Innovations in Maintaining a Heavy Haul Railroad

Transcription

1 Innovations in Maintaining a Heavy Haul Railroad Presented By Craig Domski Chief Engineer-Track Programs Union Pacific Railroad 2002 American Railway Engineering and Maintenance Association Meeting September 24, 2002

2 Growth of Heavy Axle Loads on UP LOADS IN HAL CARS (PERCENT) YEAR Heavy Axle Load Growth Spokane Eastport Seattle Portland Eugene Klamath Falls Sacramento Martinez Oakland San Jose Hinkle La Grande Portola Roseville Stockton Lathrop Fresno Mojave Palmdale Yermo Los Angeles Nampa Elko W.Colton Primary Intermodal 80 MGT Lynndyl Las Vegas Yuma Ogden Picacho Silver Bow Dillon Pocatello Granger Salt Lake City Provo Helper Phoenix Nogales Tucson Lordsburg Rawlins Cheyenne Pueblo Bill S.Morrill Denver Primary East / West Manifest 395 MGT Tucumcari Toyah North Platt e Sharon Springs Eagle Pass Big Spring San Antonio Taylor Laredo Sioux City Fremont Chickasha Council Bluffs Marysville Kansas Topeka Salina Paola Herington Hutchinson Ft. Worth Sweetwater Waco Lincoln Smithville Wichita Dallas Hearne Texarkana Corsicana Flatonia Bloomington Angleton Corpus Christi Kingsville Spring Heavy Coal Minneapolis St. Paul Mankato 260 MGT N. Little Rock Longview Palestine Marshall Houston Boone Beaumont Altoona Mason City Des Moines St.Louis Jeff City Bald Knob Lewisville Shreveport Kinder Clinton Duluth/ Itasca Brinkley Pine Bluff Alexandria Livonia New Orleans Adams Belvidere Jonesboro Memphis Sheboygan Milwaukee Findlay Jct. Chicago Woodland Jc Salem/St.Elmo Primary North / South Manifest 95 MGT Brownsville

3 HAL Traffic by Corridor Type 120% 100% 80% 46 % 80 % 39 % 25 % 17% 33% 9% 16% 60% 29% 80% 6% 40% 20% 53% 62% 75% 20% 0% Primary E / W Manifest Heavy Coal Primary Intermodal Primary N / S Manifest 16 to 34 ton 34 to 37 ton > 37 ton Method of Allocating Resources Managing with Data Plan the Work Execute the Plan Inspection of Track Accurate assessment of true track conditions is essential Track inspections accomplished through mechanical or conventional methods Mechanical/Optical Track geometry Rail Wear Track Strength Conventional Visual via hyrail or walking inspections

4 Manage with Data Utilize track evaluation car data to its fullest track surface rail wear Rail defect and service failure data Tie spots from walking assessments Track reports from daily inspections Utilize Wheel Impact Data Plan the Work Goal: Minimize the Impact of Track Program work on Train Operations 1. Analyze and Evaluate Impact a) By Line Segments b) Network 2. Model What - If Alternatives 3. Review & Adjust a) Regions - Transportation b) NDI (Network Design & Integration) c) Sales & Marketing d) Engineering Plan the Work Goal: Minimize the Impact of Track Program work on Train Operations 4. Set the Schedule a) Track Time - Double Gangs - Swarms b) Train Volumes - Alternative s - Detours - Scheduling Changes c) Timing - Shift to Lighter Months - Days of Week - Start Times Execute the Plan Organization: 1. Dispatch Center a) Regional Engineering Coordinator b) On-Site Transportation Management c) Daily Review by Region - Material Distribution - Curfew Compliance 2. HQ & Regions

5 a) Schedule Compliance Review b) Production is part of everyone s GOALS Execute the Plan Follow UP: Evaluate Actual vs Estimated Impact - Communicate with Customers Measure Pre & Post Work Train Performance Any Changes Require a Group Review Use of Premium Materials Ties Fasteners Rail Turnouts Alternative Ties and Fasteners Concrete Ties Provides increased track strength Utilized in heavy haul and heavy curvature locations 5,000,000 installed since 1987 Plastic Composite Ties Provides increased decay resistance in areas where wood tie lives < 18 years Plan to install 40, Alternative Ties and Fasteners Elastic Fastener on Wood Ties Benefits include Increased track strength Improved gage retention Reduced rail wear Applications in Turnouts Moderate curves in HH Severe curves Improved Rail Sections and Chemistry New 141 Section Benefits include 20% increase in beam strength 20% increase in wear life 5% increase in weight

6 High Carbon Chemistry Significant increase in wear life Increase resistance to spalling in some chemistries Installing in heavy haul and high curvatures Premium Turnout Components Movable Point Frogs Provide extended life cycles in heavy haul Avg 750 MGT Approx 300 in service Premium Spring Frogs Vast improvement over conventional spring frogs Extended life cycles 600 MGT on high diverge 1000 MGT on low diverge Track Maintenance Equipment - New Technology Production Equipment GPS ballast train Gantry style rail train High speed triple head tamper Track vacuum Combination tamper/stabilizers Maintenance Equipment One-piece rail stretcher/expander In-Track flash butt welders GPS Ballast Train

7 Gantry style rail train High speed triple head tamper

8 Track vacuum Combination tamper/stabilizers One-piece rail stretcher/expander

9 In-Track flash butt welders Essential New and Old Technologies to Extend Component Life What is the Goal? Maintain and/or Improve the Track Structure and Still Operate Trains Efficiently KEY: Increase the Material to Labor Ratio Opportunities to Further Improve Productivity 1. Train Employees for the Future 2. Material Distribution 3. Reduce Avoidable Delays 4. Always be open to Changes and Innovations