Re: Why Wooden Sleepers are better. Was [NSW] CityRail Delays Friday

[david <david@nmit.vic.edu.au>]

The Railway Rasputin II wrote:

> The main south has some steel sleepers and we were all amazed when we
> saw them. A close look revealed a rubber "biscut" acting as insulation
> for the track circut.
>
> I have often thought of different ways of making sleepers whilst trying
> to control the jack hammer when I was packing.
> The steel sleepers look roughly    __I___________I__
>                                   /                 \ (cross section)
>
> My thought was to have a bottom welded to the sleeper or similar
> and hollow inside.                 __I___________I__
>                                   /_________________\
>
> rgds

That's what I thought.  Perhapa a hybrid, fill that up with concrete to give weight, yet
keep the steel for strength, but how do steel survive in derailments, extreem heat, and
excessive water ???

David Head