ZONAL RAILWAY

TRAINING INSTITUTE
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI
PROCEDURE FOR WORKING OF TRACK MACHINES
RCSM BATCH NO. 1819090

COURSE CO-ORDINATOR
Shri. X. CHARLES Instructor / OPTG
GUIDE:
Shri. MANJUNATHAN Instructor / OPTG
Presented By:
• 1. N.PRAMOD SS/UAM/SA
• 2. K.B. RADHAKRISHNAN SS/IPL/TVC
• 3. GEORGE JOHN SS/AMPA/TVC
• 4. SADANAND MISRA SS/SGE/SA
• 5. U. GOVINDAN SM/KON/MDU
• 6. SHIV SHAMBHU KUMAR SM/TNPM/MAS
• 7. HEMANT KUMAR SM/MYY/TVC
• 8. BINOD KUMAR SM/PCKM/MAS
• 9. PREM PUJA SINGH SM/AB/MAS
INTRODUCTION
• Track Machines were introduced on Indian Railways during
early sixties. The use of the machines both for maintenance
as well as track laying increased with the introduction of heavy
track structures. For working of these machines instructions
had been issued by the railway board and Zonal Railways from
time to time.

• Since these machines are very costlier there is always a

compulsion to the engineering department to make use of
these machines productively during line block period.
• But considering the tight schedule of train operations
permitting line block in a liberal way is not feasible and hence
liberalizing the working procedures of track machines was a
genuine demand from the engineering department which
resulted in the issuance of correction memo no: 02/2017
dated 12.05.2017.

• This correction enabled the replacement of the authority T/A

602 for track machines which restricted the speed of track
machine to 15/10 Kmph during Day/Night or view ahead not
clear during day while proceeding to the block section and
introduced the new authority Track machine block permit in
form T/465-E
SOME TRACK MACHINES AVAILABLE
IN SOUTHERN RAILWAY

• 1. BCM ( Ballast Cleaning Machine)

• 2. BRM ( Ballast Regulating Machine)
• 3. Duomatic ( Tamping Machine)
• 4. TRT ( Track Relaying Train )
• 5. PQRS (Plasser’s Quick Relaying System)
BCM
(Ballast Cleaning Machine)
BRM
( Ballast Regulating Machine)
Duomatic ( Tamping Machine)
TRT ( Track Relaying Train )
PQRS (Plasser’s Quick Relaying System)
PROCEDURE FOR WORKING OF THE TRACK MAINTENANCE MACHINE
AUTHORITIES AND OCCASIONS
S. No Vehicles permitted Purpose Authority given
1 TMM going through Normal ATP
TMM+ TMM from one station
Loco + TMM to another.
2 TMM A. To work Normal authority
TMM+ TMM online + T/465-E

B. Block Shunting
back/block authority
forward +T/465-E
C. During line T/465-E
block

3 Convey/ Group Working To work in the T/465-E

[any number of section with line (no other train
TMM+ one loco block permitted)
Hauled TMM
4 Other than Convey To work during For TMM-
working line block separate T/465-E
More than one loco hauling For other trains –
TMM with (or) without other T/A 602
TMMs (or) with other trains
THROUGH MOVEMENT OF TRACK MACHINE
FROM ONE STATION TO ANOTHER STATION
• Only one self propelled / two coupled self propelled /one self
propelled track machine hauled by locomotive is permitted to
run at time in a block section under normal ATP observing all
rules required for movement of trains.
WORKING OF SINGLE / COUPLED TRACK
MACHINES IN A BLOCK SECTION
• 1 The operator /JE/SSE (p.way) of the section shall inform the
SM in writing the following particulars for working of track
machines.
• Specific location (km)
• Whether the machines proceed to next station or return to the
starting station
• Time at which the track machines will clear section along with
identifying number of the machines and name of the operator
• 2 ) SM shall contact the controller and obtain permission to
allow the track machines into the block section on line clear/
work on line/block forward / block back or as a material train
during line block.
• For work on line : clearing at any end:- Normal ATP+ T/465E
• For block back/block forward :- Necessary shunting authority
+T/465E
• For convoy working with line block:- T/465E( no other trains
permitted)
• (However T/A602, T/C 912, T/A 912 need not be given during
line block as form T/465E will serve as the authority for the
track machines to work in the obstructed block sections)
WORKING OF TRACK MACHINE IN A
GROUP IN THE SAME BLOCK SECTION
• Any number of self propelled track machines maybe allowed
to enter a block section during line block an a group /convey
• When more than one machine is required to work within the
same block section these machines maybe allowed to work in
a convey under one authority to produced namely form
T/465E
• All the track machines shall enter the section at the same time
one after another at an adequate distance of 200mts between
each other.
• In case more than one track machine hauled by loco motive is
to work in the same SECTION with / without self propelled
machine it will work as a material train in an obstructed block
section
• In case of track machine working in a group/convey the SSE/JE
(P.WAY) in charge shall give the requisition for line block in
duplicate to the SM on duty indicating
• 1) Specific location where the machine will work
• A the line UP/DN
• B Duration of block required
• C number of track machines
• D machines will proceed to next station or return back to
the starting station after the work

• 2) SM shall contact the controller and seek permission for line

block

• 3) After the line block is granted the SM shall suspend block

instrument working and exchange the message with the other
end SM supported by a PN indicating the individual number of
the track machines
• 4) SM shall then prepare and issue Track Machine Block
permit in form T/465E indicating there in the number of
machines permitted to work in the block section, machine
type and number and their sequence of entering into the
block section, details of block permitted, station at which the
machine will clear the section, speed restriction in force in the
section if any.

• 5) For the working of track machines in a group / convoy from

T/465-E will serve as an authority to proceed authority to pass
the starter/LSS at ON, Caution order and as an authority to
start from non-signaled line.

• 6) In the case of dispatch from a non-signaled line T/511 need

not be issued and a competent railway servant shall pilot out
the machines travelling in the first machine duly fulfilling the
conditions of dispatch from non-signaled road in terms of
GR/SR 5.11
• 7) The points in the route of dispatch may be altered only
after ensuring that all the machines have passed over all the
points en route. All the machines shall be started from the
same line

• 8) On completion of work the machine shall be received by

taking off the reception signals in case of S/L

• 9) In case of D/L while moving on the right direction a

competent railway servant shall show Green Hand Signal at
foot of the first stop signal till all the machine enters the
station. In case of wrong line working the machines shall be
received like reception of trains on non-signalled road by
issuing written memo as per SR.S.5.10 and a caution order for
15kmph.
• 10) All the machines shall be received on the same road and
the SM shall ensure that the route is not altered till the
complete arrival of the last track machine and the SSE/JE
(P.Way) in charge certifies the complete arrival of all the track
machines in writing.

• 11) After receiving the machines SM shall clear the section for
normal operation duly exchanging message supported by PN
with other end SM.
 CONCLUSION
• It is a single authority to proceed for any number
of machines to enter the block section under line
block in group/convoy. It will reduce the time of
preparing individual authority, and hence
maximum utilization of block time. In this
authority no specific speed restriction to be
adhered in the block section for machine
movement which fetches the maximum block
time thus increase the productivity.
THANK
YOU