DC Track Circuit 1.Nylon Insulation Joint 4. Maximum excitation should not exceed 250% of pick up voltage.

lation Joint 4. Maximum excitation should not exceed 250% of pick up voltage. causes the front contact of the track relay open is called as train shunt r esistance.
Track circuit is a device in which running lines for
formm part of an electrical circuit. It is This type of block joint consist of following components: 5. Lead wires of copper of minimum cross section of 2.5 Sq.mm The train shunt resistance should not be less than 0.5 ohms in case of wooden
the most important link between moving train and the fixed signal in the modern 6. Minimum ballast resistance per km not less than 2 ohms & 4 ohms in station sleepers and 0.25 Ohms in case of concr ete sleepers.
i) End post 1 nos.
signalling system and used to detect the presence of vehic le/train on a portion of yards and block section respectively where tracks laid on wooden sleeper s.
ii) Side channel plate LH 2 nos. Maintenance Checks
track. 7. The minimum ballast resistance of 1 ohm/Km is considered for both station
iii) Side channel plate RH 2 nos.
yard as well as block section in the case of tracks laid on concrete sleeper s.
DC track circuit is widely used as it is very simple and maintenance is compar atively iv) Bushes 8 nos. Power Supply
8. The minimum ballast resistance obtainable from single rail DC tr ack circuit
low. In this track circuit 2 volt secondary cell is used as power source and a 9 ohms v) Side backing plate 4 nos.
is 0.6 ohm/Km. when concrete sleepers ar e used. F Clean the terminals of the cell and apply petroleum jelly if requir ed.
track relay (generally shelf type relay) is used as proving device for the track vi) Steel backing plate 4 nos.
vii) Milled fish plate 2 nos.
9. The minimum ballast resistance obtainable from double rail DC tr ack circuit F Check Sp. Gravity, voltage & Charging current of cell as per schedule. Top up
circuited portion. is 1 ohm/km when concrete sleepers are used. level of electr olyte if it is low.
viii) Long bolts with nuts 4 nos.
DC track circuit can be used in both RE/Non RE areas and respectively named as 10. Minimum TSR shall be 0.5 ohms in track circuit with wooden sleeper s and
Among these parts end post, LH and RH side channel plates are av ailable in 0.25ohms for concrete sleepers. Track Bonding and Block Joints
single rail and double rail track cir cuit. In electrified sections one rail is used
extensively for traction return cur rent and in non electrified section both the different sizes to suit different section of rails of 90 lbs., 52 kg and 60 kg. 11. FTC marked sleepers must be used. F Check for any damage in block joint components i.e. bushes, end posts, LH &
running rails are pr ovided with insulation joints and hence it is named as double rail 2. Glued Insulated Joint. Ballast Resistance
RH channel plates either by buzzer/continuity method or by voltage method.
track circuit. It is fabricated and maintained by engineering department. ! Continuity Method
Through out the length of track circuit there are number o f par allel leakage paths
through the ballast due to dust, humid ballast and damaged sleepers. This affects
Main Parts Parameters
1. The maximum length of track circuit is 450 metres, if wooden sleepers are
the working of track circuit.
Rail to fish plate - No continuity
Fish plate to bolt - No continuity } Inbuzzer
case of buzzer method,
should not sound
Track circuit mainly consists of : provided with a train shunt resistance value of 0.5 ohms. Ballast Resistance = average voltage ! Voltage Method
Difference in current
F Block joints 2. In an AC electrified sections on single rail DC track circuit, the length of track
0.5(Vf+Vr) By measuring voltage between fish plate bolt and other rails-voltage
F 8 SWG GI wire and channel bond pins. circuit can be obtained is 350 metres, if concrete sleepers are provided with a Ballast Resistance =
If-Ir. should not be available.
F Track lead junction boxes. train shunt resistance value of 0.25 ohms with other parameters as given
F Track feed regulating resistance. below: Rail resistance F Check the tightness of terminals in track lead junction boxes and ensure that
F PVC 2x2.5 Sq mm cable i) Minimum ballast resistance of 0.6 ohms/km when concrete sleepers ar e The Rail Resistance depends upon the section and composition of their rail joints. the lead wires are insulated from box.
F Secondary cell along with track feed charger provided. The Rail Resistance is calculated by - Difference in voltage/average cur rent F Check the condition of continuity bond wires and other bond wires for their
F Track relay ii) Over excitation of 250% Vf-Vr intactness and in RE area check and ensure the tra nsverse bonding is not
F Location boxes for housing track cell and track relay Rail Resistance =
iii) Single lead acid cell. 0.5 (If+Ir) coming in contact with insulated rail.
iv) AC immunized 9 ohms DC track relay. F Check for any iron filling/burrs at block joints and if so clean them.
Block Joints Train shunt resistance F In case of concr ete sleepers check and ensur e the availability of rubber pads
3. Relay to be excited to 125% of rated pick up volta ge under minimum ballast The highest numerical value of resistance which when connected across the tr ack and liners in position and FTC marked sleeper s must be used.
There are two types of block joints:
resistance.

