The renowned Indian Railway Civil Engineer and Railway Track Consultant J.S. Mundrey worked on a new series of educational booklets “KNOW YOUR RAILS”, “KNOW YOUR RAIL FASTENINGS” and “KNOW YOUR TRACK TOOL AND MACHINES”. For certain circumstances his last work “KNOW YOUR TRACK TOOLS AND MACHINES” remained uncompleted. His German friend, Dr. F.A. Wingler, author of several publications on Indian Railway related matters – see http://www.drwingler.com – has elaborated a revision of J.S. Mundrey`s drafts for Chapter 1-3 and supplemented the work by a Chapter 4 with a KALEIDOSCOPE of Heavy Duty On-Track Machine Pictures. With the consent of Mr. J.S. Mundrey this booklet is now published on PDF platform for free download on the above mentioned website.
Chapter 1 describes the essential characteristics of the ballasted Railway Track and its maintenance needs. Manual methods of Track Maintenance using traditional tools, adopted at the inception of Railway Track and still followed in many developing countries, are briefly discussed. The tools used, both in Beater Packing and Measured Showel Packing, are illustrated. The limitations of the Manual Methods of Track Maintenance are brought out, with the evolution of various types of Track Machines, that have emerged over the scene. Various types of Track Maintenance and Management Systems adopted on Indian Railways are indicated.
Chapter 2 deals with the various types of Hand-held Track Machines being used for carrying out various Track Maintenance Operations. The chapter also deals with the light On-Track Tamping Machines, which are deployed on locations where heavy On- Track Tamping Machines cannot be brought on logistics or economic considerations.
Chapter 3 discusses the evolution of Heavy Duty On-Track Tamping Machines, which the world over, have become the main stay of the Track Maintenance Operation of the Tracks consisting of Concrete Sleepers and Long Welded Rails, carrying ever increasing volume of heavy and high-speed traffic. Major manufacturers are: Plasser & Theurer (Austria), Plasser American (USA), Plasser India (India), Matisa Matériel Industriel SA (Switzerland), Banbury Amey (UK), Balfour Beatty (UK), Harsco (USA), and CHZ Podbijecka (Slovakia).
Chapter 4 is a supplement with a Kaleidoscope of pictures with Heavy Duty On-Track Machines for Track-Laying, -Renewal and -Maintenance.
Mr. Surrender Kaul, retired Adviser Indian Railway Board, commended: “Outstanding, invaluable and essential document. Speaks volumes of the class of the master author. The P. Way community of IR shall always remain indebted.”
For more information download the PDF:KNOW YOUR TRACK TOOLS AND MACHINES e-Edition (1)