What Are Rail Anchors
Rail anchors, also known as anti-creepers, are steel clips affixed to the underside of rail base plates, pressing against the sides of sleepers to prevent longitudinal movement caused by temperature changes, vibrations, or traffic. They serve as vital components of railway tracks, providing stability and safety.
What Are Rail Anchors Used For
Rail anchors are utilized to combat a phenomenon known as rail creeping, which occurs when trains exert longitudinal forces on the rail, causing vertical movement and potentially displacing sleepers. This phenomenon is prevalent in various scenarios, including double-track intervals, heavy vehicle routes on single-track railways, long downhill slopes, and braking sections near stations.
Rail creeping can lead to hazardous conditions such as uneven rail gaps and sleeper misalignment, posing serious risks to traffic safety. To mitigate these risks, rail anchors are employed as effective measures to counteract rail creeping. Their absence can increase the likelihood of derailments, making them indispensable components of railway infrastructure worldwide.