F Check up for any packing at block joints and arrange to cor rect them with the F Tighten the terminals at track lead junction boxes and other places if found
help of Engg. Depar tment. loose.
Track relay F Change the relay which is due for overhauling (once in 10 years). Typical Single Rail Track Circuit
F Check and ensure that no foreign par ticle or loose components are found F Disconnect the track circuit if the same is kept occupied for more than 24 hrs.
inside the relay. or as instructed.
F Provide anti-tilting arrangement in case of STR relay, if not provided.
Testing of Track Circuits F Ensure that anti creep devices are provided on either side of block joint.
F Measure relay end voltage and it should be less than 250% of pickup value at

Cross Bond
Don'ts
maximum ballast resistance and 125% in case of minimum ballast resistance. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Block Joint
F Do not through or reduce the value of regulating resistance.
F Shunt the track with suitable TSR and ensure that the relay end voltage is less F Do not test the track circuit by shunting with a wire only. MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

Immunised Relay
than 85% of drop aw ay value. F Do not use relays which does not have test labels. (For Official Use)

9 Ohms AC
F In case of point tr ack circuits shunt the track at feed end, relay end and at fr ee F Do not keep the relays in circuits which are due for overhauling.
end also (where cable is used for parallel jumper, the free end test to be

TR
F Do not tilt the relay.
DC TRACK CIRCUIT

Unlnsulated Rail
conducted at the free end track lead junction box by duly disconnecting the F Do not allow creep arrester w hich are likely to come in contact with bond wires

Insulated Rail

Resistance
Track Feed
link and shunting at cable end and track end). clipped to the sleepers.
F Shunt the adjusted track circuit at the time of measuring track voltage and

Choke
observe for any variation, variation in its r eading means the block joint is Fail Safe Adjustment of Track Circuit CAMTECH/2001/S/DCTC/1.0
defective. (SEM 902 C) F The relay along with its lead may be connected at the feed end after MAY' 2001
disconnecting the feed leads from the track.

Do's and Don'ts.
Do's
F Replace the block joint bushes and end posts as and when required with the
help of engineering staff.
F Replace the complete block joint insulation as per practice followed by the
Zonal Railway or as required with the help of engineering staff.
F Replace the damaged and corroded bonding wires.
F Arrange for packing of sleepers at block joints if required.
F Ensure issue of S&T disconnection memo for replacing block joints.
F Top up distilled water if the electrolyte level is low in batteries.
F Shunt the track circuit with suitable TSR while testing the trac k circuits.
F Clean and apply petroleum jelly on cell terminals after cleaning thoroughly.
Battery
F The regulating resistance may be so adjusted that when a shunting resistance
of 0.5 ohms is applied across the relay, the relay voltage decreases to 85% of
the rated drop away voltage.
F Remove the shunting resistance. If the r elay voltage is more than 250% of
the rated pick up voltage, the regulating resistance may be incr eased so that
maximum excitation is restricted to 250%.
F Now without disturbing the regulating resistance, remove the r elay along with EXCELLENCE IN MAINTENANCE
the lead wires and connect it to relay end.
F Now measure the voltage at relay terminals. The voltage should not be less
than 125% of the r ated pick up value with minimum ballast resistance.
F Connect 0.5 TSR across the track, the relay should drop and when 0.5 TSR is