12.00 Track Construction Specifications

12.01
Experienced personnel skilled in railroad track construction shall supervise track laying and surfacing.

12.02
Ties shall be uniformly spaced center to center of tie. Ties shall be laid at right angles to the rail and at least one will be located at the joint location as required in the FRA track standards for the class of track it is intended for.

12.03
When handling or spacing ties, care shall be taken not to damage them with picks or hammers. Tie tongs shall be used for this purpose.

12.04
The pulling of spikes, once driven, shall be avoided insofar as possible. When spikes are pulled, the holes shall be immediately plugged with creosoted tie plugs of the proper size to completely fill the hole, or an approved form of plugging compound must be used.

12.05
The bottom of the rail, the tie plate and the wearing surface of the tie shall be cleaned before the rail is laid.

12.06
Tie plates shall be applied at the time the rail is laid to avoid unnecessary spiking. Plate shoulder shall bear against the outside base of the rail.

12.07
Rails shall be unloaded, stored or distributed along the roadbed in such a manner as to prevent damage.

12.08
For jointed track, rails should be laid with a minimum 12 foot staggered joint arrangement.

12.09
If a determination is made to stagger rail, then rails of miscellaneous lengths less than 39 feet shall be used at suitable intervals for maintaining the proper stagger of joints on curves.

12.10
Rails less than 15 feet long shall not be used except for temporary closures.

12.11
Expansion shims of hardwood or fiber shall be used to control expansion. The following table prescribes the correct thickness for the expansion shim for various ambient temperatures:

RAIL TEMPERATURE	33 FT. RAIL OPENING	39 FT. RAIL OPENING	78 FT. RAIL OPENING
Below 25° F.	1/4"	1/4"	1/2"
25° to 50° F.	1/8"	3/8" every other joint	3/8"
51° to 75° F.	1/8" every other joint	1/8"	1/4"
76° to 100° F.	1/8" every third joint	1/8" every other joint	1/8"
Above 100° F.			1/8" every other joint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.12
Rails shall be laid to ensure good alignment, and the rail ends must be brought squarely together against expansion shims and shall be bolted before spiking.

12.13
Rails shall be cut square and clean by means of rail saws. Holes for complete bolting of cut rails shall be drilled according to Union Pacific’s Specifications. Under no circumstances shall new holes be drilled between two holes already drilled. Cutting rails or drilling holes in cut rails by means of acetylene or electric torch will not be permitted.

12.14
The appropriate number of bolts shall be applied according to the rail joint used. The nuts of all bolts shall alternate uniformly inside and outside of each joint. Each bolt shall be equipped with a spring washer of size required to fit the diameter of the bolts used.

12.15
The right-hand rail going away from the switch points or the outside rail on curves shall first be spiked in position in its proper relation to the lined end of ties. The opposite rail shall then be spiked to true gage (4'-8 1/2”). Curved track shall be gauged as follows:

a) Lay track to standard gauge on tangents and curves of less than 6 degrees.
b) Lay track to a gauge of 56-3/4” on curves of 6 degrees or greater.

12.16
On tangent track and on curves up to 6 degrees, two spikes (one inside and one outside the base of rail) shall be used to fasten each rail to each tie. On curves 6 degrees and over, two inside and one outside, rail spike shall be used on each rail.

12.17
Spikes shall be staggered so that the outside spikes shall be on the same side of the tie and the inside spikes on the opposite side. (See Exhibit “O-5”) (PDF File)

12.18
Rail shall not be struck with maul or heavy tool when spiking, gauging or lining.

12.19
Spikes shall be started vertically and square and be driven straight with full bearing against the base of the rail. Straightening with maul or spikes started crooked will not be permitted. Spikes started crooked shall be pulled, the holes plugged and spikes redriven. Immediately after completion of track surfacing, spikes shall be settled in place with the underside of the head of the spike contacting the top of base with a minimum of pressure.

12.20
When the track has been raised to within 4 inches of final grade and properly compacted, the final lift shall be made by jacking the track up to the exact elevation provided by the grade stakes. The ballast shall then be tamped under the ties. The space extending from 15 inches inside either rail to the ends of the ties shall be thoroughly tamped. The tie centers shall be left untamped. Unless otherwise authorized, this final lift shall be tamped with tamping bars, tamping picks or by approved tamping machines. In making the finishing lift, the spot board and level board shall be used with care and the track brought to a true surface and required elevation.

12.21
After track has been brought to true surface, elevation and grade, it shall be given a final lining and placed in true alignment.

12.22
Turnouts shall be constructed of all new or certified reconditioned rail and other track material. Unless otherwise approved by the Office of the Vice President - Engineering, all turnouts must be fabricated to Union Pacific standards. Turnouts in Union Pacific owned or maintained track will be constructed with all new rail and other track material supplied by a Union Pacific approved vendor.

12.23
Road crossings on industry-owned trackage may be constructed with plank and asphalt or entirely with asphalt. Maintain the flangeway opening along the gage side of the running rail at no less than 3 inches. All crossings on Railroad owned trackage will be constructed with UPRR precast concrete crossing material.

12.24
Timber crossing materials shall conform to Exhibit “L" (PDF File)  and shall be square-edged and of sound creosoted planks of fir or hemlock, or equal, with the height of plank equal the distance from top of tie to top of rail. The planks are to be fastened with countersunk 3/4" x 12" galvanized Lewis washer head drive spikes, in predrilled holes.

12.25
Each crossing location will be evaluated individually by the Railroad (and Road Authority if applicable) to determine minimum crossing surface material requirements. Crossings may require the use of precast concrete materials. Determination of and type of warning devices on public roadways will be made by a joint recommendation of Railroad, road authority, and/or government regulatory body.

12.26
Earthen bumpers shall be used whenever possible. If bumping posts are used, they shall be Hayes heavy-duty type, or equal. (See Exhibit “D”) (PDF File)

Page last revised on 10/27/03