Golden Rock Railway workshop wins "beauty contest"

February 18, 2010 07:55 pm | Updated 07:55 pm IST - TIRUCHI

The interior portion of the passenger coach that bagged the first position in the Best Coach Beauty Contest held at Chennai. Photo: Special Arrangement

The interior portion of the passenger coach that bagged the first position in the Best Coach Beauty Contest held at Chennai. Photo: Special Arrangement

The passenger coach prepared by the Golden Rock Railway Workshop, Tiruchi for the Beauty Contest conducted by the Southern Railway at Chennai a few days ago was adjudged the best in the competition.

The swanky coach sent by the workshop secured the top position jointly with the passenger coach prepared by the Carriage Works, Perambur in the ‘Best Coach Beauty Contest’ conducted among railway workshops.

The contest for best coaches and best diesel locos was conducted separately for railway divisions, workshops and diesel sheds falling under the Southern Railway.

The Golden Rock Railway Workshop, Carriage Works, Perambur and Loco Works, Perambur competed in the Workshop category for the coach contest dispatching their respective coaches they had readied for the contest.

A top-level Southern Railway panel comprising officers from various departments after inspecting the coaches equipped with many innovations handpicked the coaches prepared by the Golden Rock Workshop and Carriage Works for the top spot.

Workshop authorities here said a 10-year-old second-class III-tier sleeper coach (No. 99266) which came for a Periodic Overhaul to the workshop was readied for the contest incorporating various innovations inside the compartment.

Explaining the mechanical features, a senior official said the bogie frame was grit blasted thoroughly to the bare metal and given double coating of red oxide primer. The coach exterior was given a fresh coat of polyurethane painting to give it an aesthetic look.

As part of the innovations, foldable snack table was provided in the upper berth. The foldable snack table would act as a back rest once folded. All snack tables in the bays were provided with stainless steel tops. Sun control films were pasted on window glass to control sunlight during day time.

Blue colour LED (Light Emitting Diode) illuminated berth number indicators were provided inside the coach for easier identification of berth numbers during night. The light level was set optimum to work as night lamp as well. It would get switched on automatically once the main bay light was "off". The bays and toilets were fitted with aesthetic looking CFL light fittings. PU foam ladders were used for upper berths and nylon bushes were provided in the middle berths as stoppers.

Stainless steel amenity fittings were provided in the coach with ventilator arrangements in the toilet door. Fire retardant upholstery and vynatile sheets were used in the coach, the official said adding that modified dust bins were provided below the wash basin. Reservation chart light fittings to facilitate easier chart reading during night were among the many features in the coach which was prepared within 14 days for the contest.

The beauty contest is organised with a view to bringing out the innovative ideas of the railway personnel for improving passenger amenities, the official said. An award was presented to the workshop for securing the top position in the contest. The Southern Railway General Manager Deepak Krishan presented the award to the Chief Workshop Manager, Golden Rock Railway Workshop J. Digi.

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