Comparing the accuracy of the visual assessment of longitudinal wheeltimbers against decay detection drilling methods

ABSTRACT

Timber has been a versatile material for centuries. During the start of the Railway Age in the nineteenth century it was in considerable demand, particularly for bridge building. Timber is still in service and widely used throughout the UK network. The resilience and favourable strength to weight ratio and its relative ease of fabrication make it an attractive material. Longitudinal wheeltimbers are used extensively to carry track in situations where it is desirable to reduce the weight of bridges and in locations where the depth of the structure prevents the use of ballasted track. Most wheeltimbers in the UK comprise creosoted Douglas fir and to a lesser extent, naturally durable tropical hardwoods. Concerns about the effects of fungal decay and non-standardised inspection regimes are problematic. Managing the network is complex and imposes high and often conflicting demands on infrastructure asset managers. Effective asset management within a safety critical sector is an essential discipline. It is the variable nature of timber that presents significant management challenges. This paper summarises a strategy to improve the examination of wheeltimbers and assesses the feasibility of extending service life. This approach may deliver more effective asset management of timber assets.

KEYWORDS:

• Timber
• railway
• asset management
• decay
• service life

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).