TIRUCHI: The Goldenrock Railway Workshop here in collaboration with Kolkatta-based M/s. Black Burn has carried out further improvements to the loco driver's cabin of broad gauge diesel locomotive in order to reduce the physical strain of the driver and make him more comfortable in the cabin atmosphere.

The improvements were made primarily to make the driver's cabin "crew and user-friendly" to enable the drivers to further improve their performance. Though the improvements have been done in a broad gauge diesel engine on a trial basis, the workshop has planned to carryout the modifications in 10 BG locos when they come for Periodic Overhaul (POH) shortly.

The feedback from the Loco Inspectors and the Loco Pilots with regard to the improvements in the driver's cabin have been encouraging and satisfactory, the Chief Workshop Manager S. Rangarajan told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The new look-cabin has ergonomically designed control stand for better visibility of the safety equipment as well as to reduce the strain of the driver.

A striking aspect is that the cabin roof has been designed in line with aircraft cockpit to provide uniform lighting during night. Further illuminated gauges have been provided to make the train operations better during nights.

The windows have been widened for improved natural lighting inside the cabin as well as to enable the driver to watch back for safety of the formation.

Provision of Fibre Reinforced Plastic moulding interiors to improve the aesthetics of the cabin, provision of slip-free flooring inside the cabin and pressurisation of the electrical control compartment to avoid dust entry are the other improvements made in the cabin.

All these have been carried out keeping in mind the maintenance aspects of the locomotive in the shed. The improvements in the cabin were carried out based on the feedback received from the drivers from the engines, which were modified earlier and sent from the workshop.

The present improvements will reduce the physical strain of the driver and enable him to concentrate much better on train operations, said the Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer (Diesel), P. Ravindra Babu. Mr. Rangarajan said the improvements would reduce fatigue adding that few minor changes would be done based on feedback. The modifications would make the maintenance of the locomotives in the shed very easy.

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