Rail assembly

A rail assembly comprising:

• at least one rail body at least partially supportable by ground material, said at least one rail body being formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover that would generate vibrations in said at least one rail body;
• at least one boot formed for attachment with said at least one rail body to substantially electrically isolate said at least one rail body relative to the ground material, said at least one boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engageable with said at least one rail body when said at least one boot is attached to said at least one rail body, the foot portion comprising a chamber wall to at least partially define a chamber between said at least one rail body and the chamber wall;
• and
• a plurality of inserts positionable in series in the chamber, each of said plurality of inserts configured for dissipation of a characteristic proportion of a part of the vibrations transmitted thereto, wherein the characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations dissipated differs among the plurality of inserts.

A rail system comprising:

• at least one rail assembly extending along a path, said at least one rail assembly comprising at least one rail body, said at least one rail body being formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover that would generate vibrations in said at least one rail body;
• a first boot attached to said at least one rail body and extending along the path, for substantially electrically isolating said at least one rail body relative to ground material, said first boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engaged with said at least one rail body, said foot portion comprising a chamber wall at least partially defining a chamber between said at least one rail body and the chamber wall;
• an insert positioned in the chamber, said insert being engaged with said at least one rail body for transmission to said insert at least part of the vibrations, said insert being configured for dissipation of a proportion of the part of the vibrations transmitted thereto;
• and
• a second boot attached to said at least one rail body in series with the first boot and extending along the path, for substantially electrically isolating said at least one rail body relative to ground material, said second boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engaged with said at least one rail body, wherein the second boot does not contain an insert below the at least one rail body.

A rail system comprising:

• a rail assembly extending along a path, said rail assembly comprising a rail body, said rail body being formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover that would generate vibrations in said rail body;
• at least one boot attached to said rail body and extending along the path, for substantially electrically isolating said rail body relative to ground material, said at least one boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engaged with said rail body, said foot portion comprising a chamber wall to at least partially define a chamber between said rail body and the chamber wall;
• and
• a plurality of inserts positioned in series in the chamber located along the path, each said insert being engaged with said rail body for transmission to each said insert respectively of at least part of the vibrations, each said insert being configured for dissipation of a characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations transmitted thereto, wherein the plurality of inserts are configured such that the characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations dissipated differs among the plurality of inserts.

A method of installing a rail system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a rail assembly positionable along a path, the rail assembly comprising at least one rail body at least partially supported by ground material, said at least one rail body being formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover, wherein said rolling engagement would generate vibrations in said at least one rail body;
• (b) providing a first boot attachable to said at least one rail body and extending along the path, said first boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engageable with said at least one rail body, said foot portion comprising a chamber wall to at least partially define a chamber between said at least one rail body and the chamber wall;
• (c) providing at least one insert positionable in the chamber, said at least one insert, when positioned in said chamber, being engageable with said at least one rail body for transmission to said insert of at least a part of the vibrations, said insert being configured for dissipation of a characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations transmitted thereto;
• (d) providing a second boot attachable to said at least one rail body and extending along the path, said second boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engageable with said at least one rail body, said foot portion comprising a bottom wall configured not to define a chamber between said at least one rail body and the bottom wall;
• (e) positioning said insert proximate the chamber wall in the first boot;
• (f) attaching said first boot to said at least one rail body with said insert between said at least one rail body and said bottom wall, to engage the foot portion of said first boot with said at least one rail body;
• and
• (g) attaching said second boot to said at least one rail body without an insert positioned between the at least one rail body and said second booth below said at least one rail body, at a position longitudinally-spaced from said first boot, to engage said foot portion of said second boot with said at least one rail body.

A method of installing a rail system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a rail assembly positionable along a path, the rail assembly comprising at least one rail body at least partially supported by ground material, said at least one rail body being formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover, wherein said rolling engagement would generate vibrations in said at least one rail body;
• (b) providing at least one boot attached respectively to said at least one rail body, said at least one boot comprising a foot portion at least partially engageable with said at least one rail body, said foot portion comprising a chamber wall to at least partially define a chamber between said at least one rail body and the chamber wall to provide a chamber;
• (c) providing a plurality of inserts positionable in the chamber, each said insert, when positioned in said chamber, being engageable with said at least one rail body for transmission to each said insert respectively of at least a part of the vibrations, each said insert being configured for dissipation of a characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations transmitted thereto, wherein the characteristic proportion of the part of the vibrations dissipated differs among the plurality of inserts;
• (d) selecting each said insert for installation in the chamber at a location along the path based on the characteristic proportion of said part of the vibrations dissipatable by each said insert respectively;
• (e) positioning each said insert on the chamber wall, to locate each said insert at the location for which each said insert is selected;
• and
• (f) attaching said at least one boot to said at least one rail body, to engage the foot portion of said at least one boot with said at least one rail body and to secure said engagement element to said at least one rail body.