Question

Explain various types of spikes with a neat sketchs.

Answer 1

Solution:

A spikes manufactured from metals are widely used in railway routes to hold rails to wooden or concrete sleepers.

A spike is a large nail with an offset head that is used to hold rails & base plates to sleepers.

It should be strong enough to hold rails in position and offers resistance to motion.

Following are the four types of spikes.

(1) DOG SPIKES :

• It is commonly used spikes for wooden sleepers
• As it's head shape resembles like an dog head, it is called as dog spikes.
• It has square shank at top whose head sloped such that it fits into top surface of rail flanges.
• Generally section of spike is square and bottom part is pointed or or chiseled.
• It is easy to fix and remove from sleepers.
• It is cheaply available.

(2) Screw Spike

• It has tapered screw with v threads on it which used to hold wooden sleepers and rails.
• It's head may be circular with hexagonal or square projecttion on it.
• It has high holding power than that of dog spikes. It's also resist lateral thrust generated due to locomotive motions.
• Cost is high as campair to dog spikes.

(3) Round Spikes

• Round spikes has either cylindrical or hemispherical head.
• It used for fixing chairs of bull headed rail to sleepers.

(4) Elastic Spikes

• Elastic spikes used to overcome problems creates by using dog spikes which absorbs wave motion of rails.
• It provides better grips on rails and reduction in wear and tear.