Presentation on

Winter Precautions and

Cold Weather Patrolling

Presented By :
Aman Gupta
ADEN/SRE, IRSE 2014
 Winter Precautions - INTRODUCTION

• Winter season is going to set in and during

winter season, the incidences of rail/weld
failure are normally high. It is imperative that
such incidences are checked to the possible
extent.
Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
1. Visual examination of rail ends should be done in
terms of Para 252(2) of IRPWM and corrective
action be taken as per Para 251 of IRPWM and CE
circular no. 209. The fish bolt holes should be with
proper chamfering. The concerned ADEN should
personally ensure that Chamfering Kit is available as
per Para 251(5) of IRPWM with SSEs/P.Way and
used positively for chamfering whenever a new hole
is drilled.
Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
2. All the joggled fish plate joints should also be examined
and lubricated including bolt holes before onset of winter.
3. The inspection and measurement of corrosion in
corrosion prone locations and moderate corrosion prone
locations should be done as per CE circular no. 258-R1.
The preventive measures to reduce corrosion of rails and
greasing of ERCs, inserts, liner seats including sealing of
liners should be done as per CE circular no. 258-R1.
(Sep.2013) and 261R-1(June2016). Rails having corroded
flange should be kept under special watch & suitably
protected.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
4. A special drive should be launched to ensure that every length
of rail gets examined systematically from one end of unit/gang
beat to other end.
5. Inspection of LWRs/CWRs & SEJs must be carried out by
SSE/P.Way as per Para 8.1.5(i) of LWR Manual and attend as
found necessary.
6. There should not be any overdue de-stressing of LWR/CWR.
7. Frequency of USFD testing shall be strictly followed as per USFD
manual and existing instructions. There should not be any
section overdue for USFD testing.
SSE/P.Way/ADENs/DENs/Sr.DENs should monitor and regularly
check the work of SSE/USFD.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
8. The minimum frequency of testing shall be for welds on major
bridges & bridges approaches (100m on either side) and in tunnels
& on tunnel approaches (100m on either side) as per Para 8.15.1
of revised A&C slip no. 3 dated 10.08.16, to USFD manual 2012.
9. It needs to be ensured that all AT weld in important and major
bridges and their approaches (100 m) are tested before onset of
winter as per standing instructions (Rly. Bd’s Engineering Standing
order No. 34/3/1 (Revision-1) dated 10/11/2004).
10. In case of defective weld (DFWO/DFWR) on major bridges &
bridges approaches (100m either side), and in tunnels & on tunnel
approaches (100m either side), action will be taken as per Para
8.14 of revised A&C slip no. 3 dated 10.08.16 to USFD manual.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
11.Analysis of rail/ weld fractures should be done on the
division, identify fracture prone locations and take
necessary preventive measures.
12.To detect the fracture during winter months, Key man’s
duty roster should be changed to have early morning patrol
so that failures, if any can be detected in time.
13.All the arrangement for cold weather patrolling should be
made as per Para 9.1.2 (ii) of LWR Manual.
14.A close watch on rail temperature should be kept and
temperature record register should be maintained by
SSE/P.Way & fed in TMS on daily basis.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
15.Gap survey should be done in SWR territory and gap adjustments be
done where needed. Creep should be measured and action taken to
arrest it (Para 510 of IRPWM).
16.All the fish plate joints at Back of CMS crossing are kept gapless and
maintained effectively to avoid fractures.
17.For urgent temporary repairs of locations of rail/weld fractures, spare
joggled fish, clamps/bolts, wooden blocks should be kept at every
Km. gate lodges and gang huts. The “Joint Procedure Order” issued by
CTE & CPTM regarding rail/weld fractures repair and restoration of
speed to normal should be followed. The detailed report of all the
fractures along with the remarks of concerned officers in the
respective columns, and sketch/photo of the fracture should be
uploaded in TMS within stipulated time period of 48 hrs, without fail.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
18.No cut rails should be allowed to continue in the track for more
than 24 hours and it must have speed restriction of 30Kmph in
LWR/CWR track. No untested rail should be put in track.
19.LWR/CWR in RF/WF prone locations should be identified and
measures like recoupment of missing fittings and de-stressing at
lower temperature for winter season should be taken as per
requirement.
20.Ensure zero missing fittings by recouping deficiency. If any, on
priority.
21.In case of renewal with 10/15/20 rails panels, speed restriction
not exceeding 75 kmph must be observed till the joints are
welded.
Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
22.The in-situ AT welding should be done by trained staff having
competency certificate and proper equipment. Adequate
guidelines for the required duration are provided in Para 4.3
of Manual for fusion welding of Rails by Alumino-Thermic
process as per which durations of traffic block will be 70 to
75 minutes. The instructions had also reiterated vide Pr. CE
letter no. 319-W/168/Pt. XII dated 07.08.18. The block
position should be personally monitored by Sr. DEN/Cs,
Sr.DEN/Lines & Den/Lines. The new AT weld done in-situ
shall be joggle fish plated with two clamps and supported on
wooden block till tested as good by USFD.
 Winter precautions to prevent of Rail/Weld
fractures- Safety of track.
• It is imperative on the part of divisional
officers to see that all safety precautions are
taken by field staff right up to Gang man &
they are aware of rules and requirements for
ensuring safe train operation in cold weather.
Also during trolley inspections knowledge of
the staff and compliance of these instructions
should be checked & ensured.
 Cold Weather Patrolling
• In sections having long welded rails (LWR), cold weather patrolling is done
when the rail temperature is less than Td-30°C (Td = destressing
temperature).
• The schedule of patrolling and sections to be patrolled are laid down
beforehand, based on the temperature records maintained for the section.
• Normally, such patrolling starts around the first half of December and
continues until February.
• Patrol charts are prepared and issued, detailing the movement, direction,
and timings of the patrollers.
• Patrol books are issued which are supposed to be countersigned by the
ASMs, Cabin men, or Gatemen as the case may be.
• The books are exchanged within the gang beat from end to end, every time
the patrollers meet at the junction of their beats.
 Cold Weather Patrolling
• On single line sections or where only one 'road' has LWR, one patrolman
is given a 2km length to patrol. On double line sections, where LWR exists
on both 'roads' one patroller is given 1km of both the lines to patrol.
• The patroller walks over his beat slowly along one rail in one direction and
on the other rail in the return direction. On double lines, he repeats this
procedure alternately on the Up and Down tracks.
• He watches out for rail and weld fractures. He also keeps an eye on the
gaps at the switch expansion joints at the ends of the LWR.
• In case the patroller notices a fracture or the gap at the SEJ is seen to be
greater than the designed maximum gap for the SEJ, he suspends the
traffic and protects the line.
• After protecting the line, he tries to inform the key man, gang mate,
JE/SSE/PWAY.
 Cold Weather Patrolling
• The patroller is authorized to make
emergency repairs if he can and to restore the
traffic at a speed restriction. The temporary
and permanent repairs are done by PWM/PWI.
• Normally patrolling starts at 2300 hours and
continues until 0700 hours. The minimum rail
temperature is known to occur around 0300-
0500 hours and most fractures occur during
this period.
 Cold Weather Patrolling
• A cold weather patroller carries following
equipment:
1. 10 fog signals (detonators) in a tin case
2. Two tri-color hand signal lamps
3. One match box
4. Two red flags and one green flag
5. One three-cell electric torch
6. One number plate and staff (to display his number
to the train)
THANK YOU