Precautions in Various Track Maintenance

Including Track Machines Working in Cold

Weather
Presentation by:
Shri Vivek Nandan
ADEN/EAST/GD
 Table of contents
• Introduction
• Working temperature
• Categories of Engineering works
• Category 1 Works
• Category 2 Works
• Category 3 Works
• Work at times of poor visibility
• Site protection Diagrams
• Engineering indicators
• Warning Signal
• Working of track machines in cold weather
• Precautions
• Some frequently neglected items
 Introduction
Definition of cold Weather: Is arrived on basis of Temperature records
maintained by PWI for at least 5 years. Tm for LWR territory is arrived
by this record and 2 coldest months can be ascertained
Problem in cold weather working can be broadly divided in two
categories
•Due to lower rail temperature that induces tension in rails and
shrinking of rails
•Due to poor visibility in foggy weather
 Working temperature

• If there are chances that temperature may go below Td-30 no major

maintenance activities should be planned in LWR territory
• Maintenance block should be planned in hours when prevailing rail
temperature is well above Td-30
• If maintenance work is must at such temperatures then temporary
destressing should be done.
• In case of fog the problem of visibility may arise which induces
additional problems.
 Categories of Engineering works
• Category 1 – Works of routine maintenance, requiring no speed restriction,
not necessitating exhibition of hand signals and involving no danger to
trains or traffic .Works of routine maintenance such as through packing,
picking up slacks and overhauling of track etc.

• Category 2 – Works of short duration Works such as casual renewals of

rails and sleepers, adjustment of creep and lubrication of rail joints which
are completed by sunset of the day of commencement and no restriction
of speed thereafter is required, are termed “works of shortduration
• Category 3 – Works of long duration –Works such as relaying, bridge
construction, diversions which extend over a few days, or weeks during
which period a continuous restriction of speed is to be in force, are termed
as “works of long duration”.
 Category I Works
• This type of works are most neglected as they do not pose risk to
trains
• But the works can be dangerous for People at site during foggy
weather
• Proper reflective uniform must be ensured at site
• An eye on rail temperature must be kept during work
• Caution for lookout and fog signals should be used
 Category 2 Works
• Hand-signal and banner flags and fog signals shall be used at specified
distances to afford protection to trains
• Proper safety for Trackmen at site along with hooters and proper
uniform
• Precautions of LWR manual Should be followed
• Such work shall not be done if rail temperature is below Td-30 and/or
the visibility is very poor
 Category 3 Works
• Most precautionary work of all categories
• Installation of fixed temporary engineering signals should be ensured
at proper distances and the signals must be of retroreflective type
• Stationary watchman must be provided and observation of caution by
LPs should be ensured by regular foot plate/ night footplate
inspections
• During work strict vagile should be kept on rail temperature and
works requiring large on of fitting removal should be avoided
 Work at times of poor visibility
• In thick foggy weather no rail renewal or any other work which may
cause obstructions to track will be carried out except in case of
emergency
Site protection Diagrams
Engineering indicators
 Warning Signal (C.S.No.136)
• The signals to be used to warn the incoming train towards the
obstruction shall be a Red flushing hand signal lamp at night or Red
flag during day
• The warning signal may be used by a railway servant when he doesn’t
have adequate time to do protection in normal manner with
detonators e.g. derailed train obstructing adjacent line, breaches,
landslide etc.
 Working of track machines in cold weather
• Visibility and rail temperature factor must be considered during the
working and/or the movement of track machines in cold weather
• While moving in a convoy, the proper distance must be maintained
• Proper lighting arrangement should be provided if working at night
• Working in foggy weather at night should be avoided as far as
possible
• Proper block protection should be ensured
• Protection/caution on adjacent line should be considered judiciously
• Audio-visual means should be use to warn personal at site
 Safety Equipment's
i) Two red and one green hand signal flags.
ii) Two tri-colour hand signal lamp s.
iii) Two chains with padlocks.
iv) Two Clamps with padlocks.
v) Twelve Fog signals (detonators) in a tin case.
vi) A copy of the working timetable of the section where the machine is working.
vii) G&SR book with upto date amendment slips.
viii) One 4 cells flasher light.
ix) One portable field telephone.
x) Two banner flags.
xi) One first aids box.
xii) Two Skids.
xiii Patromax/LPG lamp
xiv Safety helmets for all machine staff
xv Protective clothing, safety shoes and safety gloves
xvi Track Machine M annual
xvi Accident M annual
 Head and Tail Lights
• Each track machine must be equipped with prescribed head and tail
lights, marker lights and flasher lights . Each machine shall display LV
board/tail lamp if moving alone. While moving in convoy, the LV
board in the last machine in the direction of movement
 Precautions
• The Junior Engineer/Section Engineer (P. Way) is responsible for protection of the
site of work and also for protection of adjoining track(s) in case of infringement.
He shall be conversant with the infringing conditions of the various machines. He
shall also be responsible for safe condition of track before clear in g the block
after machine working.
• Some machines tend to foul the adjacent line, while working on double line
section or in the yard like BRM ,T-28 etc. If any p art of a machine is likely to foul
the adjacent line(s) while working, the Junior Engineer/Section Engineer (P. Way )
shall request Station M aster in writing to block the line(s). Such work shall only
be undertaken if blocking of such ad joining line(s) has been permitted by the
control and the Station M aster and such adjoining lines have been protected.
• While exchanging private numbers with level crossings, the Station Master on
either side shall inform all the level crossings equipped with telephones falling in
the block section.
 Precautions
• While the track machines are moving in the block section in convoy, it
will be the responsibility of the operators of these machines to
maintain a minimum safe d istance of 120 mtrs. from each other. If
any of the machines is required to slowdown or stop due to some
reason, the machine operator should ensure that red hand signal is
displayed by waving vigorously.
• Where visibility is poor such as curves and cuttings, appropriate
speeds and safe distance should be maintained by the machine
operators. While approaching the level crossings, operators of all
track machines shall keep a vigil for any obstruction and whistle freely
till the machin e passes the level crossing.
 Precautions
• Track machine working is likely to produce a dusty atmosphere and/or
heavy noise pollution. Hence extra care is necessary at site to ensure
safety of workers. For this, the following steps should be taken:
i) Hooters should be provided on the track machines. These hooters should preferably
have remote control operation so that the Lookout man standing around 150m away
form the track machine can operate the hooter to warn the staff working on/around
the track machine about approaching train on ad joining track.
ii) Temporary Whistle Board should be fixed on the adjoining track, which can be
moved along with track machine worksite.
iii)It is necessary that all trains passing on the adjoining track should be issued a
caution order “OBSERVE HAND SIGNAL WHISTLE FREELY AND STOP IF REQUIRED”. Such
caution order on the adjoining track is necessary due to high noise lev el caused by
track machine and large concentration of staff working around it.
 Some frequently neglected items

• Chances of shrinking of rails during block is very plausible in cold weather

working so elongated hole fish plates must be kept
• Lookout man and detonators are must in cold weather/foggy weather working
• Availability of fog signal lamp must be ensured
• Strict vagile should be kept on SEJs of LWR on which the work is being done and
SEJ near the worksite any abnormal movement should be immediately noticed
• Condition of track on loop line or emergency cross over should not be neglected
• Any movement of rails should be noted and proper ballast cushion/ support
below sleepers must be ensured even if caution is given
• Strict vagile should be kept on speed of trains at worksite
Thank You