Rail Gaskets

We manufacture gaskets and seals for trains and the railway industry more generally.

Gaskets in the rail industry spend the majority of their lives under extreme pressure and friction. Due to the complexity of modern oils and fluids in railway vehicles, it is common to use hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR) as a raw material. We can manufacture from and supply cork composite materials, which are used for flooring and rail pads. We also stock fire retardant materials that can meet modern rail material specifications.

We have manufactured parts for trains for many years, and as a result of this we can sometimes locate historical part numbers on file.

For classic steam engines, and traction engines, we can also manufacture traditional boiler door joints.

We offer our customers complete material certification and traceability. Our quality system even allows for customers to control how their parts are manufactured.

We stock Topog-E type boiler door joints (pictured) and make woven proof boiler door joints.

We have a loyal following of traction engines enthusiasts, who will testify to the quality of joints produced. We use a brass wire reinforced, woven and proofed, base material that has with similar characteristics to the traditional asbestos based joints that are now banned.

Customers report that these joints give by far the best performance compared with other variants on the market.

Boiler door joints can be ordered by the inside dimensions (major and minor axis), flange width and thickness (6mm or 4 ply are most common). Alternatively, supply us with your boiler door and we can manufacture an exact fit.

Joints are finished with a graphite wash to aid dismantling, when the engine is serviced. When first installed, with the engine fired up, the door should be tightened when pressure is achieved. After this no further leakage should occur and the joint will cure in place.

PTFE envelopes (or bore liners) are available to fit 1.5 and 3.0mm thick gaskets, also to suit the range or bore sizes.

PTFE is a relatively expensive gasket material. However, a PTFE liner can be fitted to the bore of a standard gasket to increase its chemical resistance. Such a bore liner is known as a PTFE envelope.

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is an inert material and so has excellent chemical resistance. It is mainly used in the presence of aggressive chemicals: such as acids, bases, and solvents.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, or require a bespoke part, please do not hesitate to contact us.