Indian Railway Signal Engineering

442 Pages·2012·8.44 MB·English

Indian Railway Signal

Engineering

Volume – II &

Volume – III

By:
Pramod P. Goel
Indian Railway Signal
Engineering

Volume –II &III

By
Pramod P. Goel
BSc, MBA, Member IETE
Former DYCSTE/CORE
(E-mail: [email protected])

2012

Published by:
Astha Publications
F-8, Panch Puspa Apartments
Ashok Nagar,
Allahabad-211001
Phone: [phone]

Distributors:
Bahri Brothers
743, Lajpat Rai Market, Delhi-110006.
Phones:23861740 & 23866291.
© Pramod P. Goel

Other Books by the same author:

Already published:
1. First and Fourth volumes of Indian Railway Signal Engineering: Out of first and
fourth volumes already published, the first volume was published in June 2008 running in 145
pages covered in six chapters and 72 illustrative diagrams. The book provides history of
signalling, all about rules concerned with signals, System of working trains, Signal Engineering
Manual, Rules for Opening Railways for Public Carriage of Passengers, Schedule of Standard
Dimensions related to signalling system, effect of Electric traction on signalling and much more
information which one shall like to keep handy. The fourth volume of the book, in 347 pages
covered under nine chapters with 204 illustrative diagrams, is designed to provide electrical
system of operating devices, operated equipment, transmission media, electrical system of
interlocking, Electronic Interlocking, Monitoring devices, Power supply for signalling system,
Block working systems, and many more developments in signalling system for improved safety,
prevalent on Indian Railways, besides Moving Block yet to take place in India.

Besides, all the four volumes of Indian Railway Signal Engineering are designed to be ready
reckoner for the signal engineers available compacted at one place useful in day-to-day practice
for Signal Engineers, as well as it shall equally be helpful in preparation for departmental
examinations for signal as well as telecommunication engineers.

2. Tenders, contracts and Arbitration: Book running in V chapters, covers the laws
applicable to contracts, Arbitration Act, preparation of tender documents, methods and new
methods of evaluation of tenders, process of entering into contracts, dos and don’ts for tender
committee, Project Management Consultancy contracts, dealing with vigilance, some tips.

3. Under publication:
Electronic Interlocking:
By: S.C. Mishra and Pramod P. Goel

Books available on web site www.thegoelassociates.com

Printed by:
Amar Mudralalay
15/1/7 – Katra Madho Kunj,
Allahabad-211002
Published: April’ 2012.

Price:
Export Edition
In India : Rs. 395.00
Out side India : $ 45 USD.
Dedicated to my parents
INTRODUCTION

The author had decided to bring the subject of Indian Railway Signal Engineering in four
volumes with an intention to cover each subject in detail while at the same time for keeping the
book wieldy & choice worthy. Accordingly first volume of the book was published in June’
2008. Under consideration of fast emerging system of Electrical and Electronic based system of
Signal Interlocking, he took up the book on this subject, published in January’ 2010. In the
mean time he was suggested by Shri Mahabir Prasad the then Additional Member Railway
Board to take up the subject of tenders and contracts with emphasis on the subject of arbitration
& vigilance. The opportunity was availed and the book on Tenders Contracts and Arbitration
was published in September’2011.

Just around the same time, while the author got an opportunity to talk to Shri Arvind Mittal,
Dean Faculty, IRISET, who suggested combining the pending Volumes-II & III of Indian
Railway Signal Engineering in one cover which appealed to me and accordingly the book in
your hand covers both the volumes.

Volume-II: Subject of Planning & Designing of Indian Railway Signal Engineering is not
available anywhere outside the drawing offices of the associated Headquarters and Divisional
and Extra Divisional offices. Each Railway is following its own practice and many a times
officers joining railways on transfer from one to other, also influence the practices of the
railway from which they come, causing a heterogeneous mix of style and practice of planning
& designing. It is therefore proposed to implement only one policy over Indian Railways for
design of signalling system at least so far as interlocking practices are concerned.

