INTRODUCTION

Brief history of Railways:

We are at present so much used to the railways that will be rather astonishing to imagine
the world without Railways before 1825.The railways originated in England. The coaches were
run on the road with a speed of about 13 – 16kmph. In 17 th century somebody hit upon an idea of
pulling the loads by a wheeled vehicle, put on the baulks of timber and drawn by horses. This
was the just beginning of the development of main principle on which the permanent way rests.

The term plate laying which is used at present to describe the process of laying of new
track, derives its origin from this early practice of laying iron plates on timbers. In 1789, the cast
iron rails resting on stone blocks were introduced. The steam engines replaced horses and
locomotives began to act as the tractive power. A French mechanic, named NICHOLAS
JOSEPH CUGNOT was the first man to invent and construct a steam locomotive in the year
1769.The first public railway in the history of world was opened for traffic on 27 th September
1825, in England. The railway was run between Stockton and Darlington in the country of
Durham. The Indian Railways have been a great integrating force during the last more than
150 Years. It has bound the economic life of the country and helped in accelerating the
development of industry and agriculture. From a very modest beginning in 1853, when the first
train Steamed off from Mumbai to Thane, a distance of 34 Km., Indian railways have grown into
a vast Network 6909 stations spread over a route length of 63327 km., with a fleet of 8153
locomotives 43350 Passenger Service Vehicals.5905 other coaching vehicles 326000 wagons.

ADVANTAGES OF RAILWAYS OVER OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORT:

Railways has played a vital role in the economic, Industrial and social development of the
country. Generally advantages of railways are classified into three categories they are as follows:

 Political Advantages

 Social Advantages

 Economical Advantages
Political Advantages:

o Railways have helped in the migration of the population from one region to the
other for employment opportunities.

o Railways have contributed a lot for developing national integration.

Social Advantages:

o Railways provide a convenient, safe and cheap mode of transport for the country.

o Railways have broadened the social out-look of the people.

Economical Advantages:

o During famines, the railways play a vital role of transporting the food grains and
cloths to the affected area.

o Rails have provided employment to millions of people and thus, rails have
helped in solving the unemployment problem.

o The finish products and the goods can be speedily transported by the railways t
the places of their consumption.

PERMENANT WAY RENEWALS:

The finished or completed track of a railway line is commonly known as the Permanent
way. The relaying of the permanent way has to be done where ever there is a need for increase in
the density of the rail. After the life span of the members of the Permanent Way i.e., after
25 Years we have to carry out the relaying works. If the Rails gets cracks we have to carry out
the relaying works at that site. In olden days people is to carry out the Relaying work manually
by which the time for blocking traffic is higher, it requires a large work force and finally quality
and heavier track structure with highest precision cannot be achieved manually. But now a days
the relaying operations are carrying their operations using the Track Relaying Machines. In the
Indian Railways there are two types of systems of Mechanized track Relaying are available they
are as follows and our project deals with the Plasser’s Quick Relaying System manufactured by
Plasser’s India.

1. PLASSER’S QUICK RELAYING SYSTEM (PQRS)

2. TRACK RELAYING TRAIN (TRT)