Railway Maintenance Procedures

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of heaping up ballast in the tamping zone?

To ensure effective packing (correct)

To decrease the pressure on the rails

To increase the speed of the tamping process

To reduce the weight of the sleepers

What should be done to signal rods, cables, pipes, and other obstructions before tamping?

Cut them off completely

Remove them preferably

Mark them clearly and inform the tamping operator (correct)

Leave them as they are

What is the recommended tamping depth?

25 mm to 30 mm

15 mm to 20 mm (correct)

20 mm to 25 mm

10 mm to 15 mm

What should be done to the sleepers before tamping?

Renew broken and damaged sleepers Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of clearing ballast on sleepers?

To make the sleepers visible to the operator Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to the expansion gap in rails during tamping?

Adjust the creep and expansion gap in rails Signup and view all the answers

Why should the beginning and end of transitions be marked?

To guide the operator for levelling up correctly Signup and view all the answers

What should be examined during the tamping process?

Rails, sleepers, and fastenings Signup and view all the answers

What precaution should be observed while carrying out casual renewal of concrete sleepers?

Manual handling with necessary precautions Signup and view all the answers

Why should the ends of concrete sleepers be painted with an approved type of anti-corrosive paint?

To prevent corrosion of the exposed ends of pre-stressing wires Signup and view all the answers

What should be checked by the Keyman during his daily patrol in relation to Elastic Rail clips?

The correct driving of the clip Signup and view all the answers

What happens when an Elastic Rail clip is over driven or under driven?

The clip causes eccentric load on the liners and results in their displacement and variation of toe load Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to prevent corrosion of Elastic Rail clips?

Checking for corrosion and replacing corroded fastenings Signup and view all the answers

What should be ensured while checking Rubber Pads?

The rubber pads are in correct position Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when rubber pads have developed a permanent set?

The rubber pads should be renewed Signup and view all the answers

What can cause loss of toe load in Elastic Rail clips?

Ineffective pads Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum number of points at which free rails are supported?

Four Signup and view all the answers

What is the centre-to-centre spacing of supports for welded rail panels?

4 metre Signup and view all the answers

What is the guideline for stacking of rails?

RDSO's Guidelines for Handling and Stacking of Rails (No.CT-35) Signup and view all the answers

What is the method of detection of rail flaws?

Visual examination and Ultra Sonic Flaw Detection (USFD) Signup and view all the answers

Why should rail ends be examined during the lubrication of rail joints?

To check for cracks Signup and view all the answers

What is the requirement for laying new rails in the track?

The rails must be tested by USFD Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of the sample track?

To maintain the track to a certain standard Signup and view all the answers

Who should be trained by RDSO for ultrasonic testing of rails?

JE/SSE/P.Way Signup and view all the answers

Who should inspect the work done by a gang?

JE/SSE/P.Way Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of corrosion in rails?

Acid gases dissolved in the film of moisture Signup and view all the answers

What should be checked during the examination of a gang's work?

Alignment, surfacing, boxing, and other parameters Signup and view all the answers

How often should the JE/SSE/P.Way examine tools and equipment?

Every month Signup and view all the answers

What should be recorded in the gang diaries?

Instructions to the Gang Mates Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the minimum equipment that each gang should have?

A level-cum-gauge Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Gang Mate's Muster Sheet?

To record the attendance of Gang Mates Signup and view all the answers

How many detonators should each gang have?

10 Signup and view all the answers

What should JE/SSE/P.Way ensure every man in each gang is aware of?

The rules in which the men should be examined periodically and on appointment, promotion or transfer Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for screening of ballast?

To improve the running quality of track Signup and view all the answers

What happens to ballast due to excessive rainfall and dropping of fines and ore?

It gets choked up and track drainage is impaired Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the screening of the entire ballast right up to the formation level/sub-ballast level?

Deep screening Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of deep screening on the ballast bed?

It restores the resilience and elasticity of the ballast bed Signup and view all the answers

What should JE/SSE/P.Way instruct the men to do with the tools?

To properly use and maintain them Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to the men in each gang periodically and on appointment, promotion or transfer?

They should be examined Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the instructions given by JE/SSE/P.Way?

Demonstrative nature of the instructions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Pre-Tamping Preparations

Heaping up of ballast in the tamping zone to ensure effective packing
Making up of low cess
Cleaning of pumping joints and providing additional clean ballast, where necessary
Attention to hogged joints before tamping
Tightening of all fittings and fastenings like fish bolts and elastic fastenings, and replacement of worn out fittings
Renewing broken and damaged sleepers
Squaring of sleepers and spacing adjustment; re-gauging to be done as necessary
Adjusting creep and expansion gap in rails
Examination of rails for cracks, sleepers, and fastenings
Survey for realignment of curves, which are badly out of alignment
Clearing of ballast on sleepers to make them visible to the operator

Attention during Tamping

The tamping depth (gap between the top edge of the tamping blade and the bottom edge of the sleeper in closed position of the tamping tool) should be adjusted to 15 mm to 20 mm
Care should be taken to ensure that tamping tools are inserted centrally between the sleepers into the ballast to avoid any damage to the sleepers
Free rails should be supported at least at four points, evenly along their length
Welded rail panels should be spread on cess as to rest evenly along their entire length on supports spaced at 4-meter center to center to prevent formation of kinks
Each stack of the rail should be of the same section and class

Inspection of Rails in Service

Detection of rail flaws is done by visual examination of the rail and by ultra-sonic flaw detection (USFD) of rails
Visual examination of rails includes examining rail ends for cracks during lubrication of rail joints by cleaning the surface of the rail by wire brush and using a magnifying glass
USFD testing of service rails should be done regularly, and no rail untested by USFD should be laid in the track
JE/SSE/P.Way carrying out the ultra-sonic testing of rails should be trained by RDSO

Causes of Rail Deterioration

Corrosion and rusting are caused by acid gases dissolved in the film of moisture, which frequently coats the rails

Casual Renewal of Concrete Sleepers

Precautions indicated in Para 623 (4) should be observed during casual renewal of concrete sleepers
Special care should be taken to consolidate the shoulders of the ballast section after renewal of the sleepers

Corrosion of Steel in Concrete Sleepers

Both ends of concrete sleepers should be painted with an approved type of anti-corrosive paint at the concrete sleeper manufacturing plant to prevent corrosion of the exposed ends of pre-stressing wires

Maintenance of Concrete Sleeper Fastenings

Elastic Rail clips should be checked by the Keyman during his daily petrol to ensure correct driving of the clip
Rubber Pads should be in correct position, and those that have developed a permanent set should be renewed

Checking Work of Gangs by JE/SSE/P.Way

The work done by a gang should be examined for alignment, surfacing, and boxing throughout
The JE/SSE/P.Way should inspect rails and sleepers and their fastenings and check cross levels, gauge, squareness of sleepers, packing, joint maintenance, profile of ballast, and depths of cess below rail level

Deep Screening of Ballast

Deep screening of ballast is essential to restore the resilience and elasticity of the ballast bed, resulting in improved running quality of track
Screening should be carried out periodically, especially in situations where the track is poorly drained due to bad formation, ballast attrition, excessive rainfall, and dropping of fines and ore

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Description

This quiz covers various procedures involved in maintaining railway tracks, including tamping, cleaning, and repairing sleepers and joints.