Permanent Way and Works
(Extract from IR General Rules : Chapter 15)
A. Railway Servants Employed on the Permanent Way or Works
15.01 Condition of Permanent Way and Works
Each Inspector of Way or Works shall be responsible for the
condition of the permanent way and works under his charge.
15.02 Maintenance of line
Each Inspector of Way or Works shall -
(a) see that his length of line or works in his charge
are efficiently maintained, and
(b) promptly report to the Engineer-in-charge all
accidents to, or defects in the way or works, which he
considers likely to interfere with the safe running of
trains, at the same time taking such action as may be
necessary to prevent accidents.
15.03 Keeping of material
Each Inspector of Way or Works shall see to the security of all
rails, chairs, sleepers, and other material in his charge, and
ensure that such of the said articles as are not actually in
use are properly stacked clear of the line so as not to
interfere with the safe running of trains.
15.04 Inspection of Permanent Way and Works
(1) Every portion of the permanent way shall be inspected daily
on foot by some railway servant appointed in this behalf by
special instructions :
Provided that the interval between such inspections may,
under approved special instructions, be increased to once
in two days in the case of lines with light and
infrequent traffic.
(2) All bridges and works including signals, signal wires,
interlocking gear, points and crossings, overhead equipment and
any other equipment affecting the safety and working of trains
shall be inspected regularly in accordance with special
instructions.
15.05 Patrolling of lines
(1) In addition to the inspection referred to in Rule 15.04,
whenever any portion of a railway is likely to be endangered by
abnormal conditions such as heavy rains, breaches, floods,
storms and civil disturbances, the line shall be patrolled in
accordance with special instructions.
(2) When a railway servant deputed to patrol the line notices
any condition likely to affect the safety of trains or
otherwise apprehends danger, he shall take action in accordance
with special instructions prescribed for the purpose to protect
the obstruction on line and thereafter inform the nearest
Station Master by the most expeditious means. See also Rule
3.62
15.06 Work involving danger to trains or traffic
A gang shall not commence or carry on any work which will
involve danger to trains or to traffic without the previous
permission of the Inspector of Way or Works, or of some
competent railway servant appointed in this behalf by special
instructions; and the railway servant who gives such permission
shall himself be present to superintend such work, and shall
see that the provisions of Rules 15.08 and 15.09 are observed:
Provided that, in case of emergency, when the requirements
of safety warrant the commencement of any such work before
the said railway servant can arrive, the Gangmate may
commence the work at once and shall himself ensure that
provisions of Rule 15.09 are observed.
15.07 Work in thick, foggy or tempestuous weather impairing visibility
In thick, foggy or tempestuous weather impairing visibility, no
rail shall be displaced and no other work which is likely to
cause obstruction to the passage of trains shall be performed,
except in cases of emergency.
15.08 Precautions before commencing operations which would obstruct the line
No person employed on the way or works shall change or turn a
rail, disconnect points or signals, or commence any other
operation which would obstruct the line until Stop signals have
been exhibited and where prescribed detonators used; and if
within station limits, he has also obtained the written
permission of the Station Master and all necessary signals have
been placed at 'on':
Provided that the exhibition of Stop signals may be
dispensed with, if such operations are performed or
carried out after the necessary signals, other than
Automatic Stop signals, have, in addition to being placed
in the 'on' position, been disconnected, so that such
signals cannot be taken 'off' again until it is safe to
do so and the corresponding adequate distance beyond such
signals is kept clear :
Provided further that when the are of work is controlled
by Automatic signals, the railway servant in charge of
the work shall post a competent railway servant at an
adequate distance in rear of the site of the work to stop
and warn any train approaching the affected area.
15.09 Showing of signals
(1) Whenever due to lines being under repair or due to any
other obstruction it is necessary to indicate to the Driver
that he has to stop or proceed at a restricted speed, the
following signals shall be shown and, where prescribed,
detonators used, if on a double line in the direction from
which trains approach, and if on a single line in each
direction
(a) When the train is required to stop and the
restriction is likely to last only for a day or less -- A
banner flag shall be exhibited at a distance of 600
metres on the Broad Gauge and 400 metres on the Metre
Gauge and the Narrow Gauge and three detonators shall be
placed, 10 metres apart, at a distance of 1200 metres on
the Broad Gauge and 800 metres on the Metre Gauge and the
Narrow Gauge from the place of obstruction. In addition,
Stop hand signal shall be shown at a distance of 30
metres from the place of obstruction, at the banner flag
and at a distance of 45 metres from the three
detonators. The railway servant at the place of
obstruction shall give Proceed hand signal to indicate to
the Driver when he may resume normal speed after the
train has been hand-signalled past the place of
obstruction.
