Latest News

Result of Train Manager (Goods Guard) Departmental Exam

What sleeper spacings does IR use?

July 18, 2019, 2:40 PM
Share

Broad Gauge (See table below.) Most BG mainline sections now have about 1660 sleepers per km (about 60cm spacing); the earlier standard used to be 1538 sleepers per km (about 65cm spacing). BG branch lines may have 1540 sleepers per km (about 65cm spacing) or 1340 sleepers per km (about 75cm spacing); the older standard was 1307 sleepers per km (about 76cm spacing). Minor or lightly used BG lines used to be built with about 1154 sleepers per km (about 87cm spacing). These figures apply mainly to the traditional wooden sleepers.

Traffic Density
GMT/yr
Broad-gauge Routes and their Sleeper Densities
A B C D Spl D E Spl E
> 20 1660 1660 1660 1660 1660 1660 1660
10-20 1660 1660 1660 1660 1660 1660 1540
< 10 1660 1540 1540 1540 1540 1540 1540
Loop Lines 1340 1340 1340 1340 1340 1340 1340

Meter Gauge MG sections with heavy traffic have about 1583 sleepers per km (63cm spacing); MG branch lines have about 1332 sleepers per km (75cm spacing); and minor MG lines have around 1167 sleepers per km (86cm spacing).

Narrow Gauge NG sections vary a lot, but the commonest spacing arrangement used on NG is 1122 sleepers per km (89cm spacing).

Sleeper spacings are smaller in some cases on curves, near points, etc. The spacings are usually larger on bridges. Concrete sleepers are usually laid to the same spacings as wooden sleepers. Concrete sleepers are normally used only with long welded rail or continuous welded rail sections. Metal sleepers may in some cases be laid more sparsely than wooden sleepers.

While the minimum sleeper density is M+4 for short welded rail (see below for explanation of notation), for up to 6 rails abutting an SWR section, the sleeper density is M+7.

Source – IFRCA.org

Share

This entry was posted in 2 Railway Employee, STUDY NEW, Railway Employee