Questions and Answers
What is the recommended water level for small bridges with a water way less than 757.3 mm?
What is the recommended location for marking the danger level?
What should be done in case of a high flood level that has not caused any damage?
Who should approve the revision of the danger level?
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What should be done with the revised danger level?
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How should the danger level be marked on the bridge?
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Where should the danger level be marked on the bridge?
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Why is it necessary to revise the danger level?
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What is the primary responsibility of watchmen at bridges?
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What is the minimum qualification for a watchman at a bridge?
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What equipment should a watchman at a bridge be provided with?
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What should a watchman do if they notice any signs of failure at the bridge?
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How often should a watchman inspect the bridge?
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What should a watchman do when the water level is rising and likely to approach the danger level?
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Why should a watchman stand on the left-hand side of the train when the train is approaching?
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What should a watchman do when they notice any jungle growth or other encroachments on the bridge?
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What is the first action to be taken by the Permanent Way Inspector at site?
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What is the purpose of the Permanent Way Inspector's special inspection during monsoon?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do if strong currents and heavy rain occur?
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What is the purpose of taking soundings during special inspection?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do if defects are found during the special inspection?
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Why may traffic be suspended during special inspection?
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What is the purpose of the Permanent Way Inspector advising the Assistant Engineer?
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How often should the Permanent Way Inspector inspect the bridge during monsoon?
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What is the danger level at bridges?
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What should be done when the danger level is reached?
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What factors should be considered when determining the danger level?
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What is the purpose of fixing the danger level?
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What should be done when the danger level is higher than necessary?
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What is the importance of considering the history of the bridge?
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What should be done when there is no history of damage or serious threat to the bridge?
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What is the purpose of the waterway clearance?
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What is the purpose of taking soundings during floods?
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What should be done while taking soundings during floods?
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What should be ensured while taking soundings during floods?
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What should be done with the flood records?
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What is the purpose of preparing a register of flood records?
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What should be ensured while taking observations of the river bed and banks?
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What should be ensured while preparing the flood records?
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What should be done with the maximum flood level?
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What is the primary responsibility of a divisional engineer during floods?
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What is the purpose of maintaining a record of past floods?
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What should be the primary consideration while designing a bridge?
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What is the purpose of conducting a special inspection of bridges during monsoon?
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What is the primary purpose of taking soundings during floods?
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What is the first action to be taken by the Permanent Way Inspector at site?
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What should be the primary consideration while determining the danger level of a bridge?
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What should be done with the flood records?
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What is the purpose of the Permanent Way Inspector's special inspection during monsoon?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do if strong currents and heavy rain occur?
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Why is it necessary to consider the history of the bridge while determining the danger level?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do if defects are found during the special inspection?
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Why may traffic be suspended during special inspection?
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What is the purpose of the Permanent Way Inspector advising the Assistant Engineer?
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How often should the Permanent Way Inspector inspect the bridge during monsoon?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do if a strong rush of water and heavy rain occur?
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What should the Permanent Way Inspector do before the onset of monsoon at specified locations?
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What should be done with the annual return of pitching stones, boulders, and other monsoon reserves?
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What should be done in case of a weather warning?
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What should be done with the flood records?
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What should be done when the Permanent Way Inspector finds defects during the special inspection?
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What should be done with the monsoon reserves?
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What should be done before the onset of monsoon?
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What should be done with the certificate of monsoon reserves?
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What is the primary consideration when determining the danger level at a bridge?
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What should be done if the danger level is higher than necessary?
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What is the purpose of fixing the danger level at a bridge?
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What should be considered when determining the danger level at a bridge?
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What should be done if the water level is rising and likely to approach the danger level?
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What is the purpose of the waterway clearance?
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What should be ensured while taking soundings during floods?
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What should be done with the flood records?
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What is the purpose of maintaining cross-section records?
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What should be attached to the 'Rivers and floods' register for reference?
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What should be done after the rainy season?
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What should be included in the 'Rivers and floods' register?
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Why should the 'Rivers and floods' register be maintained?
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What should be done with the past 'Rivers and floods' register?
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What is the purpose of preparing a cross-section record?
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What should be included in the cross-section record?
