IRFCA's Two Day outing at Regional Rail Museum (RRM) Chennai

Now the other end of the hose is connected to the desired jack.

This is the control panel. The gauge you see on the left is the hydraulic pressure gauge. The levers when applied in "UP" direction, the jack is powered up and in the "DOWN" direction, the jack is powered down.

The powerpack for the hydraulic power comes from this pump. The set of hoses connect to the inlet of the control panel.

The second jack is now connected.

The heavy bar with perforated holes at regular intervals is lowered from the truck.

The ACD team has full kitchen ready and it travels whereever they go. All the need is ten minutes to prepare a "hot chai".

Shri. Arun Devraj, Dy.CME, SR enjoys a cup of Chai with a JE from BBQ.

The jacks are powered on. Here you can see the levers 1 and 2 in the "UP" position to power the jacks 1 and 2 to lift the LHF side of the loco.

The heavy loco is lifted slowly by the jack.

A little more lift is done.

The wheels come out of the floor.

A khalasi ventures under the loco to try removing the cattleguard.

Another Khalasi tries to remove the cattleguard.

The visitors to the RRM stopped by to watch the loco being lifted.

The heavy bar is positioned below the loco and before the bogie. This is to facilitate the dragging of the loco using the bar as the base. It was a superb technique.

A jack is positioned on the slide and kept on the bar. The slider would be moved using a hydraulic traverser, there by the entire loco is moved.

The hydraulic traverser is connected to the slider.

The traverser is locked on the other side. Thanks to a lock that fits into the perforated holes on the bar.

The centre jack on the bar is powered up and it holds the loco now. The jacks 1 and 2 which did the job earlier was now powered down and the workers move it out to fit in the rear.

These jacks were pretty heavy and requires two men to carry them.

Now the rear of the loco is lifted using the jacks, while the front is already lifted.

Slowly the sunken wheels come out.

The khalasi clears the rubble beneath it.

It requires tremendous energy. This khalasi was sweating like anything.

The traverser can extend or contract its arm. This time. they tried to push instead of pulling. Slowly the traverser extends its arms, pushing the jack, thereby pushing the loco itself!

Precise movement is absolutely necessary. Everyone associated with the movement devoted their 100% concentration on the work. Phenomenal work.

This photo provides a better view of the bar, the jack and the traverser behind it.