A building dedicated to the sleeper cutters was kindly donated by the Culloty family .
JERRY CULLOTY THE SLEEPER CUTTER
He was working with timber as early as 1927 around the Cardwell area. Returned to sleeper cutting after he was married and had a family to raise. Preferred working for himself though he’d worked at Koombooloomba, had an engine driver’s ticket to drive various machinery for the railway and the Main Roads and was always a miner and returned to prospecting after retiring from timber cutting.
Cut sleepers for the sugar mills in the far north – Goondi and Sth Johnston and Tully
Cut for the railway as well.
Workers include Les Barlow and Ruben Connolly who off sided for him for many years. Gilly Norman and son Dennis also did this for a time.
Ted Goldfinch and Jerry were more partners in timber contracts cutting poles for the electricity board.
Other sleeper cutters around Herberton with whom he spent many hours discussing work, and life in general included his good friends Joey Collins and Arnold Barratt. There was also Maurice Borghero and Adam Struber
His brother Danny also worked in timber for a while after the war.
He used a hargan saw but loved the chain saws when they came out and never hesitated to invest in a newer model whenever he could afford it.
Cut in the various State forests with permission -Tumoulin, Walsh River, Herberton state forest Wongabel. Jerry never really liked working in rainforest - scrub as he called it – because of the stinging trees, leeches and scrub itch all of which plagued him at different times if he was working in that kind of country.
Drove an old army truck/ blitz. Not always registered so it stayed in the forests wherever he was working and he used it to drag/snig the poles/logs to the site where he cut he poles/logs into required lengths for the sleepers.
He was working with timber as early as 1927 around the Cardwell area. Returned to sleeper cutting after he was married and had a family to raise. Preferred working for himself though he’d worked at Koombooloomba, had an engine driver’s ticket to drive various machinery for the railway and the Main Roads and was always a miner and returned to prospecting after retiring from timber cutting.
Cut sleepers for the sugar mills in the far north – Goondi and Sth Johnston and Tully
Cut for the railway as well.
Workers include Les Barlow and Ruben Connolly who off sided for him for many years. Gilly Norman and son Dennis also did this for a time.
Ted Goldfinch and Jerry were more partners in timber contracts cutting poles for the electricity board.
Other sleeper cutters around Herberton with whom he spent many hours discussing work, and life in general included his good friends Joey Collins and Arnold Barratt. There was also Maurice Borghero and Adam Struber
His brother Danny also worked in timber for a while after the war.
He used a hargan saw but loved the chain saws when they came out and never hesitated to invest in a newer model whenever he could afford it.
Cut in the various State forests with permission -Tumoulin, Walsh River, Herberton state forest Wongabel. Jerry never really liked working in rainforest - scrub as he called it – because of the stinging trees, leeches and scrub itch all of which plagued him at different times if he was working in that kind of country.
Drove an old army truck/ blitz. Not always registered so it stayed in the forests wherever he was working and he used it to drag/snig the poles/logs to the site where he cut he poles/logs into required lengths for the sleepers.
Rail and tramways sleepers
Queensland has approximately 9,500 km of operating railway line network that provides
freight and passenger services operated by Queensland Rail (QR). Queensland is unique as
it still currently has many tramways in operation, which are associated with the sugar cane
growing areas.
Railway sleepers are used in the construction and maintenance of railways.
Queensland Rail (QR) has 8 million timber sleepers in service. While the general trend is to steer
away from using timber, for many reasons, to favour steel and/or pre-stressed concrete sleepers.
QR in 2006 purchased 80,000 timber sleepers for track maintenance and development. While
this is greatly reduced from the 500,000 timber sleepers that were purchased for maintenance 5
years ago, it is clear that timber, at least in the short to medium term, will play a role in keeping
the network serviceable.
Sleepers have been traditionally cut by specialist sleeper cutters that utilise timber that is a less
desirable species, quality, or size for other more valuable markets such as sawlogs or poles.
Sometimes when sleepers are cut as a sole operation, the utilisation of fallen trees is low and piles
of flitches, some with recoverable wood remain in the bush. However when combined with other
products that utilise much of the remainder of the tree, such as sawn posts, fencing timber, charcoal,
woodchip or firewood, sleeper cutting is a very efficient way of removing less desirable trees.
Strength and durability are the two most important characteristics of sleeper timber, as they are
subject to high stress loads and in ground contact. The ability of timber to hold the spikes that
attach the rail plate is very important.
Prepared by Ross Miller, 2007
The service life of a timber sleeper is generally 20-25 years, depending on track loads and
conditions.
