Circular 8.14 Maintenance of Way - Wreck Train Operations

Western Washington Short Line
Office of the General Manager
100 Railroad Avenue
Monetesano, Washington

CIRCULAR NUMBER: 8.14                                                               DATE: January 1, 1955

MAINTENANCE OF WAY
Wreck Train Operations

BY AUTHORITY OF:


S.B.Clinard
President and General Manager
___________________________________________________________________________________

Prototype Informtion

The first function of an auxiliary (wreck) train is to be well equiped for all contingencies, as prototype wrecks usually tear up quite of bit of the track and roadbed, and rolling stock is often spread all over the landscape.

The first function of an auxiliary train is to clear up or repair the mainline to allow regular traffic to continue. The cleanup of damaged equipement can preceed as a secondary activity.

Equipment

The auxiliary train consists of the following maintenance of way equipment:

Crane and tender

Fuel tenderFlatcar carrying spare trucks and blocking 
a flatcar with a bulldozer
track car
a tie car
tool car werecking equipment

Wreck Trains

Derrick (Crane)

Usually kept near steam source (not parked in a yard)

Many sizes (typical 120-250 ton)

Often self-propelled

Steam powered derricks used fuel and water from steam loco tenders -- when railroads dieselized, tenders were dedicated to wreck trains

Idler (allows boom clearance)

Carries shop trucks, other wrecking equipment

Additional cars for crew, tools, and FOOD.

Once called, crews often served at least a full shift

If wreck was minor, the train might "tour the line" fixing bad order cars, etc.

Operating rules restrict speeds

Typically 30 mph boom trailing, 15-20 mph boom leading

 

 

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