ITEM NO.

SUBJECT: Incorporation of provision of Channel sleepers in IRPWM & fixing of codal life of channel sleepers.

(Item proposed by by East Coast Railway)

RDSO FILE REF: CT/JE

AGENDA:

Almost all girder bridges having wooden sleepers have been replaced with steel channel sleepers. Now steel channel sleepers are becoming a major P.way track component from maintenance points of view. The guidelines for maintenance of this vital item have not been incorporated in IRPWM-2004 till date. Therefore the correction slip needs to be issued in IRPWM to incorporate guidelines regarding criteria of renewal & maintenance of steel channel sleepers.

Furthermore these steel channel sleepers which are being made invariably with same standard material & specification over all Indian Railway are utilized under different exposure conditions at different parts of country. Being a metallic sleeper, the life of steel channel sleepers is different under different climatic conditions under same loading conditions. It has been observed that life span of these sleepers are about 5 to 6 years in coastal regions whereas in other regions its life span is about 8 to 10 years or even more.

Thus issue of codal life of steel channel sleepers needs detailed deliberations and necessary guidelines on this issue including criteria of their renewal and maintenance needs to be incorporated in IRPWM.

NOTES BY SECRETARY:

1. The issue of Steel channel sleeper was discussed vide item no. 1121 of 79 th TSC under the subject “Maintenance of channel sleeper”. A committee of CTE/SWR, CTE/SECR, CTE/SCR, ED/Track-II/RDSO and ED/B&S/RDSO was constituted to propose a new para in IRPWM regarding maintenance of channel sleeper including H-beam. Again it was discussed against pending items as Sl. no. 19 in 80 th TSC, Sl. No. 13 in 81st TSC and Sl. No. 12 in 82nd TSC. 82nd TSC recommended for closure of item after approval of correction slip to IRPWM by Railway Board. Subsequently, a new para 273(b) on Steel Sleepers on Bridges has been incorporated in IRPWM vide ACS No. 128 dated 05.03.2012. Para 237 (b) incorporates instructions regarding design, dimension and sections, sleeper spacing, fabrication of steel sleeper & other components, laying and maintenance of steel sleeper and inspection schedule only for channel sleepers.

2. The life of steel sleeper on bridges shall depend upon environment and loading and environment conditions which will vary from railway to railway. Therefore relevant data are required from all Zonal Railways to decide about the codal life of steel sleepers. A proforma has been prepared for collecting relevant details. All zonal railways have been requested to send the details of Steel Channel sleepers in the enclosed proforma for arriving at service life.

TSC may deliberate for further approach on the issue.