Railway sleeper dimensions
Three types of sleepers are generally sawn in Queensland at this point in time which are QLD
Railway, NSW Railway and tramway. The dimensions of these products are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Generally accepted dimensions of sleeper products
Product Length Width Depth
‘QLD Railway’ 2.3 m 230 mm 115 mm
‘NSW Railway’ 2.45 m 230 mm 115 mm
Tramway 1.5 m 200 mm 100 mm
In addition to ‘standard’ dimension sleepers, there are larger ‘turnout’ sleepers and bridge
transoms required. The ‘turnout’ sleepers range from 2.3- 6.1 m in length with ‘standard’ width
and depth, while the bridge transoms have the same dimensions as the sleepers but must be
sawn from timbers with a strength grade of S3 or stronger.
Grading
Sleepers are graded in two ways:
1. Purchasers’ requirements
2. ‘Grade 1 & 2’ as per the Australian standard (AS 3818.2)
Purchasers’ requirements
The purchaser may choose to deviate from the dimensions above as they may not be suitable
for the service environment. It is up to the cutter and purchaser to agree on parameters in this
instance.
Grade 1 & 2
The Australian standard: ‘Timber- Heavy Structural Products- Visually Graded: Part 2: Railway
Track Sleepers’ (AS 3818.2) describes the grading parameters for grade 1 and grade 2 sleepers.
Essentially, the grades specify maximum allowances for various defects including; knots, holes,
termite galleries, slope of grain, heart, gum veins, shakes, gum pocket, end splits, want, wane,
mechanical damage, bow, spring and twist.
Grade 1 sleepers have less allowable defect than grade 2 sleepers and are therefore a higher
quality product.
Bridge transoms and turnout sleepers have only one grade, but have some different
specifications to grade 1 & 2 sleepers.
Recognising sleeper timber in the bush
Sleeper timber has traditionally been cut from just about any durable species, but also species
that are not usually suitable for other end uses, as sleeper grades tolerate a high level of defects
that other timber products.
However Ironbark is recognised as a superior sleeper to other species in Queensland and
attracts a slight premium.
Product value
A first grade sleeper sawn to dimension is worth around the $25 mark, and it will use about 0.1
m3 of log to produce. A Queensland Railway sleeper has a sawn volume of about 0.06 m3. While
the usual costs are associated with producing the sleepers (cut, snig, saw), haul costs are partly
covered by some purchasers.
Identification
Sleeper timber can be cut from the following central Queensland species in Table 2. to the
various common dimensions in Table 1.
3
Species Strength group Durability class
Narrow Leaf red ironbark (E crebra) SD 3, S 2 1
Silver leaf ironbark (E melanophloia) SD (2) S (2) 1
Poplar Box 1 (E populena) SD (2) S (2) 1
Broad leaf red ironbark (E fibrosa) SD 1, S 1 1
White mahogany (E acmenoides) SD 3 S 2 1
Gum topped grey box (E moluccana) SD 2 S 2 1
Bloodwood (C trachyphloia) SD 3 S 3 2
Pink Bloodwood (C intermedia) SD (3) S 3 1
Dawson river Blackbutt (E cambageana) SD (2) S (2) 1
Bluegum (E tereticornis) SD (4) S 3 1
Lemon scented spotted gum (C citriodora) SD 2 S 2 2
Gum topped ironbark (E decorticans) SD (2) S (2) 1
Coolibah (E coolabah) SD (2) S (2) 1
Mountain coolibah (E orgadophila) SD (1) S (1) 2
Morton Bay Ash (C tessellaris) SD (1) S (1) 1
Thozets Box (mountain Yapunyah) (E thozetiana) SD (2) S (2) 1
( ) Provisional
Properties of sleeper timber
Important properties of sleeper timber are strength and durability. Strength is vital as the sleeper
is a load bearing unit, and durability is of equal importance to ensure a long service life.
Strength
There are many properties of wood that contribute to strength. Most timber species have
been grouped into a ‘strength class’, based on these properties that give it strength, for both
seasoned (SD) and unseasoned or green (S) timber. The strength groups go from S1 (strongest)
to S7 (least strong) for unseasoned timber, and SD1 (strongest) to SD8 (least strong) for
seasoned timber.
Durability
All sapwood has poor resistance to decay, as resistance to decay is mostly determined by the
extractives formed when sapwood changes to heartwood. Termites are less easily discouraged
by these extractives and will attack most species, though very slowly in the case of the most
durable species.
While the sapwood is not durable, it is usually left on products such as posts and poles if it is
narrow as it will decay and fall off in a short time.
Fungi which are primarily responsible for the decay of wood are most active where timber is in
contact with the ground. Fungi are most active 20-30cm above and below ground level.
