Track Fittings and Fastenings
Introduction
The purpose of providing fittings and fastenings in railway tracks is to hold the rails in their proper position in order to ensure the smooth running of trains. These fittings and fastenings are used for joining rails together as well as fixing them to the sleepers, and they serve their purpose so well that the level, alignment, and gauge of the railway track are maintained within permissible limits even during the passage of trains. The important fittings and fastenings commonly used in India
are listed in Table 10.1. |
|
Table 10.1 Types of track fittings |
|
Purpose and type |
Details of fittings and fastenings |
Joining rail to rail Joining rail to wooden sleepers Joining rail to steel trough sleepers Joining rail to cast iron sleepers Elastic fastenings to be used with concrete, steel, and wooden sleepers |
Fish plates, combination fish plates, bolts, and nuts Dog spikes, fang bolts, screw spikes, and bearing plates Loose jaws, keys, and liners Tie bars and cotters Elastic or Pandrol clip, IRN 202 clip, HM fastening, MSI insert, rubber pads, and nylon liners |
The number of various fittings and fastenings required per sleeper for ordinary or conventional fastening as well as elastic fastening for different types of sleepers are summarized in Table 10.2.
Table 10.2 Number of fastenings
Type of sleeper |
Ordinary fastenings per sleeper |
Number |
Elastic fastening per sleeper |
Number |
Wooden |
Dog spikes or |
8 |
CI bearing plates |
2 |
|
Screw spikes |
8 |
Plate screws |
8 |
|
Keys for CI bearing plates |
4 |
Pandrol clips Rubber pads |
4 2 (contd) |
Table 10.2 (contd)
Type of sleeper |
Ordinary fastenings per sleeper |
Number |
Elastic fastening per sleeper |
Number |
Concrete |
No ordinary fastening |
- |
Pandrol clips |
4 |
|
|
|
Nylon liners |
4 |
|
|
|
Rubber pads |
2 |
|
|
|
MCI inserts |
4 |
Steel trough |
Keys |
4 |
Modified loose jaws |
4 |
|
Loose jaws |
4 |
Pandrol clips |
4 |
|
|
|
Rubber pads |
2 |
CST-9 |
Plates |
2 |
Pandrol clips |
4 |
|
Tie bar |
1 |
Rubber pads |
2 |
|
Cotters |
4 |
|
|
|
Keys |
4 |
|
|
All these fittings and fastenings together with other ancillary features, are discussed in this chapter.
⇐Site Investigations | RAILWAY ENGINEERING - Contents | Rail-to-Rail Fastenings⇒