IEEB Transactions on Power Delivev, Vol. 8, No. 1, January 1993.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF GROUNDING PRACTICES FOR RAILROAD TRACKS

IN ELECTRIC UTILITY STATIONS
K. A. Wallace

D. L. Garrett
Member
Southern Company Services
Birmingham A1
KEYWORDS

Grounding

Railroad Tracks
Isolation
Transferred Potential

voltages w i l l be s i t e - s p e c i f i c and d e f i n i t i v e conclusions

could not be obtained, a t y p i c a l substation grounding
system with several scenarios o f r a i l r o a d tracks were
analyzed and trends o f hazardous voltages were observed a t
s p e c i f i c points of concern along the r a i l r o a d track.

ABSTRACT

A r a i l r o a d spur i s o f t e n routed i n t o a large

substation or generating plant t o f a c i l i t a t e i n s t a l l a t i o n
o f large power transformers or other large pieces of
equipment and t o transport f u e l t o the plant. Because the
metal r a i l s may transfer hazardous p o t e n t i a l s i n t o or out
of the switchyard area during ground faults, precautions
This
must be taken t o l i m i t the hazardous voltages.
analysis looks f o r c0rmK)n trends of voltages along r a i l road tracks i n a c o n t r o l l e d model of a substation grounding system during a ground f a u l t .

GAOUNORM
CONDUCTOR
RAllROAD TRACK

BREAK IN SCALE

POINTOF WNCERN

Current practices t o l i m i t these transferred

p o t e n t i a l s are based on crude approximations and engineering judgement. Recently developed cornputer programs allow
a much b e t t e r model o f the grounding system, track and the
hazardous scenarios t o which a person might be subject.
Several cases were used t o i1 l u s t r a t e some of the
most c m n techniques used t o l i m i t hazardous voltages,
and s e o f these techniques were found t o be q u i t e
ineffective. Except f o r the cases where the tracks near
the substation were removed, the p o t e n t i a l transferred
along the tracks produced several scenarios with touch
and/or step voltages exceeding the tolerable l i m i t s .
INTRODUCTION

\\

20

Id0
distance in feet

. M
180

\\

\\

260" 340" 420

FiQure 1 Modeled G r o w d i n s Svstem and Track

A r a i l r o a d spur i s o f t e n routed i n t o a large

substation t o f a c i l i t a t e i n s t a l l a t i o n of large power
transformers o r other large pieces o f equipnent.
Railroads are also routed i n t o most generating plants t o
f a c i l i t a t e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f large plant and substation
equipment, as well as t o supply fuel. E l e c t r i c a l l y continuous r a i l r o a d tracks that extend beyond the ground g r i d
o f a substation can transfer dangerous p o t e n t i a l s f a r from
the substation during f a u l t conditions. Several methods
have been used t o prevent these hazardous voltages,
including the i n s t a l l a t i o n of i s o l a t i o n j o i n t s between
r a i l sections or the removal of several r a i l sections i n
the v i c i n i t y o f the substation.

These practices have h i s t o r i c a l l y been based on

a combination o f engineering judgement, crude calculations
and , i n a feu cases, f i e l d measurements [1,23. With the
c a p a b i l i t i e s o f recently developed computerized grounding
analysis methods 13,41, a more accurate determination can
be made o f the possible hazardous voltages f o r various
Because the actual
practices used i n the industry.

92 WM 220-4 PWRD
A paper recommended and approved
by the IEEE Substations Committee of the IEEE Power
Engineering Society for presentation at the IEEE/PES
1992 Winter Meeting, New York, New York, January 2630, 1992. Manuscript submitted August 30, 1991;
made available for printing January 9, 1992.