Most timbers have been graded into 4 durability classes. These have been determined from
assumptions that untreated, sound, mature heartwood and of reasonable dimensions (at least
40mm thickness), used in ground unprotected from subterranean termite attack. These classes
are considered provisional as it is difficult to accurately determine the hazard environment and
the variability of wood properties within a species and even within the tree.
Class 1: timbers with the highest natural durability, which may be expected to resist decay and
termite attack for at least 25 years (in some cases 50+ years).
Class 2: timbers with high natural durability with an expected service life of 15-25 years.
Class 3: timbers with moderate natural durability with an expected service life of 8-15 years.
Class 4: timbers with low natural durability with an expected service life of less than 1-8 years. All
sapwood is assumed to be a class 4 timber.
Presentation
Sleepers
Sleepers are presented to the purchaser as a green rough sawn product, within the specified
tolerances, segregated into grading classes and species where required.
Acknowledgments:
Queenland Rail for the background on sleeper supply, usages and grading.
Further reading
Australian Standard: ‘Timber- Heavy Structural Products- Visually Graded: Part 2: Railway Track
Sleepers’ (AS 3818.2). Standards Australia, Homebush NSW.
Bootle K R (1985) ‘Wood in Australia: Types Properties and uses’. McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Sydney Australia.
Smith W J, Kynaston W T, Cause M L & Grimmett J G (1991). ‘Building Timbers: Properties and
Recommendations for their use in Queensland’. Queensland Forest Service, Indooroopilly QLD.
Fairbairn E (1999). ‘Australian Timbers Volume II: Western Queensland trees and their timbers’.
Scientific Publishing, Department of Natural Resources, Indooroopilly, QLD.
Queensland has approximately 9,500 km of operating railway line network that provides
freight and passenger services operated by Queensland Rail (QR). Queensland is unique as
it still currently has many tramways in operation, which are associated with the sugar cane
growing areas.
Railway sleepers are used in the construction and maintenance of railways.
Queensland Rail (QR) has 8 million timber sleepers in service. While the general trend is to steer
away from using timber, for many reasons, to favour steel and/or pre-stressed concrete sleepers.
QR in 2006 purchased 80,000 timber sleepers for track maintenance and development. While
this is greatly reduced from the 500,000 timber sleepers that were purchased for maintenance 5
years ago, it is clear that timber, at least in the short to medium term, will play a role in keeping
the network serviceable.
Sleepers have been traditionally cut by specialist sleeper cutters that utilise timber that is a less
desirable species, quality, or size for other more valuable markets such as sawlogs or poles.
Sometimes when sleepers are cut as a sole operation, the utilisation of fallen trees is low and piles
of flitches, some with recoverable wood remain in the bush. However when combined with other
products that utilise much of the remainder of the tree, such as sawn posts, fencing timber, charcoal,
woodchip or firewood, sleeper cutting is a very efficient way of removing less desirable trees.
Strength and durability are the two most important characteristics of sleeper timber, as they are
subject to high stress loads and in ground contact. The ability of timber to hold the spikes that
attach the rail plate is very important.
Prepared by Ross Miller, 2007
The service life of a timber sleeper is generally 20-25 years, depending on track loads and
conditions.
Railway sleeper dimensions
Three types of sleepers are generally sawn in Queensland at this point in time which are QLD
Railway, NSW Railway and tramway. The dimensions of these products are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Generally accepted dimensions of sleeper products
Product Length Width Depth
‘QLD Railway’ 2.3 m 230 mm 115 mm
‘NSW Railway’ 2.45 m 230 mm 115 mm
Tramway 1.5 m 200 mm 100 mm
In addition to ‘standard’ dimension sleepers, there are larger ‘turnout’ sleepers and bridge
transoms required. The ‘turnout’ sleepers range from 2.3- 6.1 m in length with ‘standard’ width
and depth, while the bridge transoms have the same dimensions as the sleepers but must be
sawn from timbers with a strength grade of S3 or stronger.
Grading
Sleepers are graded in two ways:
1. Purchasers’ requirements
2. ‘Grade 1 & 2’ as per the Australian standard (AS 3818.2)
Purchasers’ requirements
The purchaser may choose to deviate from the dimensions above as they may not be suitable
for the service environment. It is up to the cutter and purchaser to agree on parameters in this
instance.
Grade 1 & 2
The Australian standard: ‘Timber- Heavy Structural Products- Visually Graded: Part 2: Railway
Track Sleepers’ (AS 3818.2) describes the grading parameters for grade 1 and grade 2 sleepers.
Essentially, the grades specify maximum allowances for various defects including; knots, holes,
termite galleries, slope of grain, heart, gum veins, shakes, gum pocket, end splits, want, wane,
mechanical damage, bow, spring and twist.
Grade 1 sleepers have less allowable defect than grade 2 sleepers and are therefore a higher
quality product.
