Harz railway 'Y' shaped sleepers.

[stockers]

When we were on the Harz back in 2011 we saw loads of these. They appear to be made of galvanised U section steel. Look quite odd and I cant see that they are cheap. Seem to be used on curves alot so may be they dig in and hold the curvature well!

They run right into stations.
Westerntor

Alexisbad junction to Harzgerode

and right on top of the Broken

This section outside of Wernigerode is recently relaid after building the road underpass, so they appear to be still being used.

 

[stockers]

'798.03', on here, recently did an order from Bertram Heyn.
http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/ < Link To www.modell-werkstatt.de
and ordered a few of these for me. Direct link - http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/gleissystem/gleiszubehoer/y-stahlschwellen.html

 

[stockers]

They are black plastic with three rail chairs fitted through small holes by a peg on the underside of the chair. Sprayed brown, to simulate rust I assume - though those I remember seeing were dull silver, like weathered galvanising. Might have to have a play with the silver aerosol.
I had a length of unused Aristocraft 10ft diameter track - weathered by ageing in my damp shed.
Putting the chairs on was a bit awkward and would be difficult on well weathered track.

 

[stockers]

I am well pleased with the result. They bring back happy memories of my short stay in the Harz and they are just a little bit 'different'.
At about £20 a pack (does about 2 metres) they are not exactly cheap but a few certainly make a focus point.

 

[stockers]

Now, when it stops raining, I can get outside and put some in place.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Now, when it stops raining, I can get outside and put some in place.

ten year's time then

 

[Madman]

So did you ever find out why this design is used?

 

[PaulRhB]

Looks good, I agree it must be to stop track moving as it must lock it in the ballast well

 

[Gizzy]

I know these sleepers are used on the RhB too, particularly on sharper curves.

A quick Google search found this linky;

http://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature92105/feature92105-3.html

Seems they spread the load better and require less ballast....

 

[Nodrog1826]

I assume they grip the bottom of the rail, to prevent them bunching up as it were, have been looking at the concrete ones they offer as well.

 

[Hutch]

I wonder what I could spell by mixing these and straight ties?

 

[alec dawe]

I wonder what I could spell by mixing these and straight ties?

VW?

 

[PaulRhB]

I assume they grip the bottom of the rail, to prevent them bunching up as it were, have been looking at the concrete ones they offer as well.

I doubt it as the expansion would push the sleepers around, cause buckling in hot weather or breaks in cold weather. We use spades on the end of sleepers in the UK for the same reason, many metal sleepers have them stamped into the end, and expansion joints and fishplates at joints allow the rail to move where the sleepers are fixed like this. They grease the fishplates during maintenance and slack off the bolts slightly in hot weather to allow the rail to move through. If it moves too much one way then they sometimes get broken plates as it cools at night and have to draw the rail back to replace the plates.

 

[stockers]

Here are the answers - straight from the manufacturer.
Looks like they are a relatively new development used for less ballast and greater rigidity.
http://www.tkgftgleistechnik.de/nc/...leeper.html?cid=604&did=1717&sechash=bbf9e336

 

[PaulRhB]

Interesting about the 30% less sleepers required I assume that's because they reckon it reduces the hammer effect on the ballast as its more stable. You can certainly see how the Y shape helps reduce lateral movement.

 

[Gizzy]

I see from Stocker's post that the sleepers are an I beam construction.

Although the pdf is from Thyssen, I believe these were actually developed in Hungary....

 

[jameshilton]

These look very interesting indeed! Keen to see these out in the garden Alan, are you going to ballast it?

 

[stockers]

These look very interesting indeed! Keen to see these out in the garden Alan, are you going to ballast it?

Yes James.

 

[stockers]

Put the track maintenance train out today.

My ballast is rather over scale - but it works well.

The first train.

 

[Gizzy]

My ballast is rather over scale - but it works well.

Looks really good Alan!

Something a little bit different....