Rail Creep

Creep in rail is defined as the longitudinal movement of the rails in the track in the direction of
motion of locomotives. Creep is common to all railways and its value varies from almost nothing
to about 6 inches or 16cm.

Causes of Creep

The causes of rail creep can be broadly classified into two categories

1. Major Causes o Creep

2. Minor Causes of Creep

Major Causes of Creep

Major causes of creep also known as principal causes of creep. Follows are the major causes of
creep in rail

1. Creep may be developed due to forces that come into operation when the train is starting or
stopping by application of brakes. Increase of starting the wheels pushes the rail backward and
hence the direction of creep is in backward direction.

When brakes are applied then the wheels of the vehicles push the rails in forward direction and
hence the creep is in forward direction.

2. Creep is also developed due to wave motions. When the wheels of the vehicles strikes the
crests, creep is developed.

3. Another reason creep develops because of unequal expansion and contraction owing to
change in temperature.

Minor Causes Creep

Some of the minor causes of creep in rail are below:

3. Rails not properly fixed to sleepers

4. Bad drainage of ballast

5. Bad quality of sleepers used

6. Improper consolidation of formation bed

7. Gauge fixed too tight or too slack

8. Rails fixed too tight to carry the traffic

9. Incorrect adjustment of super elevation on outer rails at curves

11. Rail joints maintained in bad condition

Magnitude and Direction of Creep

Creep is not constant over a given period, it is not continue in one direction or at uniform rate.
Both the rails of the track may creep in same direction, perhaps both the rails reverse the direction
of creep or one rail creep in opposite direction to that of other. Read More

Results and Consequences of Creep

Following are some of the undesirable consequences of creep

1. The most serious effect of creep is the buckling of track in lateral directions. If unattended
and not properly removed then it causes derailments which leads to accidents. Read More

Correction of Creep|Methods against Creep

There are two methods used for the correction of creep. These are

Pulling back Method

Use of Creep Anchors / Anti Creepers

Methods for Correction of Creep

There are two methods used for the correction of creep. These are

12. Pulling back Method

13. Use of Creep Anchors / Anti Creepers

1. Pulling Back Method

In pulling back method the effects of creep are observed during ordinary maintenance of track.
Then the rails are pulled back equal to the amount of creep, either by manpower or by the use of
jacks. For this purpose, the sleeper fittings are made loose, the fish bolts at one end of the rail are
removed while at the other end they are made loose. The liner of required size is interested in the
gap and the rails are pushed or pulled as required.

Pushing is done by inserting short length of rod through bolt hole and then pushing the rail
forward by means of a crow bar. Pulling is done by inserting hook through the bolt hole and then
hauling the bolt hole by means of a rope attained to it.

Following points should be kept in mind in correction of creep

14. The track below sleepers should be properly packed after pulling and pushing operations.

15. The small pieces of rails should always be kept ready during progress of work to allow
 passage of trains at low restricted speeds.

16. The number of labours required depend upon the nature of creep, number of sleepers
affected due to creep.

17. All the fish bolts should be removed, cleaned and oiled and then refixed and tightened up
after the rails are brought to their proper positions by pushing or pulling.

18. The anchors, if to be installed, should be fixed after this process.

2. Use of Creep Anchors OR Anti Creepers

In this method, specially constructed device known as creep anchors or anti creepers are used. It
consists of cast iron pieces used to grip the rails. Creep anchors are provided behind the sleepers
for every third or fourth sleepers.

This arrangement prevents the movement of rails because the sleepers which are embedded in the
ballast will also have to move if the creep has to take place. This method of reducing creep is
quite efficient and economical as it reduces the cost to the extent of about 75% to that of pulling
back method.

Various types and makes of patented creep anchors have been constructed and are in use and most
of them are found considerably effective.

The following points should be kept in mind in case of creep anchors

19. The creep anchors should be strong enough to resist the stresses produced due to creep.

20. The number of creep anchors per rail length should be determined by intensity of creep.

21. The creep anchors should be provided at a place where creep originates and not alone
where the results of creep anchors are most apparent.

22. It should be remembered that the creep anchors should not be provided over railway
bridges as far as possible. It is better to provide sufficient number of creep anchors to
arrest the creep before it reaches a bridge.