A block boot (1) that has a rectangular ground plan, a bottom (5), and four side walls (2, 3). On the interior of the side walls (2, 3), ribs (10, 15) extending in parallel to the bottom are arranged. At least one of these ribs (10, 15) tapers from the respective side wall (2, 3) toward the interior of the block boot to a free end having a vertex line (24, 25). This block boot is simple to manufacture and offers improved properties with regard to static and dynamic rigidity in operation.

A band adapted for use as a seal around an upper edge of a boot adapted for holding a block to which a rail is fastened, includes an elongated body having an outer face, an inner face, a first end and a second end. The first and second ends of the elongated body are secured to each other to form the band. An inner face of the elongated body is smooth and an outer face thereof includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs. The ribs extend from the first end of the band to the second end thereof. The elongated body is made from an electrically insulating elastomeric material.

A sleeper block unit including a sleeper block and a sleeper shoe that surrounds the latter in its lower area. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe, a surrounding sealing collar (14) of an elastic material is arranged which sealingly connects the sleeper block to the sleeper shoe. The sealing collar (14) includes an upper edge section (15), a lower edge section (16), and a lateral section (17) arranged therebetween. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe (3), a surrounding bead (11) is externally arranged which is sealingly overlapped by the lower edge section of the sealing collar (14).

A rail tie pad for use with a cast rail tie. The rail tie pad may be flexible, polymeric body having first and second opposite sides and, when viewed in cross-section, includes an upper surface and a lower surface defining a first vertical thickness and including a plurality of undulations with alternating concave portions and convex portions. The rail tie pad further includes a pair of side anchor portions respectively disposed at the first and second opposite sides of the pad, each including at least one anchor projection for embedment within the side portions of a cast rail tie. In this manner, the anchor portions of the rail tie pad are embedded within, and fixably secure, the sides of the rail tie pad to the cast rail tie to mitigate or prevent separation of the rail tie pad from the rail tie during transport and/or positioning of the rail tie during installation.

A composite railway sleeper (1; 50; 100) comprising an outer coating shell (2; 51; 101) made of composite plastic material and a shaped structural core (3; 52; 102), made of a material comprising at least concrete contained within said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101), wherein said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101) presents in the upper outer face (2a; 51a; 101a) two distinct and opposite groups of grooves (4; 53) suitable to receive the angular guide plates (G) belonging to pre-assembled elastic type fastening systems (64) for the connection of two respective rails (R) with said railway sleeper (1; 50; 100).

A vibration dampening boot for railway tie blocks and a method of manufacturing railway tie block assemblies. The boot includes a bottom wall with resilient tie block contact structures disposed at different heights for initial tie block support and variable vibration dampening. The upper portion of the boot terminates in a removable wall connected to the side walls of the boot by a relatively thin tear strip to enable direct pouring of cast material, such as concrete or epoxy, into the boot for casting the tie block, with the wall removable after installation of the tie block assembly into a railway bed. In this manner, the boot may be used with pre-cast tie blocks as well as accommodate direct casting of the tie blocks within the boot to form a tie block assembly.

A sleeper block unit including a sleeper block and a sleeper shoe that surrounds the latter in its lower area. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe, a surrounding sealing collar (14) of an elastic material is arranged which sealingly connects the sleeper block to the sleeper shoe. The sealing collar (14) includes an upper edge section (15), a lower edge section (16), and a lateral section (17) arranged therebetween. In the area of the upper edge of the side walls (9) of the sleeper shoe (3), a surrounding bead (11) is externally arranged which is sealingly overlapped by the lower edge section of the sealing collar (14).

A band adapted for use as a seal around an upper edge of a boot adapted for holding a block to which a rail is fastened, includes an elongated body having an outer face, an inner face, a first end and a second end. The first and second ends of the elongated body are secured to each other to form the band. An inner face of the elongated body is smooth and an outer face thereof includes a plurality of laterally spaced ribs. The ribs extend from the first end of the band to the second end thereof. The elongated body is made from an electrically insulating elastomeric material.

A composite railway sleeper (1; 50; 100) comprising an outer coating shell (2; 51; 101) made of composite plastic material and a shaped structural core (3; 52; 102), made of a material comprising at least concrete contained within said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101), wherein said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101) presents in the upper outer face (2a; 51a; 101a) two distinct and opposite groups of grooves (4; 53) suitable to receive the angular guide plates (G) belonging to pre-assembled elastic type fastening systems (64) for the connection of two respective rails (R) with said railway sleeper (1; 50; 100).

The sleeper block unit (1) for railway track systems consists of a sleeper block (2) and of a sleeper shoe (3) that partly surrounds the sleeper block (2). The sleeper block (2) has a head portion (4) and a base portion (6), the head portion (4) extending beyond the base portion (6) in length and in width, thus forming a step (10). At the upper edge of the sleeper shoe (3), a surrounding, upwardly and outwardly extending sealing lip (14) that lies against the step (10) is arranged. As a result, during vertical movements of the sleeper block (2) in the sleeper shoe (3), the sealing lip (14) is deformed substantially vertically in the elastic range rather than rubbing against an outer wall of the sleeper block as in known sleeper block units. In this manner the sealing lip is subject to reduced wear so that the sealing effect is maintained for a longer period and the sleeper block unit (1) has a longer lifetime.