The Tiruchi railway divisional authorities have established a model-cum- training OHE (overhead electrical equipment) facility at Ariyalur to improve the skills of the field-level railway technical staff of the electrical traction department in OHE maintenance.
First of its kind in Tiruchi Railway Division, the facility has been set up inside the OHE depot situated close to the Ariyalur railway station. Scrap and released materials have been utilised to set up various OHE –related structures inside the training facility that has been established at a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
Fixed installation
The fixed installation has four masts; cantilever assembly; section insulator; auto tensioning device; fixed termination anchor; uninsulated overlap; structure bonds; contact and catenary wires besides a BG railway track that has been laid to a length of 25 meters. The length of the overhead wires is 25 metres.
The height of the contact wire is 1.5 metres from the rail level while the total height of the OHE is 2.5 metres from the rail level. Railway officials said, being a replica there is no power supply to the wires.
The facility has been established to provide hands-on training to the technical staff of the electrical traction department in OHE maintenance and improve their skills so that the restoration time during emergency situation is reduced, said a senior railway officer.
Constant training is imperative for the railway technical staff in OHE maintenance as the chord line section from Villupuram to Tiruchi has been electrified.
Continuous training would enable the field-level technical personnel to handle emergency situation effectively, the officer added.
Training would be imparted on various aspects including ways to join the snapped wires; assembling, overhauling and fixing of auto tensioning device; fixing of structure bonds and removal and fixing of droppers, the officer said.