Signal engineering is covered in Volume-I, Volume-III & Volume-IV, while Planning &
Designing (P&D) of signalling systems has been put under Volume-II. The importance of
organised system of Planning & Designing is so much so that each railway has an independent
wing of planning & designing headed by the Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer
(P&D) reporting to the Principal Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer. Accordingly the
subject covers key points of the Planning & Designing necessitating preparation of about
twenty plans.

Accordingly Volume-II of the book covers almost everything possible to know about the all
possible systems compelling me to mention preliminary information in the form of references
available in details from the other three volumes. Besides some topics not already appearing in
other volumes such as survey for sighting cabins, cable route plan, Station Working Rule
diagram and Station Working Rules based on Railway Board’s directives, have been provided.

Plans as required to be prepared for bringing a signalling installation to an organised system,
before putting in use, it is of utmost importance for the signal engineer to be fully acquainted of
purpose, utility and provision of information in each such plan.

Since Planning and designing is the sum total of entire signalling system covered under other
three volumes, references beyond the material specific to this book are made wherever
required. However some incidences call for to be repeated for immediate usage to maintain
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continuity for the reader, does result in unavoidable duplication.

The book being plan oriented as such it covers 47 major drawings, 11 tables and 22 plans.

Volume-III: About 60%-70% of 7000 stations on Indian Railways, working with mechanical
and electro mechanical system of Interlocking, are being replaced with electrical/electronic
interlocking, which is going to take time. Accordingly the technology is very much in use and
is required for maintenance and replacement at least, which cannot be thrown back into history.
It is pertinent to note that while introducing 25KV AC traction, even today colour light
signalling is being provided replacing mechanical signals but retaining levers, lever frames and
mechanical interlocking, by Railway Electrification under Ambala project of Northern
Railway. Keeping this in mind mechanical system of signalling has been covered in two
sections, first being ‘Single Wire’ and second ‘Double Wire’, covered under Volume-III,
presented in two sections. The Section-I of the book covers Single Wire system of signalling
and Section-II, Double Wire system of signalling.

This book, basically, deals with broad gauge railways which covers the major portion of Indian
Railways. So far as basic data is concerned help has been taken from IRISET notes on the
subject accordingly the dimensions have been mentioned in FPS as well as MKS System. In
many cases the equivalent corresponding MKS version of the dimensions in FPS may not be
found in exact consonance to suite technical requirements of manufacturing.

The book covers 82 major drawings & diagrams of components used for single and double wire
system of signalling.

Combined volumes-II & III: Accordingly the Volume-II & III, of Indian Railway Signal
Engineering, the book in your hand stands supplemented by other volumes i.e. Indian Railway
Signal Engineering Volume-I and Volume-IV, authored by the same author and as such has to
be read along with these volumes.

Traversing across these two books: While numbering the text, first digit of each paragraph
indicates the number of chapter, second digit is the number of the main paragraph, third digit is
the sub number of main paragraph and the fourth is the sub-number of sub-paragraph. Other
alphanumeric numbers are sub-numbers down below.

It is pertinent to note that with the conversion from FPS to MKS, the of dimensions of
equipments have not been converted to exact equivalent of FPS version but have been changed
to convenient and practicable sizes, resulting in total mismatch of parts between sizes under
two systems of measurement. This makes it extremely important to abide to follow the latest
system in use. Accordingly MKS system of measurement has been mentioned first and
corresponding FPS measurements within brackets. In some cases FPS system of measurements
has been used in notes issued by IRISET, which has been adopted as it is.

The author does not know the extent to which the effort made, have been successful; as such
your observations and suggestions for its improvement shall be his privilege.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author expresses his sincere gratitude to Shri A.K. Misra, Additional Member
(Telecommunication), Railway Board, for taking keen interest in going through the book
‘Indian Railway Signal Engineering’ (Volume-II & III) and writing the forward. The Author is
equally indebted to Shri M. Suresh, Additional Member (Signal), Railway Board, who, besides
having gone through the book, also discussed various aspects and wrote commendable
Forward.

This book is the result of persistent encouragement of Shri Madan Mohan Agarwal, Ex Chief
Engineer, Northern Railway and renowned author of books on the subject of Railway Track
Engineering. I am not hesitant to record that the book in your hands might not have seen the
light of the day had it not been his inspiration. The author expresses his sincere thanks to Shri
Aggarwal.

