ASPIN CONSULTING


® Chartered Professional Design Engineers


Our established and specialist Consulting company compliments many successful top tier Rail Contractors/ Consultants, including advisory role to Network Rail. Our Team is professional and dynamic with vast experience & great depth of knowledge in Geotechnical, Structural & Civil Engineering & provide the best possible solutions to meet the most exacting client briefs.


Recent projects include:


• Modular station platforms • Level crossing infrastructure • Slope stability / retaining walls • Trackside sub & super structures • Foot bridge and signal gantries • Ground improvement tool box • Structural examinations • Temporary works inc cranage • Site investigations / topographic surveys / scans


• Refurbishment projects


Civil, Structural, Geotechnical Design Innovation, dedicated teams, value... ... We deliver!


Throughout the Aspin Group of Companies there is a distinct focus on a high standard of output, with specialist educated, highly motivated staff. Solutions are chosen on the basis of cost-effectiveness, safe- practise and speed of installation. Together, these attributes ensure that Clients get the very best in Design Consultancy. Please contact us for more information.


Tel : 01623 446100 Offices in Nottinghamshire, Hertfordshire & Lancashire w: www.aspingroup.com e: consulting@aspingroup.com


Network Rail beat the winter blues with Garrandale T


he bad winter of 2010/2011 caused Network Rail so many problems with the build up of snow and ice on the rail infrastructure that it decided to commission a service train dedicated to tackling the issues. Garrandale won the contract to design and build the steam/hot water and compressed air modules for the ‘Winterisation Train’. These were produced to a very tight deadline, mounted on the train and sent to Scotland for trials during that winter. The trials resulted in a number of specification changes to the whole train, including the main control wiring which, again, Garrandale successfully bid for. The main vehicles of the train were delivered to Garrandale in early October 2012 with the work on all the equipment completed by mid-December. The train will now be sent to Scotland for more trials this winter.


A combination of steam, hot water or air blasts can be deployed from modules to clear the snow and ice, together with large hot air blowers directed down onto the track. Using high pressure steam/ water lances when working under the overhead lines is a significant and unacceptable risk, so Garrandale engineers developed a fail-safe cut off which senses if the lances move from the down hand position by more than ± 40°. This utilises twin sensors on the lance handle with a cross monitored safety relay


driving a fail-safe cut off valve. The complete system has been designed to operate in temperatures as low as -20°C and, since any system failure when the equipment is deployed would be a serious issue, high levels of redundancy with flexible configuration of back-up units have been built in. To illuminate the working areas, an array of the latest high power LED floodlights are arranged on either side of the modules. Although the electrical system is powered by an on-board diesel generator as an extra safeguard, these lights are battery backed with a life of four hours without charging. To combat the extreme conditions anticipated and maximise the internal space available, the two main modules are insulated with a high performance material previously used in space vehicles. In addition, all of the key elements such as water storage, steam generation and air compression equipment, are fitted with their own heaters to prevent damage from freezing. For further information write to: sales@garrandale.co.uk


PAGE 94 FEBRUARY 2013


DO4000: Keeping rail resistance measurement and testing on track


C


ropico’s DO4000 range of high performance digital milliohmmeters provide accurate low resistance measurement and improved quality control during rail track maintenance programmes. The portable and rugged instrument includes a number of advanced features and is suitable for


track joint resistance testing and checking the accuracy of power distribution joints. The DO4000 can also be used as part of a signal maintenance and refurbishment schedule, notably for the quick and accurate checking of signal wire integrity. It enables forward and reverse current measurement with auto averaging, true current zero, long scale length and a selectable measurement range from 40mΩ to 4kΩ with respective resolutions between 10µΩ and 1Ω. Within the range, model 4001 also includes temperature compensation, with preset coefficients for copper and aluminium plus user settable coefficients for other materials. Temperature measurement over the range –50 to +800ºC is also available. Protection up to 415V rms is provided at the measurement terminals, and push button operation is achieved easily by clearly marked function controls. Direct reading measured values are displayed on a four-digit LCD display.


Over range and low battery indication is also provided, and warning LEDs illuminate when an open circuit lead condition is detected. The 4000 series can be supplied with long leads to allow for accurate measurement of large blades, and a rechargeable battery option includes a battery pack, docking station and charger. The DO4000 forms part of a comprehensive range of precision measurement instruments available from Cropico, part of the Seaward Group. To find out more visit www.seaward.co.uk


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