Railway Track & Structures - November 2008 - (Page 28)

Switch on to purchase GE switch machines as part of a turn-key solution or a component of another solution.” Global Rail Systems manufactures the newly-developed and tested TS-4500 switch machine, available as a standalone push-button, DTMF radio-control, data radio-control or yardmaster-control machine. The machine can be solar or AC charged and is the basis for the company’s Modular Yard Automation (MYA) system. The system is scalable and allows integration of other technology as requested. “For years Global Rail has been offering cost-effective solutions to increase safety and velocity in non-signaled territories, including the movement of Hazmat and TIH trafﬁc. Switch position monitoring and control, as well as broken rail detection systems are just two of the solutions Global Rail has implemented and validated over the last several years,” said Ron Martin, vice president sales and marketing at Global Rail. “Other yard automation suppliers have adapted our concept of a tilt-over mast and mast-mounted electronics box to help alleviate contamination of the electronics components. Global Rail is hoping to start another trend to simpler, safer, more practical applications and design for machines applied to both main line and yard applications. Our philosophy is to have the switch machine enhance our customers’ operations and bottom lines, and not add the unnecessary high costs for maintenance and repair associated with less robust machines.” National Trackwork, Inc., has a product line that includes the 1003ARS-9 runthrough high column switch stand; the NT2000 mechanical switchman, which takes the place of a standard adjustable connecting rod and eliminates the need to stop the train and return the points after a manual switching operation and “Safe View” directional lights for switch stands, which are self-contained, solar lights with red and green LEDs that turn with the target and give a redundant visual check. The new National Trackwork 1002RG Backsaver is ergonomically-designed with a rectangular handle, attached foot latches and is run-through capable for yard applications with excessive switching operations. According to the company, the 28 Railway Track & Structures Global Rail 1002RG, like the 1003ARS/1004ARS series of manually-operated switch stands, is extremely safe, reliable, durable, easy to maintain and install and cost effective to own and operate. The company says customers have asked for a switch stand that can give reliable performance in standing water such as tunnel or mining operations. National Trackwork’s “Flood Guard” technology is available for its complete range of National switch stands for yard, main line and industrial applications. “Another innovative technology integrated with the highly-successful National Model 1100 and 1500 Electric and Solar switch machines is the use of an available Remtron remote control actuation system,” said Bob Fiorio, vice president sales and marketing. “This highly ﬂexible, expandable and cost-effective system can accommodate up to 18 switch machines from a single transmitter, which makes switching operations highly efﬁcient and safe.” RailComm produces the Universal Switch Controller (USC), which interfaces to any power switch machine and allows the switch machine to be incorporated into remote control switch networks. Utilizing the RailComm USC allows the railroad to be independent of the switch supplier, providing the railroad with operational ﬂexibility and the leverage to contain costs. “The major factor in selecting a power switch machine is ensuring the machine meets the speciﬁc requirements of the railroad operations and maintenance departments. It is certainly a case of one size does not ﬁt all. Each switch machine on the market today offers speciﬁc features and beneﬁts that may provide an advantage when placed in one type of service, for instance in a classiﬁcation yard where machine operating speed is critical versus in a receiving yard environment where cost may be more important. Other switches may provide trouble-free performance in a remote yard location, but are not optimal when placed in service as a power derail machine,” said Joe Denny, president of RailComm. “We have built dozens of yard automation systems for Class 1 railroads and various transit agencies. Union Paciﬁc, BNSF and CSXT remain our largest customers, but we are now receiving tremendous acceptance internationally.” RailComm Safetran manufactures the SML-20 main line machine and the SYM-10 trailable yard machine for both freight and transit applications. The machines are available with switch rods and pipeline equipment to complete ﬁeld installations. The company sees safety and reliability as the key factors in switch machine procurements. Safetran notes that when those criteria are met, such factors as ease of installation, maintenance costs, part costs, warranty and availability of ﬁeld support become the “tie-breakers.” According to the company, the ability to monitor and/or control switch operation in non-signaled territory has become the major emphasis in the switch machine market segment. The Safetran Vital Interface Unit, VIU, was introduced in the spring of 2008 to address these concerns. The VIU system provides vital switch machine monitoring in non-signaled territory and, when combined with a power operated switch machine, provides vital remote control of the switch. VIU communicates from the switch location to a central ofﬁce or the locomotive cab via a wide variety of communications options. VIU models are available for both vital and non-vital monitoring and/or control of a wide range of wayside signal applications and will assist rail operators in complying with the requirements of the recently-signed Rail Safety Improvement Act. Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc., plans to offer the ITS 700 in-tie switch machine to the North American market after success in Europe, Asia and Australia. The ITS 700 product is a point operating system in a hollow steel tie consisting of a point lock, point machine, crosstie, the necessary connecting rods, and, if desired by the customer, an integrated switch point heater. The ITS 700 can be installed on the right or left hand side of the track and can be conﬁgured to be trailable or non-trailable. The machine provides for dual control via a hand-throw lever. According to the company, by integrating the switch machine into a hollow tie, the ballast channel, required for the rodding of conventional switch machines, is eliminated and the switch can be mechanically tamped, which improves ballast compaction and results in a tighter turnout, reducing vibration and improving overall turnout reliability. www.rtands.com Safetran Siemens National Trackwork November 2008 http://www.rtands.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Railway Track & Structures - November 2008

Railway Track and Structures Contents On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D TrainingVvital in Shaping Future of Railroad Industry Switch Stands, Switch Machines Automation Offers Improvements in M/W Planning AREMA 2008 Conference Report Products and Literature People Calendar Advertisers Index Sales Representatives Website Directory Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective

Railway Track & Structures - November 2008

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