Abstract :
The maintenance of electric rolling stock is an art rather than a science. Existing electric railway systems will have built up their maintenance technique from experience gained over many years, and for this reason the paper deals chiefly with matters likely to be helpful to the railway administration introducing electric traction for the first time. Many references have been made to the methods adopted by the London Transport Executive to deal with its large concentration of electric surface-line and tube rolling stock. Although the author recognizes that these methods may not be the most suitable for a smaller system or a more scattered one, the references may assist when deciding how best to meet the requirements of some new system. By contrast, reference has been made to experience gained on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, an example of main-line and suburban electrification, which has also developed its own technique to meet the very different conditions imposed by a different line voltage, different type of train service and a less concentrated system. The paper discusses the influence of design on maintenance and the maintenance organization; it outlines much of the work involved and the distribution of this work between the various maintenance establishments. It deals with the layout of these establishments and some of the essential plant and equipment required. Notes on cost, lubrication and essential forms and records are included, and the paper closes with some remarks on management, staff training and safety precautions.
