Common failure modes of track components?

[ElvisUK]

Anyone could explain to me some track components that have common failure modes within the track components. Just out of curiosity, I've been thinking of having a career in the rail industry.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are we talking here about things like general wear and tear of the permanent way, or maybe metal fatigue and cracking of track and/or key sections of pointwork, or even the general impact of water (in particular flooding) on electrically operated systems, and how these various components are inspected/checked/managed?

 

[ElvisUK]

Fishplates
bolts
rail line
keys
sleepers
pandrol clips
ballasts

Like what issues occur with these?

 

[Ken H]

Fishplates
bolts
rail line
keys
sleepers
pandrol clips
ballasts

Like what issues occur with these?

as an amateur I would say
Fishplates need checking. They need to cope with the rails expanding and contracting due to temperature changes. Bolts the same
Rail line can get cracks. They use ultrasound to detect this.
Keys can fall out. Wood ones can disintegrate
Wood sleepers can rot. concrete deteriorates. Water getting to reinforcement can cause them to fail .
dont know of problems with pandrol clips except they are stolen.
Ballast fails when the stone breaks up. If combined with water can make slurry. The correct level of ballast needs to be maintained to hold continuous rail in place in hot weather, especially the 'shoulders'

The whole thing needs keeping in place - keeping the 'top and line' right.

You haven't mentioned switches and crossings. thats a whole new thing.

 

[ElvisUK]

appreciate ken, What about the switches and crossing? Ken, you got any information on them. It's really interesting!

 

[bassmike]

Surely wooden keys and dreadful bullhead track are no loger used in serious applications/

 

[Ken H]

appreciate ken, What about the switches and crossing? Ken, you got any information on them. It's really interesting!

think its best to leave that to someone who knows.

 

[mrgreen]

Rather an odd question! If you want bed-time reading, especially if you need a cure for insomnia, the official Rail Accident Reports are available at:

Rail Accident Investigation Branch reports

Find reports of RAIB investigations into rail accidents and incidents

www.gov.uk

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

I think that very few track parts break or fail. They are checked and replaced before they deteriorate
A main reason why train travel is exceedingly safe

 

[mcmad]

Call me suspicious, but sounds like a college assignment to me.

As for Bullhead track, depends what you class as serious applications. Unlikely to find it on main lines nowadays but still plenty out there on the rural branches.

 

[Bald Rick]

The short version is everything can fail, and does.

Of course it depends what you call ‘track’, and what you mean by ‘failure’.

Going top down:

Rail - breaks. Several hundred times a year, although much less frequently in the last 20. A clean vertical break through the rail, sections of rail breaking off (particularly at joints), transverse breaks, broken joints / fishplates, broken / failed welds / shattering (rare).

Rail - defects. Squats. Wheel burn. Tache Ovale. Corrugated. Rolling Contact Fatigue. Cracks. Missing bolts.

Fastenings - missing, cracked, broken, corroded, incorrectly installed.

Sleepers / bearers - rotten (timber), broken / cracked (concrete), corroded (steel).

Ballast - missing / insufficient (usually shoulders, but occasionally beds), too much, clogged with fines, wet beds, insufficient angularity

Beneath the ballast - blocked / failed drainage, failed geotextile, failed formation


This is just a taster!

 

[Stuart-h]

Anyone could explain to me some track components that have common failure modes within the track components. Just out of curiosity, I've been thinking of having a career in the rail industry.

Planning to work for a toc or out on track?

 

[ElvisUK]

well actually, I've been researching the type of work I'd come across if I was doing a railway course. and things to expect. would rather be prepared then not an waste time doing something I might not even enjoy

 

[coppercapped]

The short version is everything can fail, and does.

Of course it depends what you call ‘track’, and what you mean by ‘failure’.

Going top down:

Rail - breaks. Several hundred times a year, although much less frequently in the last 20. A clean vertical break through the rail, sections of rail breaking off (particularly at joints), transverse breaks, broken joints / fishplates, broken / failed welds / shattering (rare).

Rail - defects. Squats. Wheel burn. Tache Ovale. Corrugated. Rolling Contact Fatigue. Cracks. Missing bolts.

Fastenings - missing, cracked, broken, corroded, incorrectly installed.

Sleepers / bearers - rotten (timber), broken / cracked (concrete), corroded (steel).

Ballast - missing / insufficient (usually shoulders, but occasionally beds), too much, clogged with fines, wet beds, insufficient angularity

Beneath the ballast - blocked / failed drainage, failed geotextile, failed formation


This is just a taster!

That list is a wonderful advertisement for flying...

...I'll get my wings on the way out.

 

[AM9]

That list is a wonderful advertisement for flying...

...I'll get my wings on the way out.

How many flights with that level of failures could proceed without loss/injury every year? It looks like an endorsement of rail safety to me.

 

[coppercapped]

How many flights with that level of failures could proceed without loss/injury every year? It looks like an endorsement of rail safety to me.

I don't know and, frankly, I don't care. Didn't you see the 'smiley'?

 

[Master Cutler]

Pandrol clips must be the most stressed part on the railway.
Many years ago I did some work on a nylon rail insulator injection mould and was amazed at how critical the insulator material and dimensions were to enable the clips to perform correctly.