SYSTEM MODEL

The main d i f f i c u l t y i n developing an appropriate

model f o r the study was the f a c t that there were an i n f i n i t e nunber of scenarios f o r the s t a t e o f the r a i l s . The
r a i l s could be e l e c t r i c a l l y continuous across a l l j o i n t s
(perhaps by using bonding jutpers), o r one o r more r a i l
j o i n t s could be semi-conducting or completely non-conducting a t any location along the r a i l spur or main r a i l
line. The r a i l could be llperfectlyl* insulated from the
s o i l along i t s e n t i r e length (mounted on the t y p i c a l bed
o f rocks), o r i t could be i n semi-conducting o r f u l l
contact with the s o i l a t one or more locations anywhere
along i t s length.
There was also d i f f i c u l t y i n l i m i t i n g the nunber
of possible scenarios f o r the person subjected t o the
transferred potentials. The person could be stepping from
one r a i l section t o another across an e l e c t r i c a l l y
continuous, semi-conducting or non-conducting j o i n t . The
person could be standing with one foot on the r a i l and one
foot o f f ( t h i s foot could be on rock or s o i l ) . The person
could be standing i n the v i c i n i t y o f the r a i l and subject
t o step voltage. The person could be standing on the r a i l
and touching a remotely-grounded object with t h e i r hand,
or standing o f f the r a i l but touching a switch handle or
other object connected t o the r a i l .
When vieued concurrently, the p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r
the r a i l sections and the person subject t o the hazardous
conditions m u l t i p l y t o make a seemingly unmanageable
number of possible scenarios t o evaluate. Using judgement
t o eliminate some cases that would have obviously not been

0885-8977/92/$3.ooO1993IEEE

worst case scenarios and selecting other cases that would

e i t h e r r e s u l t i n worst cases or would i l l u s t r a t e trends,
a manageable mrnber o f cases were selected f o r the study.
Using the EPRI SGSYS program, a uniform 30.48~1X
30.48111 (100ft X 100ft) grounding g r i d was modeled with a
uniform 7.62111 ( 2 5 f t ) spacing between 2/0 copper g r i d
conductors.
The g r i d was buried a t a depth of 0.46m
(1.5ft).
Six meter ( 2 0 f t ) ground rods were placed a t each
conductor intersection. The parameters and size of the
grounded area were chosen f o r s i n p l i s t i c i l l u s t r a t i v e
purposes. The g r i d spacing and locations o f ground rods,
as well as the location of the track, would have some
e f f e c t on the step voltages around the r a i l s w i t h i n the
grounded area, but should have minimal e f f e c t on the
r e s u l t s outside the area. The s i z e o f the grounded area
would a f f e c t the r a t e a t uhich the GPR decreases with
distance from the grid, thus, a f f e c t i n g the touch and step
voltages along the external r a i l sections.
The exanple
i l l u s t r a t e d here, however, i l l u s t r a t e s methods o f analysis
and trends o f r e s u l t s f o r t y p i c a l parameters.
Where applicable, a t r a i n r a i l was modeled as a 2/0
horizontal conductor bisecting the outer row of meshes.
The track was modeled as 122m (400ft) i n length and was
divided i n t o f i v e 24.4111 ( 8 0 f t ) standard length r a i l
sections. The model i s shoun i n Figure 1.
The r e i 1 j o i n t s were assuned t o be e i t h e r perfectl y conducting or t o t a l l y non-conducting. E a c h
r a i1
section was assuned t o be e i t h e r p e r f e c t l y insulated from
the s o i l or t o be i n good contact with the s o i l (essent i a l l y , half-buried). The person was assuned t o be i n one
of the following three positions when a t a r a i l j o i n t , as
shown i n Figure 2:

91
The SGSYS program i s capable o f modeling separate g r d ing system using the group Mmber feature. For isolated
r a i l sections and non-conducting j o i n t s , the r a i l s on
e i t h e r side o f the j o i n t Yere modeled as separate group
nunbers, allowing carputation o f the voltages between each
r a i l or group. f o r the cases where the track was insulated from the s o i l , i t was unnecessary t o model the
track.
The scenarios f o r t h i s case were evaluated
mathematically, with only the g r i d modeled.
For cases
where the track was half-buried, the track was represented
by a conductor buried near the earth's surface.
This
allowed the track t o "pick
the local s o i l p o t e n t i a l s
and t o dissipate a p o r t i o n o f the g r i d current i n t o the
s o i l when connected t o the grid.

