basic track question

[surfingsean]

Hi, New to the railway and new to the forum.

Just had a couple of basic track maintenance question's.

If you ar out walking a section of track and you notice voids in the ballast, what is the standard thing to do about it.

If you notice a damaged switch blade, what should you do.

Also what are the most common maintenance isuue's discovered when out doing maintenance inspection's.

Thankyou in advance to anyone kind enough to reply.

 

[The Snap]

NR Standard NR/L3/TRK/002 Track Maintenance Handbook states:

Supervisors Inspection Procedure (TRK/002/A02)

• Identify defects in accordance with Track Inspection Handbook Supervisor
• Check the defects are in the walkout report with appropriate priorities
• Rearrange priorities accordingly
• Mark up all defects on the nearest sleeper to the defect with an ‘X’ (in white)
• Record new defects on TEF3022 during the inspection
• Mark an ‘X’ every time you report a defect even if there is already an ‘X’ on the sleeper

Methods for repairing ballast defects are detailed in section B of TRK/002.

Inspection of S&C (and therefore switch blades) is detailed in TRK/002/A05 and TRK/002/A06.

There are numerous common faults found by both on-foot and measurement train inspections. Geometry faults (gauge, twist, cant etc), drainage faults (wet beds etc) and rail faults (side wear, rail head defects etc) are a few off the top of my head.

 

[Hydro]

If you ar out walking a section of track and you notice voids in the ballast, what is the standard thing to do about it.

If you notice a damaged switch blade, what should you do.

Also what are the most common maintenance isuue's discovered when out doing maintenance inspection's.

Rich hit it, refer to the handbooks for what you should do, by the book. Remember noticing something won't give you an accurate assessment, you won't see a dynamic twist over a set of voids for example. If in doubt, take the most severe course of action until a detailed inspection can be made. If a switch blade is severely damaged, cracked or missing pieces, call the signalman and get the points locked out of use until further inspection.

Usual faults found on inspections include wet beds, loose or missing fastenings or bolts, cracked and broken sleepers, blocked drains.

 

[surfingsean]

Hi,

Thankyou rich for the speedy reply.
Unfortunatly i do not have access to any of the standards you mentioned.

I am not actually working on the railway yet.
I am hopefull for a upcoming interview, and just know i will be asked some of the questions i raised.
Thankyou.

 

[The Snap]

You're welcome. I know a lot of people don't have access to the Standards, but it's always best if you do have access to refer to them as they will give you the exact procedure required and you can't really go wrong.

What position have you applied for within the railway? I assume something relating to p-way?

 

[Yew]

Why do they want exact standards and stuff in the interview. I have never understood that about railway jobs, they seem to want you to know the job before you have been trained.

 

[The Snap]

Why do they want exact standards and stuff in the interview. I have never understood that about railway jobs, they seem to want you to know the job before you have been trained.

I've never heard it either to be honest. It's surely unfair to expect a railway novice to know about track defects?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I've never heard it either to be honest. It's surely unfair to expect a railway novice to know about track defects?

They might not be looking for the technical Standards answer, but for a little knowledge of railway safety - perhaps the answer they are looking for is ring the signalman and get trains stopped until someone qualified to inspect the fault says it's clear to run trains again.

Just a thought.

 

[The Snap]

They might not be looking for the technical Standards answer, but for a little knowledge of railway safety - perhaps the answer they are looking for is ring the signalman and get trains stopped until someone qualified to inspect the fault says it's clear to run trains again.

Just a thought.

Perhaps. Although voids in ballast, moderate geometry faults and minor rail head defects are not enough to block the line.

 

[surfingsean]

Thankyou for all your replys.

Yes it is a p way inspection role.
I had a interview for this role back in Febuary of this year and told i didnt get the job.
But now i have been contacted for another interview.

They did actually ask me "Do you know what a void is"
And also "what do you think are the most pressing maintenance issues facing the railway today".

So this is why i am trying to gather information.

Thankyou.

 

[The Snap]

I see. Seems a little unfair of them to ask such questions. Having said that, perhaps they use this as a method of vetting candidates...?

 

[Hydro]

A good thing to remember is what you immediately see is merely a symptom. The cause may very well be something else. Wet beds usually prompt a look in the drains to check for blockages, if water can't drain it'll stay in the track. Wet beds will sometimes mean voiding, so watch a train over them. Fastenings that have fallen out, check the housings for wear.

 

[The Snap]

A good thing to remember is what you immediately see is merely a symptom. The cause may very well be something else. Wet beds usually prompt a look in the drains to check for blockages, if water can't drain it'll stay in the track. Wet beds will sometimes mean voiding, so watch a train over them. Fastenings that have fallen out, check the housings for wear.

Oh the joys of repairing a wet bed.... Not pleasant work, I did the Track Induction course as part of my PTS and an hour of lifting and packing was enough for me!!

 

[Hydro]

They're not fun by hand, especially in the summer when they've dried out. It's difficult and messy work when they're still wet, and truly back breaking when they're dry.

 

[The Snap]

They're not fun by hand, especially in the summer when they've dried out. It's difficult and messy work when they're still wet, and truly back breaking when they're dry.

My desk suddenly looks amazingly comfortable and inviting when I think of what those lads have to do!

 

[surfingsean]

Do most of these issues still apply to the HS1 line or is that a complete new set of maintenance issues.

Thankyou.

 

[The Snap]

HS1 Ltd is responsible for overall managing and running of the line—along with the international railway stations at St Pancras, Stratford, Ashford and Ebbsfleet[85]—with responsibility for the infrastructure itself sub-contracted to Network Rail (CTRL) Ltd acting as the controller and infrastructure manager.[86] Network Rail (CTRL) Limited was created as a subsidiary of Network Rail on 26 September 2003 for £57 million to take over the assets of the CTRL renewal and maintenance operations.[87] In respect of its duties, Network Rail (CTRL) operate a number of engineering, track maintenance machines, rescue locomotives, and infrastructure- and test trains.[88] Eurotunnel's subsidiary Europorte 2 operates its Eurotunnel Class 0001 (Krupp/Mak 6400) rescue locomotives on the line when required.[89

There may be circumstances where new rules and procedures are enforced (for example due to the linespeed), but I image NR Standards are used as a foundation in the main.

Hope that helps .