(b) When the train is required to stop and the
restriction is likely to last for more than a day -- A
stop indicator shall be exhibited at a distance of 30
metres from the place of obstruction and a caution
indicator at 1200 metres on the Broad Gauge and 800
metres on the Metre Gauge and the Narrow Gauge from the
place of the obstruction. In addition, termination
indicators shall be provided alt the place where a Driver
may resume normal speed.
(c) When the train is not required to stop and the
restriction is likely to last only for a day or less --
Proceed with caution hand signals shall be exhibited at a
distance of 30 metres and again at a distance of at least
800 metres from the place of obstruction. The distance of
800 metres shall be suitably increased by special
instruction. The distance of 800 metres shall be suitably
increased by special instructions, where required. The
railway servant at the place of obstruction shall give
Proceed hand signal to indicate to the Driver when he may
resume normal speed after the train has been
hand-signalled past the place of obstruction.
(d) When the train is not required to stop and the
restriction is likely to last for more than a day -- A
speed indicator shall be exhibited at a distance of 30
metres from the place of obstruction and again a caution
indicator at a distance of at least 800 metres from the
place of obstruction. The distance of 800 metres shall be
suitably increased by special instructions, where
required. In addition, termination indicators shall be
provided at the place where a Driver may resume normal
speed.
(2) In case the place of obstruction is within station limits
(a) the provision of sub-rule (1) may be dispensed with
if the affected line has been isolated by setting and
securing of points or by securing at 'on' the necessary
manually controlled Stop signal or signals, and
(b) approach signals shall not be taken 'off' for a train
unless the train has been brought to a stop at the first
Stop signal, except in cases where the Driver has been
issued with a Caution Order at a station in rear,
informing him of the obstruction and the details thereof.
(3) If the place of work is situated in Automatic Signalling
territory, and if the distance between the place of obstruction
and the Automatic signal controlling the entry of train in the
signalling section concerned is less than 1200 metres on the
Broad Gauge and 800 metres on the Metre Gauge and provided the
Automatic signal has been secured at 'on'
(a) the banner flag and three detonators referred to
in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) may be provided at 90
and 180 metres respectively; and
(b) the caution indicator referred to in clause (b)
of sub-rule (1) may be dispensed with.
(4) The shapes and sizes of the indicators referred to in
clause (b) and (d) of sub-rule (1) may be prescribed by special
instructions.
15.10 Assistance in protection of trains
Every railway servant employed on way or works shall, on the
requisition of the Guard of a train or the Driver thereof,
render assistance for the protection of the train.
15.11 Gangmate in each gang
Each Inspector of Way or Works shall see that in every gang
employed in his length of line there is a competent Gangmate.
15.12 Knowledge of signals and equipment of gang
Each Inspector of Way or Works shall see:
(a) that every Gangman and Gangmate employed under him
has a correct knowledge of hand signals and detonating
signals; and
(b) that every gang employed in his length of line is
supplied with a a permanent way gauge, two sets of flag
signals, two hand signal lamps and twelve detonators, in
addition to such other tools or implements as may be
prescribed by special instructions.
15.13 Inspection of gauges, signals, tools and implements
(1) Each Inspector of Way or Works shall at least once in every
month inspect the permanent way gauges, flags, signal lamps,
detonators, tools and implements supplied to the gangs under
clause (b) of Rule 15.12 and ascertain whether the above
equipment is complete and in good order.
(2) He shall also see that any defective or missing articles
are replaced.
15.14 Responsibility of Gangmate as to safety of line
Each Gangmate shall:
(a) see that his length of line is kept safe for the passage of
trains ;
(b) that the signals supplied to him under clause (b) of Rule
15.12, are kept in proper order and ready for use;
(c) that the men in his gang each have a correct knowledge of
hand signals and detonating signals,
(d) endeavour to prevent any trespassing by persons or cattle
on his length of line or within the fences thereof, and
(e) when repairing, lifting or lowering the line or when
performing any other operation which shall make it necessary
for a train to proceed cautiously, himself be present at the
sport and be responsible that the caution signals prescribed in
Rule 15.09 are shown.
15.15 Blasting
No railway servant employed on the way or on any works shall
carry on any blasting operations on or near the railway except
as permitted by special instructions.
15.16 Putting in or removing points or crossings
Except in cases of emergency, no railway servant shall put in
or remove any points or crossings otherwise than as permitted
by special instructions.
15.17 Duties of Gangmate and Gangman when apprehending danger
If a Gangmate and Gangman considers that the line is likely to
be rendered unsafe, or that any train is likely to be
endangered in consequence of any defect in the way or works or
of abnormal rain or floods or any other occurrence, he shall
take immediate steps for securing the stability of the line and
the safety of trains, by using the prescribed signals for
trains to proceed with caution or to stop, as necessity may
require; and shall as soon as possible report the circumstances
to the nearest Station Master and the Inspector of Way or
Works.