The r a i l section's endpoints are labeled T1-16 i n

Figure 1 and are noted as "points o f concern.l# These
points are the locations o f the touch and step voltages
investigated i n the study. As show in Figure 2, a person
standing across a r a i l r o a d j o i n t would be exposed t o the
difference i n the r a i l - t o - r a i l transfer potentials.
A
person standing with one foot on the track and one foot
o f f the track would be exposed t o the difference i n transferred p o t e n t i a l o f the track and the surface p o t e n t i a l
of the earth. A person with both feet on the earth would
be exposed t o the surface p o t e n t i a l gradient adjacent t o
the track.
The t o l e r a b l e touch and step voltage were calculated using equations 16, 18, 19, and 20 i n accordance
with IEEE Std 80-1986 [11 with the following assunptions:
equivalent radius o f foot = 0.08111
separation distance o f feet = 1m
uniform s o i l r e s i s t i v i t y = 100 ohm-m
surface cover r e s i s t i v i t y = 3000 ohm-m
surface cover thickness = 0.15111 ( 6 in)
f a u l t clearing time = 0.5s

1)

Standing across a non-conducting r a i l j o i n t , with

This r e s u l t s i n a metal-to-metal
step voltage between the feet.

one foot on each r a i l .

2)
Standing with one foot on a r a i l section with the
other foot on rock or s o i l one meter away (perpendicular)
from the r a i l . This r e s u l t s i n a metal-to-surface step
voltage between the feet.

3)

Standing with one foot on rock or s o i l adjacent

t o a r a i l and the other foot on rock or s o i l one meter
away (perpendicular) from the r a i l . This r e s u l t s i n the
usual step voltage condition.
PERSON STANDING
ACROSS RAILROAD
TRACK JOINT EXPOSED TO TRANSFER
POTENTIALS BETWEEN
THE TWO TRACKS
GROUND FAULT
AT SUBSTATON

For cases with a foot on the r a i l r o a d track, the foot

resistance was ass&
t o be n e g l i g i b l e f o r that foot.
With the track omitted, the g r i d current was
chosen so that the m a x i m touch voltage w i t h i n the g r i d
was j u s t below the t o l e r a b l e touch voltage.This resulted
i n worst case r e s u l t s f o r touch and step voltage analysis
near the track, while l i m i t i n g the f a u l t current t o a
r e a l i s t i c value f o r which a safe g r i d design was obtained.
For a g r i d current o f 2245 anperes, the m a x i m computed
touch voltage was 540 volts, while the t o l e r a b l e touch
voltage i n the substation was computed as 562 volts.
As described previously, the j o i n t s o f the r a i l road tracks were considered t o be e i t h e r conducting or
non-conducting. Working i s o l a t i o n j o i n t s and corroded or
separated j o i n t s were considered as non-conducting j o i n t s .
Shorted i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s and e l e c t r i c a l l y connected j o i n t s
i n good condition were considered as conducting j o i n t s
with n e g l i g i b l e resistance.
The three main categories o f cases f o r the study
were as follows:
1. Tracks insulated from the s o i l ( a t least f o r the f i r s t
f i v e track sections)

PERSON WITH ONE

FOOT ON TRACK, ONE
FOOT OFF THE TRACK -

2.

PERSON WITH BOTH

FEET ON THE EARTH EXWSED TO THE
DIFFERENCE IN
SURFACE
POTENTIALSOF THE
EARTH

Figure 2

Hazardous Voltages at Typical R a i l J o i n t

Tracks h a l f - b u r i e d i n earth

3.
Tracks h a l f - b u r i e d i n earth and the section j u s t
outside the substation (section 2) removed
These cases are varied by connecting and not
connecting the tracks t o the substation grounding grid,
adding and deleting i s o l a t i n g joints, and considering the
other j o i n t s conducting or non-conducting. The r e s u l t s of
the study are shown i n the following tables and discussed
below.

92
RESULTS

1.

R A I L S INSULATED FROM THE SOIL:

A t the time o f the track's construction, the r a i 1s

would be e f f e c t i v e l y insulated from the earth by cross
t i e s and crushed rock, and would not need t o be included
i n the modeled grid, unless the r a i l s were bonded t o the
grid. This w w l d be an ideal case that would be d i f f i c u l t
t o obtain and maintain; however, i t nas a good s t a r t i n g
point f o r t h i s c-rative
study.

The study of t h i s case began with the track not

connected t o the grid, but remotely grounded a t some point
(perhaps, a t a grounded track switch, s i l t e d - o v e r track,
etc.).
I s o l a t i o n j o i n t s uere then a s s d a t points T 2
and T 3 o f Figure 1. Next, the track was considered connected t o the ground g r i d end remotely grounded beyond a
d i s t a n t non-conducting j o i n t (beyond the f i f t h r a i l settion).
Then, i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s were again assumed a t
points T 2 and 73. The voltages a t the points of concern
during f a u l t conditions f o r these four cases are contained i n Tables l A , IB, l C , and 1D.

