weight of the Rail Sections

• It results in smooth riding.

• Also, when a loaded wheel moves over the rail it
depresses the rail and if the rail is light as compared
with the load, it has to bear the greater depression. The
wheel has to be dragged out continuously of such
depression and as a result power of locomotive is
wasted.

54
 21/10/2022

Length of Rail
• As the rail joint is the weakest part of the track structure, its
strength being about one half that of rails, so it is desirable
to use as long rails as possible.
• Wear and tear of vehicles is decreased and comfort of the
passengers in increased by the longer rails, as the number
of blows experienced at the joints by a moving vehicle are
diminished.
55

Length of Rail
The length of the rail is however governed by
• Lengths, which can be produced at reasonable cost
by the manufacturer.
• Handling
• Transportation
• If a defect is found in a rail, a much longer length
has to be wasted in renewal than in case of short
rails.

56
 21/10/2022

Length of Rail

• In Pakistan, the length of the rail used is 20’ –42’.

• The standard lengths of rails are 42’ for BG and 39’
for MG track.
• The shortest length of the rail, which may be used in
the track, is that, which is not shorter than the longest
wheel base of the wagon. i.e the distance between two
adjacent axles which is 12 ft.

57

Fish Plates

• The function of a fish plate is to hold two rails together

accurately, evenly and firmly in place with reference to
surface and alignment.
• It absorbs the blows which the ends of rails receive
when the wheel negotiate the gap at the joints.
• The material used for making the fish plates is
same as that of rails.

58
 21/10/2022

Fish Plates

• The shape of the fish plate is such that they fit under
the side of rail head and on top of rail foot.
• Fish plates are designed such that it gives maximum
support to the rail ends and also allow the free
expansion and contraction of the rails.
• For this reason the contact surface of the fish plate and
the rails are cleaned and lubricated.

59

Fish Plates

60
 21/10/2022

Details of Fish Plate

• The length of the fish plate is 18”.
• Two fish plates are used at each joint, one on each side
of the rail
• Fish plates are usually provided with 4 holes.
• Spring washers are used to prevent the bolts from
getting loose.
• Diameter of 1 bolt, ɸ = 1”
Diameter of hole in fish plate, ɸ f = 1” + 1/16”
• Diameter of hole in rail, ɸ r = 1” + ¼ ”

61

FISH PALTES

62
 21/10/2022

Requirements of Fish Plate

• It should hold the two rails at the same level and in

the same straight line
• It should permit easy change of rail whenever this
may be necessary.
• It should as far as possible has same strength and same
stiffness as that of rail.
• Their shape should be such that free movement of
rail for expansion or contraction should not be
checked.

63

FISH
PLATE

64
 21/10/2022

Types of Joints

• w.r.t position of joints on track

• w.r.t position of sleepers
Types of joints w.r.t position of joints on track
• Square Joints
• Staggered Joints

65

Square Joint

• When the joint in one rail is exactly

opposite to the joint in the other parallel
rail, it is called square joint.
• It is common in straight tracks.
• On curves, the centrifugal force, tend to
push the track out and at the joint effect is
more, resulting in the formation of kinks.

66
 21/10/2022

Staggered Joint

• When joint in one rail is not exactly opposite to

the joints of the other parallel rail, then it is called
staggered joint. The joint of one rail is kept
facing the center of the opposite rail.
• With staggered joints, the number of hammer
blows at the joints are doubled but the intensity
is halved.

67

Staggered Joint

• On curves, staggered joints are preferred since it not only

reduces the possibility of kink formation but also reduces
the vertical movement of wheels at the joints.

• The number of sleepers is also increased by one in case

of staggered joints.

68
 21/10/2022

69

Types of joints w.r.t position of Sleepers

• Supported Joints
• Suspended Joints
• Bridge Joints

70
 21/10/2022

Supported Joint

• When the joint is directly supported over

the sleeper, it is called supported joint.
• Only one sleeper is supporting the joint.
• Sometimes, an elastic pad is fixed between
the rails and sleepers to absorb the shocks.

71

Supported Joint

• If a long bearing plate 3’6” or 4’ is used, then three

sleepers may be used to support the joint.
• The objection to this is, if any of outer sleeper get
loose undue load will be on the central sleeper and if
central sleeper get loose it will be converted into a
very weak suspended joint.

72
 21/10/2022

Suspended Joint

• In suspended joints, the ends of the rails

are suspended between the two sleepers.
• The load is distributed equally between the
two sleepers.

73

Supported and Suspended Joints

74
 21/10/2022

Suspended Joint

75

76
 21/10/2022

Bridge Joint
• Bridge joint is similar to the suspended joint
but the foot of the rails at the end is
supported on a bridge or length of metal,
which rest on the two sleepers.
• With bridge joints, the sleeper at the joint
have to be notched to allow the bridge to be
fitted or the joint sleeper have to be laid at a
lower level than the remaining sleeper.

77

BRIDGE JOINT

78
 21/10/2022

79