Transnet gets new Wreckmasters

[John Ashworth]

TRE gets new Wreckmasters

Posted on 27 May 2010 by Railways Africa Editor

Every year, derailments and similar accidents cost Transnet millions of rand, not only in damaged equipment and loss of lives, but also in lost profits. Also, clearing an accident site is time-consuming and requires highly-skilled people who use specialised equipment.

Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) is now focusing on speeding up of the clearing of derailments. To do this effectively, TRE saw that it would need more properly trained people as well as more efficient recovery equipment.

As TRE’s recovery equipment currently in use is obsolete, the company has recently invested in new equipment to speed the clearing of derailments.

On May 26, 2010, the heavy equipment supplier Komatsu handed over two D275AX-5EO bulldozers to TRE and Kynos Special Vehicles (Pty) Ltd. Kynos which will work with TRE, to convert the bulldozers into a wreck-recovery units, which will be known as Wreckmaster MKIIs. These new machines will help ensure that, after derailments, the track can be re-opened rapidly.

As the Wreckmaster needs to be able to perform various functions when clearing a derailment, the bulldozer is being adapted so it can perform both as a forklift and a bulldozer. Its conventional bulldozer blade can be replaced with a forklift-type attachment. By using the machine’s hydraulic power, the change-over from blade to forks can be carried out on site in less than an hour.

On its fork attachment, the Wreckmaster will be able to lift thirty tons to a height of 4.5 metres. In addition, this converted bulldozer will be fitted with a hydraulic crane with a 30-ton/m lifting capacity.

Each Wreckmaster will also be fitted with a 60-ton H12A hydraulic winch capable of delivering a pulling force of 60 tons. When using the winch with its two-to-one layout configuration, the bulldozer will use its blade as an anchor.

However, the building of a wreck recovery unit is not without its challenges. Firstly, the height and width of the bulldozer needs to be modified so that it can enter tunnels. The bulldozer blade will assist with the removal of spillage such as coal, as well as removing sections of damaged track so that new ballast and sleepers can be laid. The bulldozers fork attachment will allow the recovery crew to lift a wagon or coach so blocks can be placed underneath it.

After this, straps can be attached to the derailed unit so that it can be lifted out of the way.

There are several immediate advantages to this new venture. Komatsu has depots around the country that can manage and maintain the vehicle. The equipment manufacturer will shortly launch a satellite-based monitoring system, which will feed data about the machine’s key operating parameters to technical staff. In turn, Kynos has 30 years of expertise in the recovery of tanks for the military. The company has extensive experience in operating in physically demanding conditions.

Managing and clearing an accident site is potentially extremely dangerous. The equipment has to be both sufficiently robust and sufficiently powerful to do the job. It also has to be completely reliable, and sufficiently mobile to work in tight spaces. As bulldozer tracks can be operated independently, the D275 can turn in confined spaces.
As soon as the new Wreckmaster are ready, the training of their crews will begin.

Work on these two machines will begin shortly with delivery being scheduled for April 2011.