Find out how much a meter of train track weighs

Since the implementation of the first railroad in the world, which took place in England in 1825, railroads started to be built in all countries and became an important structure for the development of nations, since the construction of railroads made it easier to cargo transport to supply the ports. But, do you know what the composition of the railroad lines is like? And how much does a meter of train track weigh?

Well, regardless of the location, the main components for the transportation of cargo on the railroad lines are the freight trains and the railroad tracks, which allow the trains to move. The focus of our text is to talk about the rails, which are laminated steel compositions. Here in Brazil, the main profile of the tracks is of the Vignole type, and the characterization of the types of a track depends exclusively on how much a meter of train track weighs. From the length of the extension of a piece of rail in a line, the loads that can be moved on the specific track are directed. 

In Brazil, there are basically some types of tracks that are formed by the acronym TR, followed by weighing the meter of the track. We give a greater focus on the types of trails in the text available on the link. no link. 

This categorization is a way of determining the amount of cargo borne by the roads without the risk of structural problems, including derailment. There are several wear and tear that occur on the tracks and that could be even greater if there was no control of the loads according to the weighing of the rail part. Therefore, understanding how much a meter of train track weighs is fundamental for those responsible for the line, and it is a very simple understanding. 

How much does a meter of train track weigh?

As explained, it is possible to notice that each type of rail has a specific weight and is applied according to the needs of the railroad. Thus, to determine how much a meter of train track weighs, it is necessary to analyze the context in which it is inserted and the materials with which it is produced. 

The amount of weight supported by a track is totally linked to the weight of the loads present in the wagons. For each axle of a wagon, there is a certain amount that can be supported by a track. There is a prior determination of how many tons per axle are allowed, this includes the loads present in the wagon, as well as the structural composition of the wagon itself. 

The weighing of the wagons is done by railroad scales that are positioned on the tracks of the railroad tracks, and measure the weighing of the wagon when it comes into contact with the equipment. There are two types of scales, the difference being in the way they act. Static scales work only with trains stopped and wagons positioned on the scale extension. Dynamic scales, which are the most used today, allow weighing to be carried out even if the train is in motion. When trains pass these structures, the data is sent to a data center that determines if the weighings are in accordance with those supported by that route. 

Weighing specification

Before we approach directly how much a meter of train track weighs, we need to explain to you what the composition of this structure looks like. The tracks are formed by three main points: the skates, which are the basis of the composition, the soul, which is the central part and the connection to the upper part, and the boletos, which are the most important part of the track, since come into direct contact with the movement of the train wheels.

Railroad tracks are manufactured by the companies of the companies that own the lines that work in the railroad industry. In this way, it is more practical to determine the type of rail that will be built for the track. 

As we have seen, the weighing of the meter of a piece of rail is decisive for the classification of the type of rail. Now, we will go through the main weighings of rails found in Brazil and discuss what are their main uses. 

TR 32 e TR 37

The acronyms TR 32 and 37 determine how much a meter of train track weighs on the track where they will be installed. Thus, the weighing of one meter of the bar of this type of rail weighs 32 kg and 37 kg, respectively. Because they are lighter weighing tracks, they naturally withstand wagons with smaller loads. The determination is that the TR 32 and TR 37 allow wagons to be moved, in that order, of 16 and 18 tons per axle. This type of rail is very common in simpler transport, such as industrial cranes and cargo handling in mining companies. 

TR 45

Do you know how much a meter of train track weighs on a track that has a TR 45? Well, the same rule applies to all types of weighing. The acronym TR 45 determines that the meter of the rail bar must weigh a maximum of 45 kg. This type of rail is regular in the transport of usual and common cargo on the railroads, and allows the wagons to weigh up to 20 tons per axle.

TR 57 e TR 68

These are the most standard weighings on Brazilian railroad tracks. The TR 57 shows that the track meter weighs 57 kg while the TR 68 has its meter weighing 68 kg. The tracks with this type of track allow wagons with 25 and 30 tons per axle to be moved, respectively. These types of tracks are quite usual and functional, as they can handle the greatest possible weight for the loads, they are not built specifically for a type of transport, which makes the possibilities quite wide. They are widely used, for example, on ore transport railroads, which carry higher weights compared to other types of products. 

Conclusion

We realized during our discussion that the weighing of the meter of the rail is decisive for the construction in which it will be inserted. In this way, it is possible to determine the maximum weight of the wagons, ensuring the safety of the composition and preventing the rails from suffering from greater wear and tear on their structures.

Searchs: https://sites.google.com/site/geotecniaefundacaolan/137-trilhos-ferroviarios

https://www.brasilferroviario.com.br/trilho/

http://www.oieduca.com.br/biblioteca/que-dia-e-hoje/comecam-as-obras-da-primeira-ferrovia-do-mundo.html?#:~:text=A%20primeira%20ferrovia%20do%20mundo,carv%C3%A3o%20e%20para%20transportar%20passageiros.

https://portogente.com.br/artigos/13531-as-capacidades-dos-vagoes-ferroviarios