RAIL AND TRACK CHARACTERISTICS PICKER PROGRAM

File name is Track Characteristics Master, Rail Defect Master, Derailment Master. Computer Program. The purpose of the rail and track characteristics picker program is to provide the information with which to develop the relationships between various rail and track characteristics and their correlation with rail failures, rail defects, and derailment frequency. The Track Characteristics Master contains rail type (jointed versus welded, kind of steel) weight, rail rolled and laid dates, history of surfacing dates, rail and track inspection and test data, grades, curves, load limits, and traffic density (tons per year) for all system track. Locations of rail failures, rail defects, and exceptions to track geometry standards found by testing and inspection are contained in the rail defect master. The derailment master contains pertinent data on all derailments. The rail and track characteristics picker program selects and prints out track locations from the track characteristics master with user-defined selection criteria; these can be minimums and/or maximum for any combination of the characteristics listed above. Up to 50 different combinations, i.e., cells in a matrix can be requested at one time. For each cell or specific request, the number of miles of track and the number of ton-miles is printed out. In addition for each cell, the progrm gives the types and numbers of rail defects and derailments reported over a time period selected by the user. Once relationships have been established, the program can be used for developing rail laying and timbering and surfacing programs, anchor and double spiking programs, problem area identification, budgeting, and other applications.

• Corporate Authors:

  Southern Railway System

  99 Spring Street, SW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30303
• Authors:
  • Brooks, B L
• Publication Date: 1974

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Computer programs; Defects; Derailments; Failure; Inspection; Maintenance management; Maintenance of way; Maintenance practices; Management information systems; Planning; Rail fasteners; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Track laying; Traffic density
• Identifier Terms: COBOL (Computer program language)
• Old TRIS Terms: Axle loadings; Ibm 360; Ibm 370; Rail failure; Track inspection
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00098705
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Railway Engineering Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 1976 12:00AM