MECHANIZATION OF PERMANENT WAY

To allow most economical use of mechanical equipment, British lines are classified in three categories: (1) lines with intensive traffic moving at high speeds, where no weekday occupation, day or night, can be obtained: (2) medium-traffic lines, where adequate occupation can be obtained on weekdays or weeknights; and (3) light-traffic lines where machine can be transported freely from place to place by rail or road. On open running lines in the first category, routine maintenance is likely to remain manual, but major repair and renewal works must be as fully mechanized as possible--with ballast-cleaners, cranes, track-lifting and tamping machines--so as to leave the track in nearly-perfect condition. On medium-traffic lines in the second category which are of sufficient mileage to make it economical, there are likely to be minimum-strength length gangs, the bulk of the maintenance being carried out by fully-mechanized gangs. On light-traffic lines in the third category accessible for the distribution of mechanical equipment, expensive highpowered on-track machines probably could not be justified except for renewal works.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1954-5-28

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 596-597
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 100

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Economics; Maintenance management; Maintenance of way; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Track maintenance equipment
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039936
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 4 1994 12:00AM