The author is highly obliged to Shri P.K. Srivastava, now the Principal CSTE/SCR, who gave
recognition and appreciation to the Volume-I & III of the book Indian Railway Signal
Engineering, along with the book on Tenders Contracts and Arbitration, Shri Raman Lal Gupta
the then Director, IRISET, for granting recognition to the books on Indian Railway Signal
Engineering Volume-IV & Tenders Contracts and Arbitration for the library of IRISET, Shri
Mahesh Mehta, Principal CSTE, Jaipur who took interest in work done and spending time on
discussion on the subject with him and decided to procure books for the library, Shri Anand
Kumar, Principal CSTE, NCR, Allahabad who gave his time and listened and appreciated the
work done and decided to procure books for the library. Shri Akhil Agrawal, Principal CSTE,
Northern Railway, who while acknowledging the utility of the book, decided to add it to the
N.R. library.

He is extremely thankful to, Shri S.P. Upadhyay, the then CSTE Planning NCR for taking keen
interest and appreciating the books.

He is also thankful to Shri Prosun Banerjee, the then CSTE (P&D) CORE, Allahabad and also
to Shri Alok Chaturvedi CSTE (P&D) CORE, Allahabad, for their recognition and appreciation
of the books content.

He is highly obliged to Shri Arvind Mittal, Dean Faculty, IRISET for not only for supporting
him but also being thoughtful in advising to club both the volumes into one.

He is obliged to Shri P.L. Srivastava, Ex SSTE/CORE who having gone through the text of
both the volumes painstakingly has not only been instrumental for many corrections but also
has given very valuable suggestions. He is equally obliged to Shri Amit Kumar Kesarwani,
(BCA), Design Engineer of the firm, ‘The Goel Associates’, who has not only prepared number
of technical drawings for the book, on CAD, but also has taken pains to read and organise text
of both the book in hand.

He expresses his sincere thanks to Shri Sidhu Yadav, SSTE Planning & Designing, North
Central Railway, Allahabad, and Shri K.R. Verma (ex) SSTE/CORE, for helping with the latest
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prevalent practices of Railways and for extending support in providing information required for
the book.

It would not have been possible for him to work on this book without active support from his
wife Pratibha Goel and all my family members, my son-in law Amitabh Singhal, daughter
Chhavi Singhal, son Dr. Vaibhava Goel, Daughter-in law Sumedha Goel, son Vipul Goel and
daughter-in-law, Nimita Goel, who have not only extended moral support but also have been
giving help and advice also to enable me reach to this point.

At this juncture, the author remembers his parents, late Ved Prakash & Praksh Vati, but for
whose blessings and his uncle, late Arya Bhushan, for whose guidance, the author could not
have reached to this point where he is.

PRAMOD P. GOEL
Allahabad
Date: April’ 2012
Phone: [phone]
[email protected]

*****
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CONTENTS
Indian Railway Signal Engineering Volume - II
Chapter Page Number

I BASIS FOR PLANNING OF SIGNALLING SYSTEM 1-8

1.0 Planning of signalling system; Factors required to be well understood before taking
up planning.
1.1 System of working trains proposed to be used; Absolute Block System; Automatic
Block System; Intermediate Block Signalling system.
1.2 Type of traction in use or proposed to be used.
1.3 Engineering Scale Plan; ESP, the basic plan with minute details of the yard; Type of
turnouts provided; Permissible speed on turnouts.
1.4 Classification of the station; Conditions for granting Line clear at a class ‘A’ station;
Conditions for granting Line Clear at a class ‘B’ station on double line; Conditions
for granting Line Clear at a class ‘C’ station; Block Huts; Non-Block stations or Class
‘D’.
1.5 Train traffic density, block section and direction of traffic; Train traffic density; Block
section and direction of traffic; twin single lines; Station Section.
1.6 Signalling system at station yard or block section; Within station Section; Within
Block section.