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Study Notes
Determining Danger Level at Bridges
- Danger level is the level of water which, when reached, is likely to adversely affect the safety of the bridge
- All traffic shall remain suspended until an official inspects the bridge and declares it safe for passage of trains
- The danger level is fixed for each bridge by the Divisional Engineer, considering factors like:
- Nature of soil, depth of foundations, existence of drop and curtain walls, flooding depth, maximum permissible scour, highest recorded flood level, level of girder/arch bottom, velocity of water, and past bridge history
- Danger level should be the lower of:
- Level providing adequate vertical clearance
- Level providing minimum freeboard to approach banks and guide bunds
- Level likely to cause undue large afflux (more than 3m) that may cause large scour
- Level that if exceeded, may cause excessive scour endangering the bridge
- For bridges with no past damage history, guidelines for fixing danger level are provided based on span and site conditions
Danger Levels for Different Bridge Types
- Girder and Slab Bridges:
- Clearance below bottom of girders/slabs ranges from 1.5m to 4.5m depending on span and site conditions
- Arch Bridges:
- For spans less than 12m, danger level is normally at the springing level
- For larger spans and multiple-span arches, danger level is at 3rd rise below crown of arch
- Higher HFLs in past without damage may allow raising danger level suitably
- Box Culverts: Danger level at the bottom of slab
- Pipe Culverts: Danger level at the top of inside of pipe
- Balancing Culverts and Bridges: Danger level at 0.6m below top of pier/abutments
Marking Danger Level
- Danger level should be marked on the abutments or first and last piers, repeated suitably on intermediate piers
- Marking should be a bright red band 20cm wide, centered over a white band 15cm wide, for a length of 50cm
Watchmen at Bridges
- Based on bridge history and river behavior, watchmen are posted during monsoon
- Only intelligent, reliable and experienced men who can read numbers should be selected as watchmen
- Watchmen are provided with equipment like flags, hand signal lamps, detonators, whistle, tools, etc.
Watchmen's Duties
- Regularly inspect every portion of the bridge, look for signs of danger like:
- Flood reaching/exceeding danger level
- Disturbance to bridge alignment/level due to shifting/settlement of piers/abutments
- Water level difference causing seepage/piping through embankments
- Cracks on approaches showing settlement
- Large obstruction to bridge waterway
- Take action to protect track and stop traffic if danger is apprehended
Permanent Way Inspector's Role
- Immediately reach the site on receiving message of apprehended danger
- Examine and ensure bridge, approaches and protection works are safe
- May allow trains at suitable speed based on site conditions
- Advise Assistant Engineer with details like flood level, difference in upstream-downstream levels, and any special action required
Flood Records
- Maintain records for bridges across large alluvial rivers and other identified rivers, including:
- Soundings around piers and abutments during/after high floods
- Gauge readings of flood levels during monsoon
- Observations of afflux and velocity during monsoon
- Cross-sections of river during and after floods
- Survey of river course after monsoon
- Cross-section of guide banks, protection works and their aprons
- Annual survey of scour holes
Here are the study notes for the text:
- Rivers and Floods*
Behaviour of Rivers
- The Divisional/Assistant Engineer should be familiar with the past history of bridges and training/protection works.
- Knowledge of rivers' behaviour, including the flood history of the last 13-18 years, is essential.
Past History of Bridges
- The Divisional/Assistant Engineer should have details of bridges and training/protection works.
- Information should be maintained in a register, including:
- Brief history of the bridge and protection works.
- Condition of foundation and protection works.
- Particulars of flood damage and remedial measures adopted.
Danger Level at Bridges
- The danger level is the level that, when reached, safety of the bridge is likely to be affected.
- The danger level should be fixed for each bridge by the Divisional Engineer.
- Factors to be considered when fixing the danger level include:
- Nature of the soil.
- Depth of foundations.
- Existence of scour or erosion.
- High flood level.
- The highest recorded flood level.
- The level of the bed of the river.
Special Inspection during Monsoon
- The Assistant Engineer should inspect bridges and their training works during the monsoon season.
- The inspection should be done to identify any defects or damages.
- The Assistant Engineer should look for signs of danger, including:
- High water level.
- Strong currents.
- Erosion or scour.
- Uplift or settlement of the bridge.
Action to be taken in the case of Weather Warning
- On receipt of a weather warning, the Assistant Engineer should take action to ensure the safety of the bridge.
- The Assistant Engineer should inspect the bridge and its training works.
- Any defects or damages should be repaired immediately.
Pitching Stone, Boulder, and other Monsoon Reserves
- The location and quantity of pitching stone, boulder, and other monsoon reserves should be fixed by the Chief Engineer.
- The pitching stone, boulder, and other monsoon reserves should be stockpiled before the monsoon season.
- The stockpile should be inspected and certified by the Assistant Engineer.
Cross Sections
- Cross sections of the river should be prepared in the Divisional Engineer's office.
- Copies of the cross sections should be sent to the Headquarters office.
- The cross sections should indicate the position of the slopes and apron.
- The cross sections should be plotted in different colours to show the progress of the apron pitching.
Damages
- The Divisional/Assistant Engineer should inspect bridges and their training works after the rainy season.
- Any defects or damages should be repaired before the next rainy season.
- Proposals for new works should be framed and sent to the Chief Engineer for approval.
Rivers and Floods Register
- A "Rivers and Floods" register should be maintained by the Assistant Engineer.
- The register should contain:
- Brief history of the bridge and protection works.
- Condition of foundation and protection works.
- Particulars of flood damage and remedial measures adopted.
- Blueprints of the cross-section diagrams of the bed of the river.
- Survey plans of the course of the river and cross sections of bunds.
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This quiz is about the actions taken by a Permanent Way Inspector at a site to ensure railway safety. It covers the inspection process and safety measures.