01-08-2014, 10:03 PM
I'm not sure really where to direct you - some of the information in the Axle Counter Applications manuals which are Network Rail Standards. I'm not sure if you have access to these, and they're fairly indigestible. Some is buried in parts of the SSI Data Prep guides - again Network Rail Standards. I know the IRSE red and green textbooks are too old now to have much useful information about Axle counters. Perhaps the newer ones are better, but I've not read them.
The suggestions I've made are simply some things I've experience of.
I'd be hard put to write in detail about operation and maintenance but I'd be thinking about
* Training of signallers and their supervisors on reset and restore procedures and Aspect restriction, also on use of EPR/STR.
* Training of maintenance staff on the new equipment - both lineside and axle counter evaluators. This involves routine maintenance, fault finding, replacing components and what testing requirements there might be. They'll need an appropriate stock of spares also.
* There may be different procedures when running tampers or doing other work in the area, but I'm vague on that.
* All staff working on the railway need to be aware that Track Circuit operating clips won't be effective, and what the alternative procedure is for protection [of a worksite/in an emergency].
All that is more operational than principles, so there's definitely gaps in my knowledge too [looks for someone more knowledgeable to step in please]
The broken rails point is a bit awkward. Track Circuits do not reliably detect broken rails. I don't think we intend them to, you might call it a useful side effect. So with track circuits you still have to check for rail breaks. It's still a valid point but be careful how you explain it.
The suggestions I've made are simply some things I've experience of.
I'd be hard put to write in detail about operation and maintenance but I'd be thinking about
* Training of signallers and their supervisors on reset and restore procedures and Aspect restriction, also on use of EPR/STR.
* Training of maintenance staff on the new equipment - both lineside and axle counter evaluators. This involves routine maintenance, fault finding, replacing components and what testing requirements there might be. They'll need an appropriate stock of spares also.
* There may be different procedures when running tampers or doing other work in the area, but I'm vague on that.
* All staff working on the railway need to be aware that Track Circuit operating clips won't be effective, and what the alternative procedure is for protection [of a worksite/in an emergency].
All that is more operational than principles, so there's definitely gaps in my knowledge too [looks for someone more knowledgeable to step in please]
The broken rails point is a bit awkward. Track Circuits do not reliably detect broken rails. I don't think we intend them to, you might call it a useful side effect. So with track circuits you still have to check for rail breaks. It's still a valid point but be careful how you explain it.