Question

produce a report that describes the need for maintenance, maintenance cycles and consequences of failure if maintenance is not carried out correctly on the railway

Answer 1

Title : Need of maintenance of railways and consequences of failure of maintenance of railways.

The need for maintenance arises due to following reasons:

1) Due to weathering effect the wear and tear of railways and track components are likely to take place.

2) The new track may disturbed due to heavy axle load, frequency in trains.So it is to be checked frequently and periodically for its alignment gauage and surface levels of rail.

3) At points and crossing on curves there might be chances of deterioration due to high speed and heavy wheel loads.

4) Due to moving loads there may be loss of ballast, wear and tear of different parts of tracks.

For above necessity maintenance cycles are divided into following categories-

A) Routine maintenance- It may be carried out daily or periodically.

B) Daily maintenance- It may include daily inspection of tracks, track fitting- tightening of loose fish bolts, loose keys; cotters, etc, picking up slack, oiling of slide chair at points and crossing, cleaning of flange way.

It is generally carried out with the help of gang. For this purpose railway is divided into suitable section of length generally 5-6 km long and each gang is deputed for this sections.

C) Periodic maintenance- It may be carried out by departmental labours after an interval of 2-3 years. It may include maintenance of alignment of tracks, maintenance of components of tracks, maintenance of rails,gauges, drainage,points and crossing and approaches.

D) Special maintenance- It is carried out whenever necessity arises. Especially in case of derailment or accident of trains, when some components are to be replaced due to wear and tear such as sleepers, rails, fixture and fastening, etc.

Rail failure may be due to-

1) Horizontal cracks which occurs at rail end.

2) Square crack- when rail breaks through vertical plane.

3)Split head- It is crack on top having smooth appearance and dark in colour.

4)Split web- It's horizontal crack between bolt holes in web.

5) Horizontal fissures- it occurs due to defective rail heads

6) Transverse fissure- crack which starts from centre of head spread around the head.

7) Crushed head- in this failure the rail head gets sagged and flattened by skidding, slipping of wheels, weak end support and defect of manufacture.

Remedial measures in order to keep on maintenance work continue railway department should organise safety camps for staff in which proper guidance regarding their duties should be explained.

Psychological and physical test should be carried out among workers/staff.

The staff taking keen interest and performing extraordinary work in case of accident should be rewarded in form of cash prizes, certificates, medals.

Conclusion- In above answer the need of maintenance of railways, maintenance cycles, it's consequences of failure and remedial measures are explained.