Bridge transoms and turnout sleepers have only one grade, but have some different
specifications to grade 1 & 2 sleepers.
Recognising sleeper timber in the bush
Sleeper timber has traditionally been cut from just about any durable species, but also species
that are not usually suitable for other end uses, as sleeper grades tolerate a high level of defects
that other timber products.
However Ironbark is recognised as a superior sleeper to other species in Queensland and
attracts a slight premium.
Product value
A first grade sleeper sawn to dimension is worth around the $25 mark, and it will use about 0.1
m3 of log to produce. A Queensland Railway sleeper has a sawn volume of about 0.06 m3. While
the usual costs are associated with producing the sleepers (cut, snig, saw), haul costs are partly
covered by some purchasers.
Identification
Sleeper timber can be cut from the following central Queensland species in Table 2. to the
various common dimensions in Table 1.
3
Species Strength group Durability class
Narrow Leaf red ironbark (E crebra) SD 3, S 2 1
Silver leaf ironbark (E melanophloia) SD (2) S (2) 1
Poplar Box 1 (E populena) SD (2) S (2) 1
Broad leaf red ironbark (E fibrosa) SD 1, S 1 1
White mahogany (E acmenoides) SD 3 S 2 1
Gum topped grey box (E moluccana) SD 2 S 2 1
Bloodwood (C trachyphloia) SD 3 S 3 2
Pink Bloodwood (C intermedia) SD (3) S 3 1
Dawson river Blackbutt (E cambageana) SD (2) S (2) 1
Bluegum (E tereticornis) SD (4) S 3 1
Lemon scented spotted gum (C citriodora) SD 2 S 2 2
Gum topped ironbark (E decorticans) SD (2) S (2) 1
Coolibah (E coolabah) SD (2) S (2) 1
Mountain coolibah (E orgadophila) SD (1) S (1) 2
Morton Bay Ash (C tessellaris) SD (1) S (1) 1
Thozets Box (mountain Yapunyah) (E thozetiana) SD (2) S (2) 1
( ) Provisional
Properties of sleeper timber
Important properties of sleeper timber are strength and durability. Strength is vital as the sleeper
is a load bearing unit, and durability is of equal importance to ensure a long service life.
Strength
There are many properties of wood that contribute to strength. Most timber species have
been grouped into a ‘strength class’, based on these properties that give it strength, for both
seasoned (SD) and unseasoned or green (S) timber. The strength groups go from S1 (strongest)
to S7 (least strong) for unseasoned timber, and SD1 (strongest) to SD8 (least strong) for
seasoned timber.
Durability
All sapwood has poor resistance to decay, as resistance to decay is mostly determined by the
extractives formed when sapwood changes to heartwood. Termites are less easily discouraged
by these extractives and will attack most species, though very slowly in the case of the most
durable species.
While the sapwood is not durable, it is usually left on products such as posts and poles if it is
narrow as it will decay and fall off in a short time.
Fungi which are primarily responsible for the decay of wood are most active where timber is in
contact with the ground. Fungi are most active 20-30cm above and below ground level.
Most timbers have been graded into 4 durability classes. These have been determined from
assumptions that untreated, sound, mature heartwood and of reasonable dimensions (at least
40mm thickness), used in ground unprotected from subterranean termite attack. These classes
are considered provisional as it is difficult to accurately determine the hazard environment and
the variability of wood properties within a species and even within the tree.
Class 1: timbers with the highest natural durability, which may be expected to resist decay and
termite attack for at least 25 years (in some cases 50+ years).
Class 2: timbers with high natural durability with an expected service life of 15-25 years.
Class 3: timbers with moderate natural durability with an expected service life of 8-15 years.
Class 4: timbers with low natural durability with an expected service life of less than 1-8 years. All
sapwood is assumed to be a class 4 timber.
Presentation
Sleepers
Sleepers are presented to the purchaser as a green rough sawn product, within the specified
tolerances, segregated into grading classes and species where required.
Acknowledgments:
Queenland Rail for the background on sleeper supply, usages and grading.
Further reading
Australian Standard: ‘Timber- Heavy Structural Products- Visually Graded: Part 2: Railway Track
Sleepers’ (AS 3818.2). Standards Australia, Homebush NSW.
Bootle K R (1985) ‘Wood in Australia: Types Properties and uses’. McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Sydney Australia.
Smith W J, Kynaston W T, Cause M L & Grimmett J G (1991). ‘Building Timbers: Properties and
Recommendations for their use in Queensland’. Queensland Forest Service, Indooroopilly QLD.
Fairbairn E (1999). ‘Australian Timbers Volume II: Western Queensland trees and their timbers’.
Scientific Publishing, Department of Natural Resources, Indooroopilly, QLD.
