Marshalling Yard Lighting Systems

The recommended average illuminance in a marshalling yard ranges from 10 to 20 lux. This lighting aids in shunting, assembling trains, and reducing accidents.

Brightly lit railway tracks reflect light, creating clear contrast with surroundings. This contrast helps spot obstacles and moving wagons.

The hump area requires higher vertical plane illuminance (30-50 lux) to clearly see wagon markings, point settings, and track availability, aiding smoother operation and safer shunting.

Light intensity measured in a vertical plane, often crucial for observing wagon markings and judging the speed of approaching or receding wagons, especially in the hump area.

Methods used to design railway lighting, including the choice of installations, luminaires, light sources, aiming of luminaires, and maintenance processes.

Different railways use various lighting systems, broadly categorised based on the yard's size and complexity.

Floodlights which emit light unevenly, widely used for lighting the yard, particularly the hump area. They are suitable for low to medium installation heights

A lighting system that uses tall towers to illuminate large areas from multiple points.

A system that distributes light sources across one or more locations to cover an area.

A lighting system used in main areas, often supported by a metal structure.

A light source that produces a lot of light with low energy consumption.

A light fixture that directs light in a narrow beam; useful in high tower systems.

Large area coverage from few points, reduced cabling costs, reduced glare, shadow-free lighting, easier maintenance.

Height restrictions near airports, hazardous access to floodlights, increased space between railway tracks, possible shadowing areas.

A type of high-efficiency light source.

Heavy-duty, weatherproof floodlights used to light marshalling yards.

The process of positioning floodlight luminaires to achieve desired illuminance levels, uniformity, and glare-free lighting in a marshalling yard.

The amount of light falling on a surface.

A measure of how evenly light is distributed.

Lighting that doesn't cause discomfort or reduce visibility due to excessive brightness.

A diagram showing the precise aiming angles of floodlight luminaires to achieve specific lighting parameters.

An inefficient method of aiming floodlights, involving repeated adjustments and potential waste.

A method for aiming floodlights using the visual characteristics of the environment at night.

Challenges associated with maintaining high-mounted luminaires.

Luminaires should be made of materials that withstand weather and provide optical control (e.g. cast aluminum, anodized aluminum).

Lighting poles must maintain adequate spacing from overhead electrical lines to ensure safety.

Floodlighting towers in marshalling yards must be placed strategically, avoiding obstructions to overhead electrical equipment and lines of sight for control cabin personnel and shunting staff.

Vertical illuminance is important for judging the speed of wagons and identifying their markings. It's higher along the track (15 lux) than perpendicular to it (10 lux).

The ratio of minimum to average illuminance (Emin / Eavg) must be at least 0.2 in the marshalling yard and 0.35 in the hump area, ensuring consistent lighting.

Luminaires should be placed and aimed to minimize glare for the shunting staff and control cabin personnel. Low-mounted luminaires can cause glare issues and should be avoided.

Replacing multiple light fixtures at once, instead of individual lamps when they fail.

Lower mounting height, reduced shadow, and efficient light use.

Many obstructions, complex upkeep, and potential dark spots from lamp failures.

High structures spanning railway tracks for even illumination.

Excellent illumination, shadow-free work space, and easily maintained.

High initial cost, usable only in specific areas of the yards.

Best lighting plan using a mix of various systems for optimal cost-benefit in a yard.

Periodic cleaning is essential for the maximum benefit, especially with high lumen light sources

A large area with many railway tracks where wagons are sorted and assembled into trains based on their destinations.

A method of shunting where wagons are pushed up a ramp (hump) and then released to roll down onto different tracks based on their destination.

A method of shunting where wagons are pushed directly onto their destination tracks by a shunting engine.

A control center in a marshalling yard where operators monitor and direct the movement of wagons, controlling switches and braking systems.

A structure in a marshalling yard used to slow down wagons that have gained excessive speed after being released from the hump.

Adequate lighting is crucial for safety and efficient operations in a marshalling yard, especially during the night, enabling workers to see clearly for tasks like shunting and assembling trains, reducing the risk of accidents.

Lighting in a marshalling yard must be designed to cover a large area with many track junctions and varied lighting needs, accounting for both horizontal and vertical planes for tasks like reading wagon labels and judging wagon speed.

A system using tall towers to illuminate large areas with narrow-beam floodlights from fewer points.

A light fixture that focuses light onto a specific area, crucial for high tower systems.

Heavy-duty, weatherproof floodlights are crucial for marshalling yards due to their harsh environment.

A system where light sources are spread across several locations to illuminate an area.

Regular cleaning of luminaires ensures maximum brightness and efficient use of light sources.

The goal of marshalling yard lighting is to provide glare-free, general lighting to improve safety, security, and productivity in shunting and train assembly operations.

The recommended average illuminance in a marshalling yard is 10 to 20 lux. This ensures sufficient visibility for safe movement and operations.

The hump area requires special attention because it needs clear visibility in all directions for safe shunting operations and to see wagon markings, point settings, and track availability.

Railways use various lighting systems based on the size and complexity of the marshalling yard. These systems can be high-tower, distributed, gantry, or combinations of these types.

A process where aluminum is coated with an oxide layer, creating a durable, corrosion-resistant, and reflective surface.

Positioning floodlights to achieve the desired lighting levels, uniformity, and glare-free illumination in a marshalling yard.

The evenness of light distribution across a surface, ensuring consistent brightness.

The minimum distance between lighting towers and overhead electrical lines to prevent accidents and ensure safety.

Light fixtures designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, like rain, snow, and extreme temperatures.

The challenges associated with maintaining floodlights mounted on tall towers, making access and repairs more difficult.

The amount of light directed vertically, important for identifying wagon markings and judging their speed.

Designing and manufacturing light fixtures to maximize their performance and longevity, minimizing energy waste.