TABLE 1A R A I L S INSULATED FRLM EARTH

T O W H VOLTAGE IN STATION

DESCRIPTION

TOUCH VOLTAGES
I N STATION ( V I
T1
TZ

TOLERABLE TOUCH
VOLTAGE (V)
I N STATION

3032 3032

608

TRANSFER VOLTAGES BETUEEN R A I L S

DESCRIPTION
1 A - 1 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
1 A - 2 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T 2 AND T 3

FLOATING,
NO PROBLEM

1 A - 3 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT

1 A - 4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
12 AND 13

TRANSFER VOLTAGES
ACROSS JOINTS
(RAIL-TO-RAIL)
T2
T3
T4
T5

T6

TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGE ( V l

164

608

1 C - 1 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED

164

608

I C - 2 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
12 AND 13

0 3032

164

608

1C-3 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT
I C - 4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T 2 AND T 3

164

I F ISOLATING JOINTS BECOME SHORTED, THEN A PERSON

SIMULTANEOUSLY TOUCHING THE R A I L AND GRID WOULD BE
SUBJECT TO THE FULL GPR (3032 V I .
TABLE 10 R A I L S I N S U U T E D FROM EARTH
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK

TABLE 1B R A I L S INSULATED FRCM EARTH

RAIL-TO-SURFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK

DESCRIPTION
1 B - 1 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED

16-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T 2 AND T 3

STEP VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK (V)
(RAIL-TO-SURFACE)
T2
T3
T4
T5

2613 890 555

0 890 5 5 5

T6

403 314

403 314

TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK
ROCK S O I L

1010

I010

18-3 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT

420 2143 2477 2629 2719 1010

18-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
72 AND T 3

420 890 5 5 5 403 314

I010

215

215

215

215

DESCRIPTION

STEP VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK (V)
(SOIL-TO-SOIL)
ALL POINTS

I D - 1 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED

NA

I D - 2 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
7 2 AND T 3

NA

1 D - 3 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT

NA

1D-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T 2 AND T 3

NA

TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK
ROCK SOIL

1825

267

1825

267

1825

267

1825

267

SOIL-TO-SOIL STEP VOLTAGES NOT AFFECTED BY R A I L S

93
With the r a i l not connected t o the ground g r i d and
remotely grounded, a person i n the substation simultaneously touching the r a i l and a grounded structure would
be subject t o the f u l l g r i d p o t e n t i a l r i s e (GPR) during a
ground f a u l t (Case 1A-1). A person with one f o o t on the
track and one f o o t o f f the track would be subject t o p a r t
o f the GPR due t o the voltage between the track ( a t remote
earth potential) and the surface p o t e n t i a l near the
substation (Case 1B-1).
This voltage would decrease with
distance from the substation. Both the touch voltages i n
the substation and the rail-to-surface step voltages along
the track outside o f the substation were beyond the
tolerable voltages f o r the case studied.
U i t h i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s added a t points T2 and T3
and the track beyond 73 remotely grounded. the r a i l pot e n t i a l i n the substation would be f l o a t i n g and no problem
would e x i s t (Case 1A-2).
Note t h a t i f the i s o l a t i n g
j o i n t s were shorted o r not properly installed, the r e s u l t s
default t o those described above with no i s o l a t i n g joints.
The t r a c k - t o - s o i l step voltages beyond the i s o l a t i n g
j o i n t s would be the same regardless o f the condition o f
the i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s (Cases 18-182)..
The transfer voltages between the r a i l sections
were zero, as a l l j o i n t s were e i t h e r continuous or the
r a i l potentials were f l o a t i n g f o r the case with i s o l a t i n g
j o i n t s (Cases 1C-l&2). The step voltages adjacent t o the
track were unaffected by the track and resulted i n the
same values as without the track modeled (Cases 1D-1&2).
U i t h the track connected t o the ground grid, no
danger e x i s t s f o r a person simultaneously touching the
track and a grounded substation structure (Cases 1A-384).
The rail-to-surface step voltages outside o f the substat i o n increaseddramatically (Case 16-3). I f the track had
a poorly conducting j o i n t (i.e.,
8 corroded j o i n t or with
one o f two i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s shorted out), a person
standing across the non-conducting j o i n t would be subject
t o the e n t i r e GPR (Case 1C-3). U i t h the track insulated
from earth i n the v i c i n i t y o f the substation, the s o i l - t o s o i l step voltages adjacent t o the track were unaffected
(Case 1D-3).
U i t h i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s a t T2 and T3, a person
simultaneously touching the track and a grounded substat i o n structure would not be subject t o a difference i n
p o t e n t i a l (Case 1A-4). The r a i l - t o - s u r f a c e step voltages
were inproved with the addition o f the i s o l a t i n g joints,
but only t o the values found i n Cases 1B-1&2, which were
s t i l l beyond the tolerable voltages (Case 18-41.
The
addition o f the i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s on a track bonded t o the
ground g r i d would introduce an added danger i f a person
was standing across one i s o l a t i n g j o i n t while the other
i s o l a t i n g j o i n t was shorted. For t h i s case, the person
would be subject t o the f u l l GPR (Case 1C-4). As f o r the
previous cases, the surface-to-surface step voltages along
the track were i n s i g n i f i c a n t (Case 1D-4). The track was
insulated from the earth and, thus, had no impact on the
surface potentials i n the substation area.

