Help on solution to cover gap between gutter where train wheels go through

General
1

Hi Everyone, first of all, pardon me for my poor english, I’m ESL and found this site looking for a solution with a problem where I work. So let start from the beginning.

I work at a facility where trains full of fuel are unloaded every day using hoses located at the bottom of each railcar. To prevent fuel from accidentally spilling onto the ballast, we use trays (as shown in the image) that have openings in the center leading to piping, which channels the fuel to waterproofed gutters.

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So far, so good. To connect these trays, we use gutters and flashing to prevent any fuel from leaking through these potential gaps, even while the railcar is moving. However, the flashing installed right where the railcar wheel passes cannot withstand the stress applied. Even though this area is bolted down, they get displaced, exposing a gap between each gutter. We tried applying Aluminum Asphalt Tape, but without success—over time, it just gets ripped apart.

This opening is hollow and these gutters can be removed. My question to you is: what type of material or substance would provide this waterproofing against infiltration without the possibility of being torn during the railcar’s movement? Thank you all for the suggestions, and thanks!

I cant post more than one embed image but will provide some links below:

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Feature some form of a hard rubber U channel with wide flat ends could be designed to bolt over the flanges of each pan.

3

I was about to suggest something similar.

4

Thanks guys I’ll look into this type of rubber.
One other thing the asphalt tape is ripped, but the tape between gap still intact maybe if I could use some type o silicon or any other material to apply on each side of the gap but that could withstand the stress and be resistant to fuel.
I was also looking in something like Sikaflex®-406 KC but it’s not available easily in my country, but thinking a little it would be a pain to apply since all the sides are metal and would take too much time to disassembly the part of each side

5

If the ‘flashing’ is those little rectangular pieces with two bolts: form a ‘spring’ at the end by rolling the material up to bear against the underside of the railhead. That will hold it down against the gap in the pans and accommodate any shifting between rail ends and pans as the car weight comes on and goes off; it may also keep the flashing moving with the pan edges if there is flange contact.

Then use thin EPDM rubber strip with appropriate ‘rubber’ adhesive to provide the fuelproof seal underneath.