Outside the window, the sky and the earth were covered by a gray rain curtain, and the rain continued to beat the earth. In this humid and dreary plum rain season, the train still cuts the rain curtain steadily and powerfully along the shiny steel rail and runs to the distance. It is those silent sleepers, especially the anti-corrosion sleepers made by special processes, that support this safe and stable foundation and are deeply buried under the ballast. When all things are eroded by moisture, they are the real barrier to silently guard the lifeline of the railway.
Unprotected ordinary wooden pillows are extremely vulnerable in the rainy season. Continuous rain and saturated air humidity provide an unparalleled hotbed for decaying fungi. Water invades the depth of wood fiber, and mycelium quietly breeds and spreads inside, just like silent moths gnawing at the muscles and bones of wood. The strength and elasticity of the wood will decline sharply, and the stable foundation of the rail will be shaken, and the safety risks will grow in the dark.
Fortunately, corrosion-resistant sleepers widely used in modern railway engineering have been prepared to cope with such extreme environments since their birth. The pine wood, which is long, straight and easy to handle, is the ideal carrier to maximize the effectiveness of the anti-corrosion process. The abundant pore structure inside the pine, like a natural channel network, has laid a foundation for the subsequent in-depth protection.
The core essence of the anti-corrosion process is to let the anti-corrosion oil reach the depth of the wood. Through the special vacuum and pressure treatment process, the anti-corrosion oil can penetrate the wood surface and immerse into a deeper layer. This is not a simple surface painting, but a part of the internal structure of the wood. When the preservative oil solidifies inside the wood, it builds an insurmountable barrier at the micro level. This barrier can effectively prevent the deep invasion of rain and moisture, and make those greedy rotten fungi have no way to eat and lose their foundation for survival.
Therefore, when the earth is soaked with endless moisture in the plum rain season, the advantages of anti-corrosion sleepers will be particularly dazzling:
Natural nemesis of rotten fungi: the anti-corrosion barrier deeply embedded in the wood effectively deprives the water and nutrients required by rotten microorganisms, so that the sleeper can effectively resist the decay process and maintain its core strength in the continuous humidity.
"Dinghaishen needle" of wet expansion and dry contraction: the depth of preservative oil regulates the over sensitive response of wood fiber to moisture to a certain extent. Even if the air humidity is saturated, the dimensional stability of the anti-corrosion sleeper is much better than that of the ordinary wooden sleeper, which greatly reduces the deformation and cracking caused by repeated wet expansion and drying shrinkage, as well as the risk of relaxation with the rail connectors (such as spikes and fasteners).
Reliable guarantee for long-term service: it has resisted the most severe threat of decay, and the service life of anti-corrosion sleepers has been extended several times. In the long rainy season, they do not need to be replaced frequently, which provides a solid material guarantee for the continuous and safe operation of the railway line, and significantly reduces the maintenance cost and potential risk of train interruption caused by sleeper failure.
Of course, no matter how powerful the defense is, it also needs the careful care of people. In plum rain season, more attention should be paid to the maintenance of anti-corrosion sleepers:
Increase the frequency and detail of line patrol inspection: in wet seasons, inspectors should focus on checking whether there are abnormal signs of decay on the sleeper surface (especially around the spike hole, sleeper end and other places where stress concentration is easy to accumulate water), whether there are serious cracks affecting the integrity, and whether the steel rail fasteners are loose due to the change of sleeper status. Any minor abnormality may be a signal of hidden trouble.
It is very important to ensure the absolute unimpeded drainage system of the line: the silt in the side ditch and culvert must be cleared in time to ensure that the subgrade slope is stable without collapse. The rainwater can be quickly discharged from the track area to avoid the sleeper being immersed in the ponding for a long time. No matter how good the anti-corrosion treatment is, it is difficult to resist the continuous flooding.
When we enjoy the punctual and reliable railway transportation in the rainy season, we should not forget that it is these specially forged wooden backbones that silently support the vein and glory of modern transportation in the wet shadow. Their existence is the most professional and solid answer to bad weather.