TABLE U RAILS HALF-BLIRIED IN EARTH

TOUCH VOLTAGE IN STATION
TOLERABLE TOUCH
VOLTAGE (V)

TOUCH VOLTAGES
I N STATION (V)

DESCRIPTION
2A-1 TRACK NOT
CONNECTED TO GRID,
DISCONTINUOUS AT
REMOTE POINT

T1

72

I N STATION

1693 1693

608

2A-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3

442

1633

608

2A-3 TRACK NOT

442

1633

608

608

2A-5 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3

608

2A-6 TRACK

608

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS
2A-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS

TABLE 28 RAILS HALF-BURIED IN EARTH

RAIL-TO-SURFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK

DESCRIPTION
28-1 TRACK NOT

TOLERABLE
STEP
STEP VOLTAGES
VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK (V)
ALONG TRACK
(RAIL-TO-SURFACE)
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
(V) SOIL
1037 164 313 385 655

215

1112 504

21

63 353

215

1103 465

143

68 319

215

161 785

951 1522

215

460 509

20

63

166

215

1144 470

143

68

41

215

CONNECTED TO GRID,
DISCONTINUOUS AT
REMOTE POINT

2B-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3

28-3 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,

2.

RAILS HALF-BURIED I N EARTH:

After construction, most spurs i n t o the substation

are seldom used.
Over time, the crushed rock o f t e n
becornes i n disrepair and the tracks become s i l t e d over,
bringing them i n contact with the earth. A half-buried
conductor was used t o represent the r a i l r o a d track i n
p a r t i a l contact with the earth.
The study o f t h i s case began with the track not
connected t o the g r i d and discontinuous a t some remote
point, with the remote track assuned p e r f e c t l y grounded
(i.e.,
a t remote earth p o t e n t i a l ) . Isolat-ing j o i n t s were
then added a t points T2 and T3. Then, a l l j o i n t s were ass&
t o be non-conducting due t o poorly conducting
j o i n t s . These three conditions were then repeated with
the track Connected t o the substation grid. The voltages
a t the points o f concern during f a u l t conditions

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS
28-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NON-

CONDUCTING JOINT
28-5 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3

28-6 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS

94
TABLE 2C RAI L S HALF-WRIED I N EARTH
TRANSFER VOLTAGES BETKEN RAILS
TRANSFER VOLTAGES
ACROSS JOINTS

DESCRIPTION

2C-1 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
DISCONTINUWS AT
REMOTE POINT

12

2C-2 TRACK NOT

1191 883
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3
2C-3 TRACK NOT

TOLERABLE
STEP
T6 VOLTAGE C V l

(RAIL-TO-RAIL)
13 14 1 5

are contained i n Tables 2A, 28, 2C, and 2D.

