Steel Railroad tie

steel ties

steel ties formed pressed steel , trough-shaped in section. ends of tie shaped form spade increases lateral resistance of tie. housings accommodate fastening system welded upper surface of tie. steel ties in widespread use on secondary or lower-speed lines in uk have been found economical install due ability installed on existing ballast bed. steel ties lighter in weight concrete , able stack in compact bundles unlike timber. steel ties can installed onto existing ballast, unlike concrete ties require full depth of new ballast. steel ties 100% recyclable , require 60% less ballast concrete ties , 45% less wood ties.

historically, steel ties have suffered poor design , increased traffic loads on long service life. these aged , obsolete designs limited load , speed capacity can still found in many locations globally , performing adequately despite decades of service. there great numbers of steel ties on 50 years of service , in cases can , have been rehabilitated , continue perform well. steel ties used in specialty situations, such hejaz railway in arabian peninsula, had ongoing problem bedouins steal wooden ties campfires.

modern steel ties handle heavy loads, have proven record of performance in signalized track, , handle adverse track conditions. of high importance railroad companies fact steel ties more economical install in new construction creosote-treated wood ties , concrete ties. steel ties utilized in sectors of worldwide railroad systems including heavy-haul, class 1s, regional, shortlines, mining, electrified passenger lines (ohle) , manner of industries. notably, steel ties (bearers) have proven on last few decades advantageous in turnouts (switches) , provide solution ever-growing problem of long timber ties such use.

when insulated prevent conduction through ties, steel ties may used track circuit based train detection , track integrity systems. without insulation, steel ties may used on lines without block signaling , level crossings or on lines use other forms of train detection such axle counters.