Railway Track Components | #Sleeper | #Ballast | #Joint | #fastening system | #Joggled Fishplate

Let's Grow Up

31 Jan 202103:47

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the intricacies of railway tracks, focusing on key terms like 'railway gauge', which is the distance between tracks. It explains the role of sleepers or cross ties, which support the rails and maintain gauge, and ballast, the crushed stone beneath the tracks that bears load, facilitates drainage, and prevents vegetation growth. The video also delves into rail fastening systems, including fish plates for joining tracks and their variants like joggled fish plates for emergency repairs and protection against defective welds.

Takeaways

🛤️ The track on a railway is also referred to as the 'permanent way'.
📏 The distance between the two tracks on a railway route is known as the 'railway gauge'.
🏺 The wooden or concrete supports for rail tracks are called 'sleepers' in British English or 'cross ties' in American English.
🔩 Sleepers are rectangular and laid perpendicular to the rails to support and space the rails correctly.
💠 Ballast, the stones beneath the track, forms the trackbed and supports the sleepers, facilitating drainage and preventing vegetation growth.
🔗 The 'rail fastening system' includes railway fasteners that secure the steel rail to the railway sleeper.
🔗 A 'fish plate' is used to join two rail tracks without welding, allowing for expansion due to heat.
🔩 There are four bolts that hold the tracks together at the fish plate.
🛠️ A 'joggled fish plate' is a special type of fish plate designed to accommodate weld collars for protection and emergency repairs of welded joints.
🚆 The ballast holds the track in place, absorbs noise, and helps distribute the load as trains pass over it.

Q & A

What is the term used for the tracks on a railway?
-The term used for the tracks on a railway is 'permanent way'.
What is the distance between two tracks on a railway route called?
-The distance between two tracks on a railway route is called 'railway gauge'.
What are the wooden or concrete supports for rail tracks known as?
-The wooden or concrete supports for rail tracks are known as 'sleepers' in British English and 'cross ties' in American English.
What is the purpose of sleepers in a railway track?
-Sleepers hold the rails upright, keep them spaced to the correct gauge, and transfer loads to the track ballast and subgrade.
What is the term for the stones beneath the track?
-The stones beneath the track are called 'ballast'.
What is the primary function of ballast in a railway track?
-Ballast bears the load from the railroad ties, facilitates drainage of water, and keeps down vegetation that might interfere with the track structure.
How does ballast help with the stability of the track?
-Ballast holds the track in place as trains roll over it, absorbs noise, and helps maintain the track's stability.
What is a rail fastening system?
-A rail fastening system is a group of railway fasteners that are used to fasten steel rail to railway sleepers.
What is a fish plate and what is its purpose?
-A fish plate is used to join two different rail tracks without welding, allowing for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.
What is a juggled fish plate and how does it differ from a regular fish plate?
-A juggled fish plate is a specially designed fish plate with convexity in the center to accommodate a weld collar, used to protect defective welded joints and for emergency repair of weld failures.
How many bolts typically hold up the tracks together at the joining of the track?
-There are typically four bolts that hold up the tracks together at the joining of the track.

Outlines

00:00

🚂 Railway Track Components

This paragraph introduces the terminology related to railway tracks, also known as the permanent way. It explains that the distance between two tracks is called the railway gauge. The wooden or concrete supports beneath the rails are referred to as sleepers in British English and cross ties in American English. These sleepers are laid perpendicular to the rails and serve to transfer loads to the track ballast and subgrade. Ballast, the stones beneath the track, forms the trackbed and is used to bear the load, facilitate drainage, and prevent vegetation growth. The paragraph also discusses the rail fastening system, which includes railway fasteners that secure the steel rail to the sleepers. It mentions fish plates used to join rail tracks without welding, allowing for expansion due to heat, and a special type of fish plate called a joggled fish plate designed for welded joints to protect against defects and facilitate emergency repairs.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Railway Track

Railway track, also known as the permanent way, is the foundation of the railway system. It consists of two parallel steel rails, which guide the train wheels. In the video, the track is the central element around which other components like sleepers, ballast, and fastenings are discussed. The track's design and maintenance are crucial for the safe and efficient operation of trains.

