New style of G44 sleeper

[Ploughman]

Spotted this feature of a G44 Sleeper.
Never seen these holes in the end before.
Is it a new method of tensioning the reinforcement?
How new are they?
Why the change?
Are they an improvement or not?

 

[hwl]

Spotted this feature of a G44 Sleeper.
Never seen these holes in the end before.
Is it a new method of tensioning the reinforcement?
How new are they?
Why the change?
Are they an improvement or not?

Are there potentially some of the the ones out of the new plants?
The former Birmingham plant has been closed and demolished for HS2.

From memory one of the new manufacturers was going for a very different casting method...

 

[Ploughman]

These are marked up as CEMEX

 

[Supercoss]

If you look at this informative video 3:35 It shows the holes being filled in as part of the production process ..... never seen holes in end before outside of factory

 

[Ploughman]

Thanks for that.
Different manufacturer, 4 Strands instead of 5 but principle the same.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Egypt is an economic place to make concrete sleepers. The minimum wage is less than £40 per month!

 

[high camera]

Egyptian sleepers will probably last a long time too if the pyramids are anything to go by