Sleeper Grades Explained

Sleeper Grades Explained

Sleeper Grades Explained

Railway Sleeper grading is a subjective issue, we grade ours quite simply - an explanation is given below:

 

Reclaimed Sleeper and Crossing Timber Grading

Grade A

A Grade A reclaimed railway sleeper is a used sleeper in relatively very good condition for its age. It will have bolt holes where the tracks were attached to it and generally a small amount of damage or slight wane is acceptable to one or two edges. It is very sound, free from rot and can be used for stacking, building retaining walls and many other uses where a clean straight edged appearance is essential.

 

Grade B

Grade B reclaimed railway sleepers share many characteristics of Grade A but may also show signs of more serious deterioration as well as missing edges and marks/knots missing throughout. They are likely to look less like square edged sleepers and may have difficulty in being stacked where parts have deteriorated. A more rustic sleeper that is still great for landscaping purposes.

 

Grade C

Grade C reclaimed railway sleepers share many characteristics of Grade B and above but can show significant signs of deterioration; including rot, severe splits, cracks and damage to most sides. They are likely to look less like square edged sleepers and may have difficulty in being stacked where parts have deteriorated. A more rustic sleeper that is still great for landscaping purposes.

 

Hardwood Railway Sleeper Grading Rules

As for the softwood but with the following additions:

 

Oak

Grade A

Possiblility of small splits at either end and possibly one waned edge.

 

Grade B

Possiblility of larger splits at either end and the possibility of two waned edges and or be bent.

 

Grade C

All the above, can also be very misshapen.

 

Tropical hardwoods

Grade A

Very sound, a minimal amount of loosening of the grain is allowable and minor splits.

 

Grade B

Possibility of split ends and some damage to the sleeper, the grain will appear very loose around the edges and especially the ends, this is completely normal with tropical hardwood but the sleeper will be essentially sound although very rustic looking - please take this into account before ordering.

 

Grade C

All the above and the additional possibility of severely damaged edges and some rot.

 

New Unused Railway Sleeper Grading Rules

Grade A

Perfect straight edges to a minimum of three sides (normally all four). Minimal damage allowable, wane to one edge allowable. This sleeper can look very architectural and be used for many purposes where a straight true finish is required.

 

Rustic Grade

Rustic new softwood or hardwood sleepers have wane allowable to two edges and it can be quite severe.

 

Railway Sleeper Grade

New railway sleepers are cut from solid pieces of timber, they can sometimes have one or two waned edges, a small amount of residual bark, sometimes minor insect damage or the occasional small split to the ends - a new sleeper will almost never have all these slight issues at the same time however and is normally close to perfect!