Q. Permanent Repairs to rail fracture?
(i) If the fracture is such that, wide gap A T welding ban be adopted, then the total length of fractured ends to-be cut shall be equal to the gap required for wide gap welding. Once the two ends are cut, a gap required for wide gap welding will be created by using rail tensors and joint welded by wide-gap Alumino Thermit welding technique.
ii) In case rail closure Temporary Repairs ( ii ) ( a ) has been provided for temporary repairs one joint of the closure rail shall be welded without rail tenser after setting correct gap for welding. However to ensure correct gap during welding of the other joint, tensor shall be used.
iii) In case rail closure as per Temporary Repairs (ii) (b) has been provided at the time of temporary repairs, the rail closure shall be suitably cut such that the length of the rail to be final inserted in track is equal to length of rail remove from track after fracture minus allowances for two welds i.e. 50 mm. Once the closure rail is cut, the closure rail will be welded.
iv) After welding of joints, a length of track equal to breathing length or about 125 meters on either side be unfastened and tapped to ensure equalisation of stress and then refastened.