Chapter-7

Creep in Rails
7.1. Lecture Outline
 Creep in Rails
 Effect of Creep
 Theories of creep
 Creep Indicator
 Methods to reduce Creep

7.2. Creep- Definition

 Longitudinal movement of rails in a track
 Location specific
 Varies in magnitude

7.3. Creep – Indicators
 Closing of joints in the direction of creep
 Opening of joints at points where creep starts
 Scrapping / scratching marks on rail flanges / web due to spike head

7.4. Creep – Effects

1. Opening or jamming of joints
2. Kink formation at rail joints
3. Sleepers get out of position – affecting gauge and alignment
4. Buckling of track – derail the train
5. Points, crossings, switches, interlocking gets distorted
6. Smashing of fish plates, bolts – due to stresses induced
7. Removal, replacement, maintenance becomes difficult
8. Forging of ballast
9. Bending of bars

7.5. Creep – Theories

I. Wave theory
II. Percussion theory
III. Drag theory

Creep Measurement

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 I. Wave theory
 Moving wheel loads set a wave motion in
rails.
 A vertical reverse curve is formed ahead of
wheels in the rails
 As wheel moves, the lift in front of the moving
load is carried forward, thus causing creep.
 Wave action is controlled by PITCH and
DEPTH of wave
 Pitch and Depth of wave depends upon
 Track modulus
 Track stiffness
 Track stability
 Control of Wave action
 Use angular and heavy ballast
 Lesser sleeper spacing
 Bigger rail section
 Increasing stiffness of track

II. Percussion theory

 States that the creep is due to impact of wheels at the
rail end ahead at joints
 At the rail joint, the wheel load presses the trailing rail
down thus causing an impact of wheel with the forward
rail
 At strike, the force in the direction of movement
pushes the forward rail ahead thus causing creep
 The resultant of vertical load and forward force causes
battering of rail end (of forward rail).
 Creep increases due to –
 Weak / loose fish bolts
 Worn out Fish plates
 Loose packing
 Wide joint expansion gap
 Heavy axle loads moving at fast speed\

III. Drag theory

 It relates to the motion of a locomotive and the wagons
 Driving wheels of the locomotive causes backward thrust, pushing rail of the
track backward
 Other wheels of the locomotive and wheels of the wagons opposes this
motion (inertia effect) and push the rail in the direction of travel
 This is more than the effect of driving wheels.

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7.6. Creep – Other Causes
Starting, Accelerating, slowing,  Starting or acceleration causes
stopping of wheels backward thrust
 Slowing or deceleration causes
push in rails in forward direction
Thermal expansion / contraction of  Range in temperature
rails  Effect of surroundings, like shades
 Location effect
Unbalanced traffic  heavy traffic in one direction
 Ill design of track
 More on curves
 More on steep gradients
Poor maintenance of Track  Type of rail (old / new; light /
heavy)
 Fastenings, joints
 Ballast cushion, formation

7.7. Creep – Prevention

 Pulling back the rails
 Using crow bars and hooks through fish bolt holes
 Slow and tedious process
 Practicable for only small lengths
 Use of steel sleepers
 Steel through sleepers are best
 Increase in number of sleepers can
help
 Using Anchors / Anti-creepers
 4 anchors per rail if creep is 7.5 cm to
15 cm / month
 6 anchors per rail if creep is 22.5 to 25
cm / month
 Used at level crossings, in yards and
places of heavy brake application
 Not used on bridges
 These are fastened to the foot of the rail
 Anchors are fixed to rails either
o By wedging action
o By clamping
o By a spring grip
 Important points
 Should be able to resist the movement of the rails
 Should butt against the sleepers
 Fixed to good sound sleepers
 Should not be used on bridges