II PLANNING OF SIGNALLING SYSTEM 9-49

2.0 Signalling System.
2.1 Features of the section in which the signalling is to be planned, Commercial and
political factors.
2.2 The sanctioned speed; Commercial and political importance of the section; Technical
factors.
2.3 Section capacity; Single or double line; Overlap considerations; Block overlap; Signal
overlap; Granting of Line clear; Intermediate Block Signalling.
2.4 Gradients in and around the station section.
2.5 Hot axle siding.
2.6 Essentials of Interlocking.
2.7 Standards of Interlocking; Type of Interlocking and signalling system; Standards of
Interlocking; Standard – I Interlocking; Standard – II Interlocking; Standard – III
Interlocking; Standard – IV Interlocking.
2.8 Type of signalling to be provided at the station section.
2.9 Systems of signalling; Single wire system of signalling; Levers, lever frames and
interlocking – Single wire system of signalling; Lever frame of single wire signalling
system; Interlocking-direct locking type; Lever frame & locking box - Direct locking
type; Catch Handle type/1924 type of lever frame; Lever-lock; Transmission-Single
wire; Transmission-rod run; Double wire system of signalling, operating devices and
transmission; Double wire system of signalling; levers, Lever frame; Operation of
Signals by double wire; Operation of Points by Double Wire; Transmission and
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Double wire compensators; Interlocking for double wire; Hybrid arrangement of
Mechanical interlocking supplemented by electrical interlocking.
2.10 Power frame.
2.11 Ground lever frames.
2.12 System of Electrical Signalling; System of Electrical Signalling with electrical
interlocking; Operation by Control cum indication panel; Non-route setting type
system of operation; Route setting type system of operation; Push buttons;
Indications; Counters; Route relay Interlocking (RRI); System of Electrical signalling
with Electronic Interlocking; Control cum Indication Panel or VDU.
2.13 Route holding, approach and back locking, track locking, lock bar, fouling and
clearance bars; mechanical system of signalling, the approach locking is left to the
Cabin Master’s discretion; back locking; track locking; fouling bar; clearance bar;
Flank Protection. Electrical interlocking.
2.14 Effects of traction used in the section for train haulage; Diesel Engines (diesel
traction): Electric traction; DC traction; 25 KV AC traction; Effect of traction and
loco on Clear Available Length (CAL); Accommodation for berthing of train; Loco
factor; Electric traction; Diesel driven traction; Point is operated mechanically.
2.15 Safety features; Correspondence between operating devises and the operated
equipment; Correspondence between control and operation of point; Correspondence
between control and operation of signals; Monitoring track vacancy, of a given
section of the track; DC track circuit; AC track circuits; AC track circuits with uneven
pulse; Audio Frequency Track Circuit (AFTC); Axle counters; Advantages of using
axle counters; Disadvantages; Purpose of track vacancy monitoring; Device to
monitor the signalling system-data logger; Anti Collision Devices; Automatic
Warning System (AWS); Train Protection & Warning System (TP & WS); Raksha
Kavach; Train Actuated Warning Device for level crossing gates (TAWD).
2.16 Rail insulation of the track; type of sleepers provided in the station yard and the block
section; Type of sleepers and selection of track circuits to be provided in the station
yard; Type of sleepers and selection of track circuits to be provided in the block
section.
2.17 Block working; Specified space; Absolute Block System of train working; Double
line section; Single line section; Double line section; Single line section; Intermediate
Block System of train working; Automatic Block signalling; Semiautomatic signals.
2.18 Power supply requirements for signalling system & communication; Integrated Power
Supply (IPS); Solar Panel.
2.19 Deciding Location for controlling the signalling system; system of single wire
signalling; system of double wire signalling; Sighting of cabins if required, to suit the
system of signalling; Single wire system of operating; Double wire system of
operating; Operation of colour light signals; along with electrical interlocking; with
electronic interlocking.
2. 20 Site survey for placement and size of the cabins; Last vehicle check; Watching &
monitoring running train for any abnormality; Deciding location of cabin: With
reference to signals, points and level crossing gates, operated by cabin; Goomty;
Schedule of dimensions and accommodation of lead-outs; Size of the cabin to
accommodate lever frame; Central operation; Station Master’s (SM’s) room.
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