Rly tweaks spring deviceto ready hi-speed wagons

 

 

 

■ National transporter eyes 3,000 million tonne loading target by year 2027  

 

WITH twin focus on increasing speed and load, both crucial for achieving its target of transporting 3,000 million tonne annually by the year 2027, the Railway Board has undertaken a massive programme to upgrade its inventory of wagons, especially that of BOXN. The wagons, with their current capacity and speed, are transporting 1500 million tonne. Post voluminous study on measures, a simple and effective way was devised wherein spring system, that acts as suspension, has been tweaked to achieve the necessary balance much needed to accelerate the speed of goods rakes. The new labelling of high speed new wagons are being gradually assimilated in the system and would allow Railways to gradually increase the speed of goods trains, they are notorious for slow movement that clogs the network. After carrying out the rectification in springs of the wagons, the oscillation trails were conducted in empty direction and it achieved a speed of 110 km/hr.

 

The trails were held at Mahoba-Khajurao section of North Central Railway. Even in loaded condition during trails the rake achieved a speed of 110 km/hr with effective stable riding. So now, BONMX2 is allowed to ride at maximumpermissible speed of 100 km/hrin empty and 60 km/hr inloaded condition. The otherwagons designated as highspeed wagons are BOXNHSM2, BOXNRM2, BOXNLWM2, BOSTHSM2, BOSTHSM3, BCNAHSM1. Railway Design andStandard Organisation (RDSO)were involved in evolution of the new mechanism and satisfied with the safety it gavegreen signal for mass rollout of new spring alignment in goodsbogies. After changes, thebogies are rechristened asBOXNM2 as they now haveadditional springs in inner andouter group each. There are about 40,400BOXNM wagons with Railwaywhere alterations are goingto be carried out through aseparate programme As per officials at the ground level, the Board has rolled out designs wherein springs of BOXN wagons are being doubled to help sustain the jerks and pressure while running at high speed. The BOXN wagons are used for transportation of heavy goods such as coal, iron ore and other such commodities on mass scale. Right now, in iron ore and coal segment, Railways is totally dominant and yet speed of loaded rake is not more 30 to 40 km/hr, owing to concern over safety, and to avoid derailment. Smaller interventions as the one with spring mechanism that provides additional comfort during high speed movement can help gradually overcome the hurdles, feels the railway officials. BOXNM1 wagon is fitted with Casnub 22NLB bogies with suspension having 14 outer, 10 inner and four snubber springs. As to BOXNM2 are now being fitted with similar systems and one different element with BOXNM1 is that former has high tension centre buffer coupler.

 

The newer design has also high capacity draft gear and graduated air brake system and they enable 22.82t axle load. Apart from spring mechanism, the axle capacity of wagons is also being modified to enable handling of additional loading. In technical terms, changes are being done in side bearer and iron body of bogies is being replaced with steel. The advantage with usage of steel is that they are lighter and hence the increase in speed would not be much problem. Further with steel less susceptible to corrosion, the wagons defects would reduce thus ensuring better utilisation of rolling stock.When the wrongs come for PoH, the additional springs and other suggested modifications are carried out. Also during the run, the respective Carriage Wagon shed at divisions are also working overtime to fit the additional springs and side bearers in BOXN wagons. Due to upgradation of bogies the faults have also minimised providing relief to railways and helping better the loading average. The technical changes carried out include those to waste block friction and shoe spring mechanism alteration apart from modifying the trolley. This has resulted in increasing axle load to 22.85 tonnes from earlier 20 tonnes.