Possible safety hazard @ Castleknocok (Blanchardstown) [Archive]

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sean

11-03-2006, 22:13

Was up in Blanchardstown about a week ago, and some sleepers on the Inbound line looked to be in very bad condition.

Firstly, single colour smooth surface usually associated with concrete had been eroded in parts to show the stoney mix in the centre.

Secondly, the date-stamps which are supposed to show the month and year of relay were worn down and no longer visible.

Finally, and this is most worrying what lead me to make this report, one sleeper seemed to have very significant erosion underneath the sleeper chair.

I've uploaded an image. Please excuse the large size.

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/334/castleknocksleepers6ls.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mark Gleeson

11-03-2006, 22:31

No worries here

Sleepers are still intact and holding guage.
Concrete reinforcements not showing
The date stamps location depends on the batch
Ballast condition is good with no signs of decay
Failure of a single or indeed 2 sleepers in a row is not a safety risk

sean

11-03-2006, 22:37

The date stamp should show JUL 97. Other sleepers in the area had the stamps in order, around there the stamp is on the side nearest the platform.

Probably not a hazard just yet though it looks liek a potential problem for the future..

philip

13-03-2006, 00:01

sean

13-03-2006, 02:16

Many sleepers in Clonsilla have cracks in them. I think it's odd for 9 year old sleepers to look so sh!te. What the hell can do that stuff sean has shown to concrete? It has to be from contact with something I'd imagine. If the sleeper is disintegrating just from use then there are issues to be resolved.
Yikes! That's not good at all.

Thing about cracks is, when railfall gets into those during cold weather, when it ices you get freeze-thaw action :(

This load of erosion probably arises from IRs policy of using razor-thin sleepers on a ridiculously wide spacing.