Permanent Way and Track Maintenance

Permanent Way and Track Maintenance

• Short Welded Rails (SWR): SWR rails expand and contract due to temperature changes throughout their length. Specific sections cover laying, gap survey, creep adjustment, buckling prevention, and conversion to long welded rails.

Long Welded Rails (LWR)

• LWRs and Continuous Welded Rails (CWR): LWRs and CWRs are welded rails designed to minimize longitudinal movement due to temperature variation; CWR extends into station yards, including points and crossings. Procedures include permitted locations, digital axle counters, glued joints, setting expansion joints, temperature measurement, thermal force calculation, laying, rail welding, gaps at expansion joints, de-stressing, and maintenance.

Curves and Turnouts

• Curve Determination: Radius determination, reference rail for level, safe speeds, super-elevation, cant deficiency/excess, transition curve length, super-elevation running out, curve indicators, speeds at turnouts, permissible main line speed at turnouts, no super-elevation change at turnouts, curves of contrary/similar flexure, curves with crossovers/diamond crossings, extra clearance on curves, gradient compensation, and vertical curves.

Electrified Areas Maintenance

• Electrified Area Maintenance: General instructions, special instructions for traction area staff, maintaining track continuity, additional precautions in AC traction, fire safety, catch sidings, permanent way tools, electric shock treatment, and outside body power line accidents.

Permanent Way Renewals

• Renewal Classification: Renewals are classified; factors guiding renewal decisions, planning, program, standards, staff and facility planning, traffic considerations during renewal, speed restrictions, project reports, preliminary works, unloading of materials, renewal methods (mechanical/manual), linking procedures, laying standards, point and crossing renewal, track fitting and components renewal, yard and running line sleepers, station yard rails, released material classification and use, material marking, and post-renewal work.

Engineering Restrictions & Indicators

• Engineering Restrictions: Work involving train danger, emergency works, responsible party, line blockage, poor visibility works, temporary signals, notice of restrictions, permanent speed restriction indicators, general indicators, detonating signals, and warning signal descriptions. Safe contractors' working procedures are discussed.

Duties of Permanent Way Officials

• Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADEN): ADEN responsibilities include inspection, maintenance, safety (way & works, bridges), new work accuracy/quality/progress, and expenditure control. Required knowledge includes specific codes and manuals (Indian Railways Act, General Rules, Schedule of Dimensions, Permanent Way Manual, Standard Track Manual, Flash Butt Welding Manual, Fusion Welding Manual, Glued Insulated Rail Joints Manual, Reconditioning Manual, Ultrasonic Testing Manual, Track Machine Manual, etc.). ADENs should have current copies and correction slips. Ongoing training in this area is essential.
• SSE/P.Way (In-charge): Inspection and maintenance (track safety), scheduling (Table 1B for details), safety/smooth running/economy/neatness, fault/irregularity detection, packing observation, footplate/brake van travel, works coordination, staff training, emergency action/weather condition response, ongoing construction works inspection, station yard upkeep, and turnout/joint inspections.
• JE/SSE/P.Way (Sectional): Support to the SSE/P.Way (In-charge), coordination with other departments, staff counseling/training, emergency action/extreme weather response, ongoing work inspections, station yard cleanliness, and track movement observation.

Inspection Schedules

• Inspection schedules (Table 1B): Details of specific inspection schedules for various track assets, including foot inspections, trolley inspections, routes, and specific items to be checked.

Technical Definitions

• Unevenness (UN): Deviation of rails in the vertical plane.
• Versine: Perpendicular distance from arc to chord midpoint.
• Vertical Curve: A circular curve in the vertical plane.
• Continuous Welded Rail (CWR): A long welded rail that extends into station yards, including points and crossings.
• Long Welded Rail (LWR): A welded rail whose middle part doesn't move longitudinally due to temperature changes.
• Short Welded Rail (SWR): A welded rail that expands and contracts lengthwise due to temperature changes.