💡Railway Gauge

The railway gauge refers to the distance between the inner sides of the two rails on a railway track. This standard measurement is essential for ensuring compatibility between trains and tracks. The script mentions this as a key terminology, highlighting its importance in the design and operation of railway systems.

💡Sleeper

A sleeper, known as a cross tie in American English, is a rectangular support laid perpendicular to the rails. It plays a critical role in transferring the load from the rails to the track ballast and subgrade. The script emphasizes sleepers' function in holding the rails upright and maintaining the correct gauge, which is vital for the stability and safety of the track.

💡Ballast

Ballast is the layer of crushed stones or other materials that form the trackbed beneath the sleepers. It bears the load from the railroad ties, facilitates drainage, and prevents vegetation growth that could interfere with the track structure. The script describes how ballast holds the track in place and absorbs noise as trains roll over it, which is essential for the track's durability and functionality.

💡Rail Fastening System

The rail fastening system is a group of railway fasteners used to secure the steel rail to the railway sleeper. This system is crucial for maintaining the rail's position and ensuring a stable track. The script mentions this system as a critical component that contributes to the overall integrity and performance of the railway track.

💡Fish Plate

A fish plate is a device used to join two lengths of rail tracks without welding. It allows for expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, preventing the rails from bending. The script introduces the fish plate as a method to ensure the continuity and flexibility of the track, which is essential for accommodating thermal expansion and maintaining the track's integrity.

💡Joggled Fish Plate

The joggled fish plate is a specially designed version of the fish plate with a convexity in the center. This design accommodates the weld collar at newly welded joints, protecting against defective welds and facilitating emergency repairs. The script highlights this as an innovation in rail joining, showcasing the adaptability and maintenance considerations in railway engineering.

💡Trackbed

The trackbed is the foundation on which the railway track is built. It typically consists of a layer of ballast supporting the sleepers, which in turn support the rails. The script mentions the trackbed in the context of ballast and sleepers, emphasizing its role in providing a stable and load-bearing base for the track.

💡Subgrade

The subgrade is the natural ground or prepared layer beneath the trackbed that supports the entire railway structure. It is crucial for ensuring the stability and even distribution of the load from the track. The script does not explicitly mention subgrade, but it is implied in the discussion of how sleepers transfer loads to the trackbed.

💡Track Maintenance

Track maintenance refers to the regular inspection, repair, and replacement of railway track components to ensure safety and efficiency. The script touches on various elements like sleepers, ballast, and fastenings, which are all part of the maintenance process. Proper maintenance is highlighted as essential for the longevity and reliability of the railway system.

💡Thermal Expansion

Thermal expansion is the tendency of materials to change in size with temperature fluctuations. In the context of the script, it is mentioned in relation to fish plates, which allow for gaps to accommodate the expansion of rails when heated. Understanding thermal expansion is crucial for designing tracks that can withstand temperature-related stresses without damage.

Highlights

The track on a railway is also known as the permanent way.

The distance between two tracks on a railway route is called railway gauge.

Wooden or concrete supports for rail tracks are known as sleepers in British English or cross ties in American English.

Sleepers are rectangular supports laid perpendicular to the rails.

Sleepers transfer loads to the track ballast and subgrade.

Ballast is the stones beneath the track, forming the trackbed for sleepers.

Ballast bears the load from railroad ties, facilitates drainage, and prevents vegetation growth.

The ballast holds the track in place and absorbs noise as trains roll over it.

Rail fastening systems are groups of railway fasteners that secure steel rails to sleepers.

Fish plates are used to join two rail tracks without welding.

Fish plates allow for expansion due to heat without bending the tracks.

Joggled fish plates are specially designed with convexity to accommodate weld collars.

Joggled fish plates protect against defective welded joints and facilitate emergency repairs.

There are four bolts that hold the tracks together at the joining of the track.

The video provides an in-depth look into railway track terminology and components.

Understanding railway gauge is crucial for maintaining consistent track dimensions.

Sleepers play a vital role in supporting and spacing the rails correctly.

Ballast is essential for the stability and durability of the railway track structure.

Rail fastening systems ensure the secure attachment of rails to sleepers.