CONTENTS

History of Indian Railways

What is track ?
Definition of Track Maintenance
Need of track maintenance
Advantages of track Maintenance
Characteristics of good track
Annual programme of regular track maintenances
Different systems of track maintenance
Conclusion 2
 What is a Track ?

A track or permanent way is the railroad on which trains run.

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 Definition of Track Maintenance

It is the overhauling of track periodically with the object of

restoring it to its best possible condition in which it can serve all
the requirements of a good track.

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 Need of Track Maintenance
1. Due to the constant movement of heavy and high-speed trains, the
packing under the sleepers becomes loose and track geometry gets
disturbed. The gauge, alignment, and longitudinal as well as cross
levels of the track thus get affected adversely.

2. Due to the vibrations and impact of high-speed trains, the fittings of

the track come undone and there is heavy wear and tear of the track
and its components.

3. The track and its components get worn out as a result typical
climatic conditions.
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 Advantages of Track Maintenance

Life Time of track increases.

Reduces operational costs and fuel consumption up to 20 30 %.
Provides safe and smooth running of trains.
Gives pleasant ride to passengers without giving any noisy
sounds.
Higher speed of trains is achieved.

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 Characteristics of Good Track

The gauge should be correct or within the specified limits.

There should be no difference in cross levels except on curves.
The alignment should be straight and kink-free.
Longitudinal levels should be uniform.
The ballast should be adequate and the sleepers should be well
packed.
Track drainage should be good
Fittings and Fastenings must be firmly fixed.

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 Annual Programme of Regular Track
Maintenances
S.No Period Work

1 Post monsoon Have to check everything

attention: For about
six months after end
of monsoon

2 Pre monsoon attention Mainly Focusses on drainage

for about 2 months prior to break
of monsoon.

3 Attention during monsoon for Mainly focuses on drainage and also daily
about four months patrolling in case heavy rain

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The maintenance of track can be divided into two
Daily maintenance: it is carried out by full time staff maintained
through out the year. The use of maintenance gangs , all along the
railway track, is made. Railway track is divided in suitable sections
of 5 to 6 km length. One gang is attached to each section for
maintaining that section in good condition
Periodic maintenance: it is carried out after an interval of 2 to
3 years. During periodic maintenance, the gauges, levels, alignment,
points and crossing etc. are thoroughly checked, the defects are
detected, the causes are determined and remedial measures taken.
The track is made in perfect condition by removing all major and
minor defects.

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 Different Systems of Track Maintenance

1. Conventional System of Track Maintenance

2. 3 Tier System of Track Maintenance

In India Conventional system of track maintenance

is adopted. We will discuss about it.

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 Tools used in Track Maintenance

Jim Crow

Powrah

Wooden Mallet

Sleeper Tongs

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 Shovel
Crow Bar

Tampers

Track Lifter
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 1. Through Packing (Conventional Beater Packing)

The length track opened in day should not be more than the efficient
maintenance to be done to that track at the end of the day.

It consists the following operations in sequence.

a) Opening of the road.
b) Examination of rails, sleepers and fastenings.
c) Squaring of sleepers.
d) Slewing of track to correct alignment.
e) Gauging.
f) Packing of sleepers.
h) Boxing of ballast section and tidying.
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a)Opening of the road
Ballast should be opened on either sides of rail seats, depth
upto 50 mm
They should not disturb cores under sleeper.
Opening length on either sides is different for different
gauges
For B.G 45 cm
For M.G 35 cm
For N.G 25 cm
It is done with the help of shovels and powrahs

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(b) Examination of Rails, Sleepers and Fastenings
Rails should be checked for wear and tear, corrosion, Cracks at rail
joints, cracks at ends.
Sleepers condition at rail seats
Check for loose Fastenings and fittings.
(c) Squaring of Sleepers
Gauge variations and kinks inevitably
results from sleepers getting out of square.
It is done by planting the crow bars firmly
against the sleeper and pushing it

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(d) Slewing of Track to Correct Alignment
It is to ensure the correct alignment of track.
It will be checked for alignment from a distance 25-30 metres.
(e) Gauging
It is to maintain uniform gauge distance.
For B.G. 1676 mm, M.G. 1000 mm and 762 mm for N.G
It is done only if the sleepers are truly square.
Because of aging and different conditions of sleeper it is not
possible to maintain exact gauge distance.

