How is track maintained?
Permanent way maintenance is largely done by gangs consisting of gangmen under the supervision of a gangmate. The gang goes down its assigned section of track (the gang beat or beat section), inspecting track and performing normal routine maintenance. A patrolman may be separately deputed to perform visual inspections along the length of a section of track by walking alongside it (two patrolmen in ghat or jungle areas). Typically the patrol may cover 6km – 10km of track. The schedule and track sections to be monitored by gangmen and patrolmen is specified in a Patrol Chart prepared by the Divisional Engineer. This chart also indicates when and where the drivers of trains running to schedule may expect to meet gangmen. Patrolmen and gangs carry Patrol Books in which they record the status of the track and any maintenance they perform on it. The gang is equipped to deal with minor problems such as fixing small deviations in gauge or elevation of the rails, rearranging ballast, etc. If pr
