INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ELECTRICAL-RESISTANCE OF WOODEN RAILWAY SLEEPERS

The electrical behavior of railway sleepers impregnated with two new wood preservatives (salt type CX-S and creosote type GX) has been tested under service conditions in comparison with sleepers impregnated with standard creosote WEI-Type A. The results achieved are as follows: 1) The main factor influencing the electrical resistance of wooden railway sleepers is moisture content. 2) With regard to the electrical resistance GX oil can be used under outdoor conditions and CX-S salt in tunnels without any objections. 3) The isolation resistance of track sections is less influenced by the resistance of the sleepers than by the resistance of the bedding of the track, especially at low moisture contents, when the resistance of the sleepers is relatively high.