1166

164

519

164

118 360

164

1179 702 237

U i t h the r a i l not connected t o the ground g r i d and

discontinuous a t some remote point, a person simultaneousl y touching the r a i l and a grouded substation structure
would be subjected t o a dangerous transfer voltage (Case
2A-1). A person along the track outside o f the substation
with one foot on the track and one foot o f f would be
subject t o the difference i n r a i l p o t e n t i a l and the
earth's surface potential.
This voltage increased as
distance increased from t h e substation (Case 26-1).
A
person standing across a r a i l d i s c o n t i n u i t y (i.e.,
stepping from the local r a i l t o the r a i l assuned a t remote
earth p o t e n t i a l ) would be subject t o the f u l l p o t e n t i a l a t
that r a i l section (Case 2C-1).
The surface-to-surface
step voltages along the track were increased s i g n i f i c a n t l y
b y the presence of the h a l f - b u r i e d track and approached
the tolerable step voltage (Case 2D-1).

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS

2C-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT

1613 a90
2C-5 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3
2C-6 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,

0 2320

164

519

164

118 360

164

1601 708 238

ALL JOINTS
D I SCONT INUWS
TABLE ZD RAILS HALF-BURIED I N EARTH
SIRFACE-TO-SURFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK
TOLERABLE

DESCRIPTION

20-1 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
DISCONTINUWS AT
REMOTE POINT

STEP VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK (V)
(SOIL-TO-SOIL)
T3
14 T5
16

124 213

STEP

VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK
(V) SOIL

259

162

267

2D-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND 73

26

40

39

267

20-3 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ALL JOINTS

69

14

267

549 608 649 381

267

U i t h i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s edded t o the tracks a t

points T2 and T3, a person simultaneously touching the
r a i l and a grounded substation s t r u c t u r e would n o w be
subject t o a reduced voltage below the t o l e r a b l e touch
voltage, except a t the perimeter o f the substation (Case
2A-2). The r a i l - t o - s u r f a c e step voltages were reduced a t
some points but increased a t others (Case 26-21. A person
standing across the i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s would be subject t o
a dangerous difference i n r a i l potentials, regardless of
whether or not one of the i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s was shorted
(Case 2C-2). The surface-to-surface step voltages along
the track were reduced s i g n i f i c a n t l y by the addition of
the i s o l a t i n g sections (Case 2D-2).
The next condition assuned a l l o f the r a i l j o i n t s
were non-conducting t o determine the impact on the voltage
levels a t the points of concern. A person simultaneously
touching the r a i l and a grounded substation structure uas
subject t o the same reduced voltage as i n the previous
case (Case 2A-3).
The r a i l - t o - s o i l step voltages along
the track were below the tolerable voltage, except near
the substation (Case 28-3).
The voltages across the
j o i n t s decreased from levels exceeding the tolerable
voltages as the distance between the substation and j o i n t
increased (Case 2C-3). The surface-to-surface step v o l t ages along the track were well below the tolerable step
voltage (Case 2D-3).
Next, the previous three conditions were repeated
u i t h the track connected t o the substation ground grid.
For these cases, the r a i l acted l i k e an extension of the
g r i d t o lower the GPR. With the track connected t o the
grid, the touch voltage between the g r i d and the track was
eliminated (Case 2A-4).
The r e i 1-to-surface p o t e n t i a l
increased with increasing distance from the substetion and
was well above the t o l e r a b l e a t a l l points f o r t h i s
A person standing across a nonexample (Case 28-4).
conducting r a i l j o i n t would be subject t o the f u l l GPR
(Case 2C-4).
The s o i l - t o - s o i t step voltages outside of
the substation along the track were above the tolerable
voltages f o r some distance, due t o the g r i d p o t e n t i a l
being transferred along the r a i l (Case 2D-4).

DISCONTINUOUS

2D-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
REMOTELY GROUNDED
BEYOND NONCONDUCTING JOINT,
20-5 TRACK

28

40

39

267

70

14

267

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ISOLATING JOINTS AT
T2 AND T3

2D-6 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS

U i t h i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s a t points T2 and T3, the

touch voltage between the g r i d and r a i l was again zero,
because the r a i l was bonded t o the g r i d f o r t h i s case
(Case 2A-5). A person with one foot on the track and one
foot o f f would be subject t o a voltage above the tolerable
along the isolated r a i l section between points TZ and 13,
but below the tolerable elsewhere (Case 26-51. A person
standing across the i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s would be subject t o
transfer p o t e n t i a l s well above the tolerable, even though
the i s o l a t i n g j o i h t s were assuned t o be i n good condition
f o r t h i s case (Case 2C-5). The s o i l - t o - s o i l step voltages
along the track were well below the t o l e r a b l e (Case 2D-5).
To represent an extreme case, the next cases
assumed a l l of the r a i l j o i n t s were non-conducting, u i t h
the r a i l bonded t o the grid.
The touch voltage between

