Southern States - Karnataka   

Rlys. may adopt new technology for wheels

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE OCT. 25. The derailment of the Mysore-Bangalore passenger train on Thursday, attributed to a faulty wheel, has forced the Railway authorities to think of adopting high-cost technology to identify hairline fractures in the wheels and axles of bogies. Sources in the Railways pointed out that scanning technology to ascertain cracks and material fatigue in crucial parts such as wheels, axles and wheel discs of coaches was available in the West.

After a series of accidents attributed to faulty wheel discs, the authorities feel that safety cannot be compromised at any cost. They favour adoption of this technology. Though other railways in the world have adopted the technology, Indian Railways has not opted for it because it is expensive.

Sources pointed out that the wheel disc, which developed a crack and snapped, sending the bogies hurtling down the embankment at Palahalli near here, had not yet completed its lifespan of seven years. The wheel and axle were reckoned to be five or six years old. Investigations showed that the bogie was overhauled 11 months ago and deemed rail worthy.

Sources pointed out that the material composition of the wheel disc and the wheel and axle of the bogies had been changed, and the ratio and proportion of carbon and sulphur had been altered to enhance their strength and lifespan. This was done several years ago, and the wheel discs produced by the manufacturing unit in Durgapur of West Bengal are of the new composition. So it remains to be seen whether the wheel disc of the ill-fated train belonged to an earlier period.

An expert team is already investigating this, and the authorities concerned were taking readings from the tracks to study if the twists in the tracks were a result of the derailment or if they caused the accident.

The wheels are manufactured at the Wheel and Axle Plant in Yelahanka in Bangalore, apart from the unit in Durgapur. While the latter uses forging technology, the former uses casting technology. The strength and longevity of the wheels manufactured using either of them are similar. The wheels and axles are subjected to severe stress tests, magna flux tests, and ultrasonic tests to help identify cracks and material fatigue.

The sources said scanning technology to identify material fatigue and cracks in the wheel discs was expensive and it was only now that there was an argument in favour of it. Commenting on the safety aspects, they pointed out that the railway tracks were being periodically inspected and subjected to ultrasonic tests. Hence mishaps were more due to human error or mechanical failure rather than poor maintenance. For instance, the bridge across the Cauvery in Srirangapatna and the Kapila on the Mysore-Nanjangud line had also come under scrutiny about their rail worthiness.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Forces will pursue Veerappan: Kharge
• Rlys. may adopt new technology for wheels
• Four killed as buses collide
• Proposal to make Hampi Utsav a national cultural festival
• Da Ra Bendre remembered
• Rajyotsava Award list submitted to CM
• Industries hampered by power cost

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu