Part four of our look at what’s on show at this month’s Network Rail National Track Plant Exhibition.
New MEWP and enhanced wiring
SRS Rail System Limited will show a new 17 tonne road-rail vehicle which it intends to market worldwide. Built in cooperation with CSR Sifang, a Chinese company better known for manufacturing high speed trains, it is designed to EN280:2001 and EN15746 standards. Icon-8 is a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) built on a Volvo chassis with Chinese-made road-rail gear and access platform.
The company will also show one of its wiring units. Based on a single 26 tonne SRS road-rail vehicle, it is fitted with two hydraulically operated cable drum carriers together with wire manipulating rollers both fore and aft. Such wiring units are at the heart of SRS road-rail vehicle wiring teams.
Strategic plant and live demonstrations
Balfour Beatty Rail, the leading providers of specialist rail plant, will be showcasing their extensive range of on-track plant.
Strategic plant, ranging from a rail-mounted Kirow crane to the Plasser & Theurer Track Relayer, will be on show alongside other equipment such as the innovative Front Shovel Excavator and the Autech Rail Grinder. Further plant including Ground Penetrating Radar, the Topper and Bopper, and the Universal Rail Thimble will be in attendance.
Live demonstrations will enable visitors to experience some of Balfour Beatty Rail’s plant in action, as well as having the opportunity to consult with the company’s on-site experts to discuss any specific requirements regarding custom-built solutions.
The company also provides a complete Track Geometry Service including tamping, regulating, ballast cleaning and track stabilisation, supported by a 24-hour control centre service.
Balfour Beatty Rail continues to commit substantial investment in sustainable rail plant to drive innovation and efficiencies within the industry, offering the complete single source plant solution to all customers.
Safer conditions in tunnels
Rail renewal and maintenance work in railway tunnels can be a hazardous undertaking, especially considering the dust and fumes generated from the work. Atmospheric pollutants can come in many forms including exhaust fumes from renewal plant and equipment, ballast dust from stone being removed or replaced, brake dust and fumes from welding, cutting and grinding.
To help in managing this problem, Factair has developed the most extensive range of temporary ventilation and monitoring equipment on the market, designed specifically for rapid deployment and short duration possessions. This is supported by a comprehensive environmental air quality report service utilising a sophisticated range of air quality monitoring instruments.
At this year’s Network Rail National Track Plant Exhibition, Factair will be exhibiting its latest electric and self-contained
diesel engine-driven fans, together with its monitoring instruments and battery powered air-fed respirators, which provide individual protection for those working in dusty environments.
Attachment rental to military standards
Sandhurst, apart from being the UK’s top military training academy, also just happens to be the name of the UK’s premier attachment rental company.
One thing both share is very high standards. You could say – military standards.
Sandhurst Equipment Rental is the UK speci![DSC07586 [online]](http://railengineer.uk/wp-content/uploads/DSC07586-online-1024x768.jpg)
alist which has been working with excavators and attachments for over 40 years and is proud to have built a reputation for excellence in its niche sector – hydraulic attachment rental.
The company was instrumental in creating market leadership for the German company Krupp Bautechnic Hydraulic Products in the 1990s as its UK distributor. Following Atlas Copco’s acquisition of Krupp, Sandhurst still remains a major customer for Atlas Copco breakers and compactors. In fact, Sandhurst operates the UK’s largest single stock of Atlas Copco breakers in its rental fleet, suitable for all sizes and types of excavator. Breakers, though, are just the tip of the iceberg as the company has a comprehensive range of attachments available, capable of undertaking most excavator tasks.
Having been around for so long has helped the company develop a tried and proven, ISO-accredited rental service which many UK companies large and small depend upon. Operating from six regional rental centres, Sandhurst boasts a sizeable fleet of modern, high quality excavator attachments all kept in excellent order thanks to a strict schedule of routine maintenance and service.
As a vital part of Sandhurst rental’s service is making life trouble free for its customers, the company is passionate about service and reliability. When an attachment is delivered to site, the fitter leaves only after the unit is working to the user’s satisfaction.
Visitors to The National Track Plant Exhibition are invited to come along and meet staff from the newly formed specialist rail division, Sandhurst Rail, and to check over a variety of attachments that are regularly used by its rail contractor customers.
There will be a selection of attachments on show such as a hydraulic breaker and compactor and a number of working attachments such as a post/pole manipulator, low headroom clamshell grab and low headroom 5-tine grab. There will also be new dedicated rail attachments each designed to tackle specialist tasks.
All visitors are welcome and are invited to enter a free champagne prize draw.
Safer access to track and cess
An increasing focus on risk management whilst controlling cost seems so paramount in many objectives today. The constant challenge of lean resources and the reduction of available time can create a real challenge. In addition, increasing utilisation of the rail infrastructure will reduce the time available for routine maintenance.
So having safe and rapid access to the UK rail infrastructure will become even more critical.
The versatility of the Kwik-Step modular stairway enables an immediate resolution to unsafe or non-existent access on embankments and cuttings, which account for approximately 44% of the UK rail network. The galvanized steel Durbar® tread plate has excellent non-slip properties.
2, 3 and 4-tread modules covering all gradients from 20° to 50° along with associated landings, hand rails and fixings, are all available from a stock of over three kilometres of stairway.
Dispatched nationwide from the Bristol facility, usually within 3 days of order receipt, the delivery is palletised complete with a full suite of laminated documents, delivery note, site sketch, as-built drawing and instructions with pictorial references for simple installation using the optional tool kit.
Safer Lifting
Road Rail Cranes Ltd takes delivery of its first 40 tonne (max) capacity road-rail mobile crane in July after more than five years of development by Steve Williams. With an overall length of 8.5 metres, all wheel steering and hydraulic suspension, it accesses the track with ease.
The crane has a 31.2 metre (max) boom, usable through 360 degrees and also towing hitches with air brake connections at both front and rear.
Safety features include a datalogger, rated capacity indicator, interlocked outriggers preventing travelling down the track with outriggers extended, lifting on outriggers only ensuring stability at all times, cameras side and rear and an auxiliary engine for emergency recovery.
All lifting operations will be planned and supervised by a competent appointed person and crane supervisor in accordance with LOLER Regulations 1998.
Welding and lighting
Morris Site Machinery will be unveiling a raft of world-leading onsite products suitable for the rail industry.![Morris Site Machinery Weldmaker 165SP2 with parallel box [online]](http://railengineer.uk/wp-content/uploads/Morris-Site-Machinery-Weldmaker-165SP2-with-parallel-box-online-1024x768.jpg)
On show will be two exclusive Network Rail approved products including the market leading ArcGen Weldmaker 165SP2 and the SMC TL-90 lighting tower.
The ArcGen welder generator, the Weldmaker 165SP2, is a super silent petrol welder generator designed for use in a wide variety of applications. With up to 10 hours of operation, the Weldmaker is one of Morris Site Machinery’s most trusted and respected models on the market offering improved fuel economy, versatility and superior performance compared to others. The Weldmaker was approved by Network Rail for its proven cost savings in the repair of damaged rails and it ability to link two machines together via a parallel box to double welding output.
The Network Rail approved SMC TL-90 mobile lighting tower is one of Morris Site
Machinery’s most popular products. With mast deployment to 9 metres in 12 seconds, the metal halide lamps provide a strong and even light stream. Crucial safety features include wind down jack legs for added stability and the ability to withstand winds up to 100km/hour, an emergency stop button that disconnects all electrical circuits and a mast deployment alarm and auto descend safety system. These ensure that the SMC TL-90 lighting tower is one of the most stable and robust for all rail projects.