95
(Case 2A-6). The r a i t to-surface step voltages along the track imnediately
outside the substation were above the tolerable, but
decreased r a p i d l y t o values below the tolerable a t points
away from the substation (Case 28-6).
The r a i l - t o - r a i l
voltage across the non-conducting j o i n t s was well above
the tolerable a t points near the substation, but eventuall y f e l l below the tolerable as distance from the substation increased (Case 2C-6).
The s o i l - t o - s o i l step
voltages were well below the tolerable a t a l l points (Case
2D-6).
the r a i l and g r i d uas a g a i n zero

3.

TABLE 38 RAILS HALF-BURIED IN EARTH

RAIL-TO-SURFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK

DESCRIPTION

38-1 TRACK NOT

TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK
( V I SOIL

STEP VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK (V)
(RAIL-TO-SURFACE)
13 14 15 16
305

22

60

161

215

172 132

67

41

215

38-3 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

306

22

60

161

215

3B-4 TRACK

172 132

67

41

215

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

RAILS HALF-BURIED UITH ONE SECTION REMOVED:

38-2 TRACK NOT

I n the l a s t cases, the section o f track j u s t

outside the substation uas removed and the above touch and
step scenarios uere repeated. I n general, a l l touch and
step scenarios resulted i n s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower voltages
with t h i s r a i l section removed, as shoun i n Tables 3A, 38,
3C and 3D.
U i t h the track not connected t o the grid, one o f
only three cases ( f o r t h i s exanple) which resulted i n
voltages above the tolerable was the rail-to-surface step
voltage j u s t beyond the removed r a i l section (Case 38-1).
The other cases were across the f i r s t non-conducting j o i n t
beyond the removed r a i l section with a l l r a i l j o i n t s
assuned non-conducting, regardless o f whether or not the
r a i l s were connected t o the g r i d (Case 3C-2). These res u l t s were due t o the magnitude o f the potentials induced
on the modeled r a i l sections between points T3 and T6,
which would, i n r e a l i t y , depend on the effectiveness o f
the r a i l ' s contact with the s o i l and the length o f track
before a discontinuity were encountered. These voltages,
then, would be higher o r lower than the reported values
f o r d i f f e r e n t assumptions.
U i t h the track bonded t o the grid, the only two
cases which resulted in voltages above the tolerable were
the two scenarios j u s t discussed, above (Cases 38-3 and
3C-4). These r e s u l t s were also dependent on the model f o r
the r a i l and, thus, would be higher or lower f o r d i f f e r e n t
assumpt ions.

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

TABLE 3C RAILS HALF-BURIED I N EARTH

TRANSFER VOLTAGES BETEEN RAILS
TRANSFER VOLTAGES
ACROSS JOINTS

DESCRIPTION
3C-1 TRACK NOT

(RAIL-TO-RAIL)
TE
13
14

15

TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGE C V l

NA

NA

215

NA

NA

222

116

215

NA

NA

215

NA

NA

223

116

215

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

3C-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

TABLE 3A RAILS HALF-BURIED I N EARTH

TOUCH VOLTAGE I N STATION

3C-3 TRACK
TOUCH VOLTAGES
I N STATION (V)

11

T2

TOLERABLE TOUCH
VOLTAGE ( V I
I N STATION

3A-1 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

438

438

608

3A-2 TRACK NOT

437

DESCRIPTION

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

3C-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED
437

608

CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
D I SCONT I NUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED
3A-3 TRACK

CONCLUSION
0

608

608

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

3A-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
DISCONTINUOUS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

Railroad spurs i n t o a substation have the potent i a l o f creating hazardous voltages f o r several touch and
step scenarios during ground f a u l t s .
Though no one
solution w i l l eliminate a l l possible hazardous conditions
f o r a l l cases, the best solution t o guard against these
hazardous voltages i s t o remove one or more r a i l sections
j u s t outside the substation. Where t h i s i s not possible,
such as tracks throughout a generating plant, a study
s i m i l a r t o t h a t described herein should be performed on a
case-by-case basis t o determine appropriate measures t o be
taken. I t may not be p r a c t i c a l t o eliminate a l l hazardous
voltage under a l l conditions, but t h i s analysis would
allow the design engineer t o make the proper choices t o
minimize the hazards.

