Southern Railway’s Golden Rock Workshop on a roll
The prototype of a container wagon with higher axle load stationed inside the Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchi. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj.
It is set for mass production of container wagons with higher axle load
Tiruchi: Engaged in a myriad of activities, including the manufacture of wagons, the over 75-year-old Golden Rock Railway Workshop here is poised to go in mass production of container wagons with higher axle load and enhanced payload capability.
Ahead of going in for mass production, the workshop has manufactured prototypes of three low height container flat wagons with 25-tonne axle load capability with the designs provided by the Lucknow– based Research Designs and Standards Organisation under the Ministry of Railways.
The prototype wagons have been subjected to load test within the sprawling workshop premises under the supervision of a team from RDSO.
The wagons would now be moved for oscillation trials to be conducted in an open line section, said the Chief Workshop Manager Prem Narayan Jha. The oscillation trials in the open line section would require sanction from the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
The underframe has been suitably modified to enable transportation of tank containers along with existing dry cargo containers. Due to the high load carrying capacity of around 81 tonnes, such wagons are designed to carry ISO containers in double stack arrangement – stacking one container over the other, said a senior workshop official.
The prototype wagons have been fitted with automatic twist lock for securing containers thereby ensuring ease of operation and safety. The wagons have been provided with twin pipe air brake system and load sensing device for improved safety.
Once the trial run proves successful, mass production of 25-tonne container wagons is expected to begin. Mr. Jha said the workshop has already bagged an order from the Container Corporation of India, New Delhi, for the manufacture of 105 wagons with 25-tonne axle load.
The workshop which had been manufacturing wagons with 20.3-tonne axle load for CONCOR would now migrate to wagons with 25-tonne axle- load which would enhance the payload capability, Mr. Jha added.
The Golden Rock workshop is also engaged in a periodic overhaul of diesel locomotives, passenger coaches, locomotives operated in the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Courtesy: The Hindu