B. The Working of Lorries, Trollies and Motor Trollies.
15.18 Distinction between trolly, lorry and motor trolly
(1) A vehicle which can be lifted bodily off the line by four
men shall be deemed to be a trolly and any similar but heavier
vehicle shall be deemed to be a lorry.
(2) Any trolly which is self-propelled, by means of a motor, is
a motor trolly.
(3) A trolly shall not, except in cases of emergency, be used
for the carriage of permanent way or other heavy material ; and
when a trolly is so loaded, it shall be deemed, for the
purposes of these rules, to be a lorry.
15.19 Red flag or light to be shown
Every lorry or trolly when on the line shall show a red flag by
day and a red light by night, during thick, foggy or
tempestuous weather impairing visibility or in a tunnel in the
directions from which a train may come.
15.20 Equipment of trolly, lorry or motor trolly
Each trolly, lorry or motor trolly shall have the following
equipment:
(a) two hand signal lamps,
(b) two red and two green hand signal flags,
(c) sufficient supply of detonators,
(d) a chain and a padlock,
(e) a copy of the Working Time Table and all correction slips
and appendices, if any, in force on that section of the railway
over which the trolly, lorry or motor trolly is to run.
(f) a motor horn and a search light (for motor trolly only)
(g) two banner flags (for lorry only), and
(h) such other articles as may be prescribed by the Railway
Administration in this behalf.
Note: The official in charge of the trolly, lorry or motor
trolly shall also be in possession of a watch in addition to
the prescribed equipment.
15.21 Efficient brakes
No lorry or trolly shall be placed on the line unless it is
fitted with efficient brakes.
15.22 Qualified person to be in charge of lorry or trolly when on the
line
(1) No lorry or trolly shall be placed on the line except by a
qualified person appointed in this behalf by special
instructions.
(2) Such qualified person shall accompany the lorry or trolly,
and shall be responsible for its proper protection and for its
being used in accordance with special instructions.
15.23 Attachment to train prohibited
No lorry or trolly shall be attached to a train.
15.24 Time of running
A lorry shall ordinarily be run only by day and when the
weather is sufficiently clear for a signal to be distinctly
seen from an adequate distance, which shall never be less than
800 metres.
15.25 Motor Trolly
A motor trolly shall only be run in accordance with special
instructions.
15.26 Protection of trolly on the line
The qualified person in charge of a trolly shall, before
leaving a station, ascertain the whereabouts of all approaching
trains, and shall, when a clear view is not obtainable for an
adequate distance -
(a) on a single line, in both directions, or
(b) on a double line, in the direction from which trains may
approach. take such precautions for the protection of his
trolly as may be prescribed by special instructions.
15.27 Protection of lorry on the line
(1) Whenever it is proposed to place a lorry, whether loaded or
empty on the line, the line shall, if it is possible to do so,
without interference with the working of trains, be blocked
under the rules for working of trains.
(2) Except under approved special instructions, when the line
has not been so blocked and a lorry whether loaded or empty is
placed on the line, the lorry shall be protected
(a) on double line, by one or two men as required, at a
distance of 600 metres on the Broad Gauge and 400 metres
on the Metre Gauge and the Narrow Gauge, carrying a
banner flag across the track and another man plainly
showing a Stop hand signal at a distance of not less than
1200 metres on the Broad Gauge and 800 metres on the
Metre Gauge and the Narrow Gauge from the lorry in the
direction from which trains may approach, or
(b) on single line, by one or two men as required,
following and preceding the lorry at a distance of 600
metres on the Broad Gauge and 400 metres on the Metre
Gauge and the Narrow Gauge, carrying a banner flag across
the track and another man plainly showing a Stop hand
signal at a distance of not less than 1200 metres on the
Broad Gauge and 800 metres on the Metre Gauge and the
Narrow Gauge from the lorry on either side.
(3) Each man so following or preceding the lorry at a distance
of 1200 metres on the Broad Gauge and 800 metres on the Metre
Gauge and the Narrow Gauge shall be provided with detonators
and place three on the line, 10 metres apart, immediately the
lorry comes to a stand for the purpose of either unloading or
loading or should any train be seen approaching, and continue
to display the Stop hand signal.
(4) The man oir men carrying the banner flag shall immediately
fix the banner flag across the track immediately the lorry
comes to a stand or a train is seen approaching, and continue
to display the Stop hand signal.
(5) In all cases where the flagmen in advance or in rear cannot
be kept in view from the lorry, additional intermediate flagmen
shall be posted to relay the signals.
(6) The Stop signals and detonators shalll not be removed until
the flagmen have received the orders to withdraw them from the
official-in-charge of the lorry.
15.28 Lorries and trollies out of use
A lorry or trolly, when not in use, shall be placed clear of
the line, and the wheels thereof be secured with a chain and
padlock.