96
Hr. Garrett i s a registered Professional Engineer i n the
State o f Alabama and i s a rnenbtr o f Omicron Delta Kappa
and Eta Kappa Nu.
He i s Secretary o f the IEEE Yorking
Group responsible for IEEE Std 80, a maber o f the
Substations Comnittee and i s a c t i v e i n several working
groups on other subjects.

TABLE 3D RAILS MLF-BURIED IN EARTH

SURFACE-TO-aFACE STEP VOLTAGES ALONG TRACK
TOLERABLE
STEP
VOLTAGES
ALONG TRACK
( V I SOIL

STEP VOLTAGES
ALONG fRACK (V)
(SOIL-TO-SOIL)
T3
14 T5
T6

3D-1 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

56

3D-2 TRACK NOT

CONNECTED TO GRID,
ALL JOINTS
D I SCONT INWOS,
TRACK 2 REWOVED

15

12

30-3 TRACK

57

15

38

37

Keith A. Uallace was born i n Birminghara, A1 on March 19,

1968. He received the BSEE degree f r u n the University of
Alabama i n 1990. He joined Southern Conpeny Services,
Inc. i n 1990 and i s presently working i n the Power and
Systems Engineering E l e c t r i c a l and Controls D e p a r m t .
He i s a member o f Eta Kappa Nu.

267

267

38

38

267

12

267

CONNECTED TO GRID,
TRACK 2 REMOVED

3D-4 TRACK
CONNECTED TO GRID,

ALL JOINTS
D ISCONT INUWS,
TRACK 2 REMOVED
References 111 and t21 both discuss the use of
r a i l i s o l a t i n g j o i n t s t o minimize hazards due t o r a i l r o a d
tracks i n the v i c i n i t y of substations and generating
stations. UhiLe the r e s u l t s o f t h i s study show that t h i s
practice reduces the hazards f o r some touch and step
conditions, the i s o l a t i n g r a i l s a c t u a l l y increase the
hazards f o r other touch and step conditions. I f the r a i l s
carinot be removed, the design engineer may be l e f t with a
choice o f which conditions t o protect against hazardous
voltages. The actual routing o f the track ( a c c e s s i b i l i t y
o f the r a i l s ) , the condition o f the track bed and the
p r o b a b i l i t y o f the various touch and step scenarios would
be sune o f the factors t o include i n the determination of
how t o best protect against hazardous voltages due t o the
presence o f the r a i l s .
REFERENCES

1) ANSI/IEEE Standard 80-1986, IEEE Guide f o r Safety i n AC

Substation Grounding, The I n s t i t u t e of E l e c t r i c a l and
Electronic Engineers, Inc., New York, 1986.
2 ) ANSI/IEEE Standard 665-1987, IEEE Guide f o r Generating
Station Grounding, The I n s t i t u t e of E l e c t r i c a l and
Electronic Engineers, Inc., New York, 1987.
3) alAnalysis Techniques f o r Poser Substation Grounding
Systems," EPRI Final Report EL-2682, Vol. 1, October 1982.
4 ) F. Dewalibi, D. Mukhedkar, IIGround Fault Current
D i s t r i b u t i o n i n Power Systems The Necessary Link,1a IEEE
Paper A 77 754-5, IEEE PES Surmer Power Meeting, Mexico
City, J u l y 1977.

BIOGRAPHIES

Q a v i d l a n e Garrett (S '75 M '76) was born i n Birmingham, A1 on January 10, 1954. He received the B. S. and M.
S. degrees i n Engineering from the University o f Alabama
Birmingham i n 1976 and 1978, respectively.

I n 1974 he joined Southern Company Services, Inc. as a cooperative education student and as an engineer i n 1976.
He i s presently a P r i n c i p e i Engineer i n the Power and
Systems Engineering E l e c t r i c a l and Controls Department,
where h i s major r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s include grounding,
cathodic p r o t e c t i o n and equipnent application studies.