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(f) Packing of sleepers

Itis to check whether each sleeper is fixed firmly and

uniformly with the ballast.
It is done with respect of one fixed sleeper to others.
Each sleeper should be packed at a time by 4 members.
After packing they will be blown by a wooden mallet.
A hollow sound will indicate defective packing.

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(g) Boxing to Ballast section and Tidying

After all the operations done in sequence a clean

ballast should be made with ballast forks or rakes.
Ballast should be dressed with hemp cord of 6 mm
dia.
Ballast should be fully filled, at inadequate sections.

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 Conventional System of Track Maintenance
Continued .

2. Track Maintenance by Machines

3.Measured Shovel Packing
4. Systematic Overhauling
(a) Shallow screening and making up of ballast.
(b) All items attended to, while doing through packing.
(c) Making up the cess.
5. Deep Screening of Ballast
6. Lubrication of Joints
7. Picking up Slacks
8. Using of Bio Toilets
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 MAINTENANCE OF TRACK ALIGNMENT
Causes of distortion of the original perfect alignment.

1. The increased hammering action of wheels on one rail only

my displace the original alignment of track. Increased
hammering my occur due to several reasons such as variation
in cross levels, inadequate super-elevation on curves, non
uniformity of gauges, improper packing of ballast, poor sub-
grade etc.
2. Due to variation of centrifugal force by variable super-
elevation, tilting of rails or spreading of gauge on curves may
take place, and track may go out of original alignment
3. Due to temperature variations in hot weather, the thermal
stresses and heavy creep of rails may result in the horizontal
displacement of track, which is known as buckling of track.
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 Realignment of straight track
By use of CROW bars: The realignment of track is done by pushing the track by
use of crow bars. For this purpose crow bars of 1.5 to 1.8 m length are used and a 8 men
gang is employed.
The track is pushed to the required amount in the desirable direction by unpacking
the ballast.
After correcting the alignment to the original position, the ballast must be properly
packed.

By use of track liners:

It is used when the throw of track is considerable
Only two to three persons are employed
Track liner consists of i) the base and ii) the upper lever holder

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 By string line method.
In this method, a string of definite length is kept stretched with its ends on the
rails.
The versines on a series of chords are measured.
The versines of existing curve and of original curve are compared.
Any alteration in the alignment is then corrected.
This method developed in the recent years is easier to work and yields excellent
results.
Once the corrections are worked out.
the rail pegs are fixed by the side of the track at every rail length.
The amount of super-elevation is also indicated at each peg by cutting a notch in
the peg.
The gang men then can realign the track by raising the outer rail above the inner
rail according to the notch indication on the pegs.
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Realignment of curved track
By Eye.
The alignment can be checked by eye.
The sighting for alignment should be done always of outer rail of curve or higher rail .
This method of working of the correction of alignment is very approximate and hence
unsatisfactory.

By Theodolite.
The amount of correction in alignment can also be worked out by use of
theodolite.
For this, the survey of existing curve of alignment is done, results are
plotted, the alterations of alignment from original perfect alignment are
worked out and revised alignment is set out.
However, it being a tedious method, is not generally adopted.
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 MAINTENANCE OF GAUGE.
Uniformity of the gauge throughout should be properly maintained as it is more important than
to provide a proper gauge. With a non-uniform gauge, the riding qualities of the track are
adversely affected. The variations in the gauge may occur due to following causes
The loosening of track fittings results in widening of the gauge which in turn results in
skidding of one or both the wheels or nosing action of wheels and finally results in
lurching and rough riding qualities of track.

The track gauge becomes irregular with the passage of time, mainly due to loosening of
sleeper fittings. In wooden sleepers, the spikes, crush the timber and widen the spike holes.
In steel sleepers, if keys are not tight or fittings are worn out then gauge is altered. In case
of pot or plate sleepers, both loose fittings and lack of attention to packing, result in slack
gauge.

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 Uniformity of the gauge can be maintained by tightening the track fittings (mainly sleeper
fittings) and proper maintenance of correct joints, creep anchors, etc.
It should be noted that a slightly tight gauge always gives better running than a slightly slack
gauge because a tight gauge prevents lateral play of wheels.

In U.S. A., the following special devices are used to maintain uniform gauge at some
intervals on wooden sleeper tracks:;
A 'Gauge rod with two jaws, one fixed and another movable, is used to grip outer edges of foot
rails and to prevent spreading of rails.

A 'Rail brace with four movable jaws on screwed rod is used to grip all the four edges (two inner
and two outer) of foot rails and to prevent spreading or tightening of gauge.

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