Holding the line: Track fasteners use a variety of shapes and materials to solve a wide variety of problems while doing their basic job of holding the track together

Railway Track and Structures, June, 2001 by Tom Judge

The company pointed out its Insulguard [R] Inserts continue to be increasingly specified n all types of projects.

"We are pleased with the growth and, more importantly, appreciate the changes in the marketplace that are allowing this product to take hold and make a difference in the track areas affected by stray current and corrosion," said Russell Wilmot, resident.

"We have a few new and exciting products in R&D that will complement and enhance our current Insulguard line of concrete inserts," Wilmot noted. "These products will provide additional insulation and corrosion protection in and around the fastening area."

Stage 8: Locking fastener

Stage 8 Locking Fasteners designed a simple system that uses its patented "GrooveLok [TM] Technology" for keeping bolts tight. A retainer clip fits over the grooved head of a bolt or nut, then a spring clip fits into the groove and holds the retainer in place against an adjacent assembly part. This system, acting like a small wrench locked on the bolt head, keeps the fastener from rotating even when subjected to motion, vibration, thermal variation and frictional drag, notes Bruce Bennett, president.

"We've had zero failures in more than seven million applications," Bennett said.

Rail anchors

"We manufacture a complete line of rail joints in Huntington, W.Va., and rail anchors at our St. Jean, Que., facility, said Kostas Papazoglou, president of Portec's Canada operation. "In the past, we looked into the possibility of adding a complementary product to the family of track components already manufactured by Portec Rail. Spikes appeared to be a natural fit.

"During 2000, we completed a major expansion of our St. Jean facility," he said. "We doubled the manufacturing floor area and added a production line to manufacture track spikes. In conjunction with this addition, we improved our railcar-loading facility, thus allowing us to load gondolas and boxcars indoors and combine rail anchors with spikes to better service our customers.

"This year, we are more heavily involved in the remanufacturing aspect of rail anchors as our Fair [R] rail anchors render easily to this process," he noted.

True Temper Railway Appliances, a division of Progress Rail Services, modified its Channeloc anchor at the request of a Class 1 railroad. The company points out it is willing to make large or small improvements to help customers.

"True Temper anchors are used by all North American Class is, as well as regionals and shortlines and transit agencies," said Bob Whalen, assistant vice president. "The company recently started selling more overseas. We have been selling anchors to Kazakhstan, formerly part of the USSR, for three years, including orders early in 2001.

"Earlier in the year, like most suppliers, we were worried about railroad cutbacks. But as Spring brought warmer weather, gangs started to go out again and business has been picking up. We recently added a third shift to our manufacturing plant."

Using innovative designs and materials, fastener suppliers are meeting the challenge of holding it all together.