Points Handout A5 booklet

Points - Version 0.1 1

Table of Contents

Staying Safe .............................................................................. 2

Ballast and Uneven surfaces ............................................. 2

Boarding and Alighting trains ............................................. 2

Operating Instructions Motor Points .......................................... 3

Failure of Motor Points ....................................................... 3

Trailing and Facing Points .................................................. 4

Terms related to points ............................................................. 5

About setting points ................................................................... 6

Types of Points ......................................................................... 6

M3 ...................................................................................... 6

M5 ..................................................................................... 7

M23A MKII......................................................................... 8

Nippon ............................................................................... 9

Procedure: Handwinding Points .............................................. 10

Start point ......................................................................... 10

The Procedure ................................................................ 10

How to handwind M5 ............................................................... 16

Procedure for handwinding the M5 ................................. 17

How to handwind M23A MKII .................................................. 20

Procedure for handwinding the M23A MKII .................... 21

How to handwind M3 ............................................................... 24

Key points about M3 ....................................................... 24

How to handwind Nippon ........................................................ 25

Key points about Nippon ................................................. 25

Yard Points .............................................................................. 26

Spring points (Wynn Williams) ........................................ 26

Procedure to set Wynn Williams ............................................. 27


Staying Safe You have responsibilities under the Health and Safety Act to:

Be responsible for your own safety

Ensure your actions or in-actions do not harm others or the environment

Comply with safety rules and procedures on the job

Participate in the identification and control of hazards

Report all incidents within an hour including discomfort

Wear protective clothing and equipment where provided

Use equipment only for the designed purpose

Be aware of KiwiRail HSE policies and procedures

Participate in your rehabilitation

Adhere to site HSE rules.

Ballast and Uneven surfaces

Ballast is unstable especially when lumpy and deep.

Wear above ankle laced up boots protect employees when walking on ballast and uneven surfaces from ankle and knee injuries by providing good support. Good tread on boots prevents the risk of slips, trips and falls.

Use formed paths where possible and watch your footing.

Boarding and Alighting Trains

Injuries may occur when boarding or alighting trains. The gap between train and platform at some stations may be wider and deeper than other stations. The platforms may also be potholed, wet/icy or even newly painted. Take care, always face forward and maintain 3 points of contact when boarding or alighting.


Operating instructions for Motor Points

Failure of Motor points

Always wear your high visibility garment when hand operating motor points.

LE and Train Manager to keep each other informed.

Always use approved hand signals and radio procedure.

Do not isolate/restore power without permission of TCO/Signal Box.

Once isolated hand operate motor points under direction of TCO/Signal Box.

Use AS key to unlock motor points.

Always start from the furthermost point, and work towards your service. This ensures your route is correctly set.

When a motor point’s failure affects one or both motors of a crossover, the motors of both ends must be isolated and hand operated. Both motors must remain isolated until movement is completed (e.g. if No.41b points need hand operating then you must hand operate 41a).

Where one of the motors for that set of points in the route is part of a crossover, isolation of it may affect the parallel route i.e. up main/down main crossover. Before securing these points, a check must be made with TCO /Signal Box to ensure that this action will not interfere with a movement on this route.

If you find that the points are already in the desired position, you must hand operate them over to the opposite position and then back again. This ensures that the internal locking mechanism has been engaged.

When the points have been successfully wound, you must confirm this with TCO/Signal Box and the position of each set of hand operated motor points.

Note: Hand operated motor points MUST remain isolated until the authorised movement is completely clear of them.

Fixed signals must only be passed at stop per the Regulations. Be familiar with the relevant signal rules and local conditions.

If using a crank handle, rotation must continue until the internal mechanism prevents further movement.

If instructed to leave motor points in isolated position lock padlock to points so it is not lost.

Power MUST not be restored to motor points until instructed by TCO/Signal Box. Stand clear of motor points when restoring them to power operation as the points blades may move when the power is connected.

Do not use fingers or feet to remove an obstruction from between the point’s blades.


Operating instructions cont’d

Trailing and Facing Points

When a locomotive or vehicle is approaching from the leading or “toe” end of the points they are facing points. When a locomotive or vehicle is approaching form the rear or “heel” end of the points they are trailing points.

Guiding Principles for the Safe Operation of Points

When operating points always work on the outside of the point’s lever, to avoid getting caught in the points rodding

When reversing points levers, make sure that the switches are properly closed to avoid derailments.

Watch out for points levers when alighting from vehicles.


Terms related to points

Naming and configuration of turnouts

Facing direction One track splitting into two tracks

Trailing direction Two tracks converging onto one

Blade The sections of rail that move to set the points

They are tapered from a full width rail to a knife edge

Heel Where the blade is attached to the fixed rails

Toe The narrowest point of the blades which rest against the fixed rails

Frog Where the running rails physically intersect

Check rails Short lengths of rail opposite the frogs that guide the wheel sets through the frogs

Frog

Points

blades

Stock

Rails Check

Rails

Running

Rails

Running

Rails

Check

Rails

Toe Heel


About setting points Motor points are found along the controlled network (Main lines) and are set electrically by a signaller or Train Control.

Occasionally motor points fail to operate. When this occurs they may need to be set by hand and often this task will fall to the Train Manager of the train required to pass over the defective points.

When motor points have been isolated and hand wound it is the responsibility of the Locomotive Engineer to check that the points are in the correct position before passing over them.

Types of points

There are several types of motor points. Some types have multiple brands.

Type of point: Crank handle – M3

Locations in Metro Area

Wairarapa line

Taita South

Taita Storage Road


Type of point: Lever – M5


Wellington station area

Kapiti Line

Tawa

Porirua

Wairarapa Line

Taita Crossover (77A 77B)

Upper Hutt


Type of point: Lever – M23A MKII

Short Lever “Hand” or

“Motor” position

Long Lever “N” (normal)

or “R” (reverse) position

Spring loaded foot operated

securing latches


Wellington station area

Wellington Distant Junction

Wairarapa Line

Petone and Melling Junction

Trentham

Kapiti Line

Plimmerton

South Junction

North Junction

Paraparaumu

Waikanae

Johnsonville Line

Wadestown

Ngaio

Khandallah


Type of point: Detected crank handle – Nippon


Kapiti Line

Paekakariki


Procedure: Handwinding points

Start point

The signaller/Train Control will tell you which points to set and what position to set them to (normal or reverse).

The signaller will also confirm whether the power is to be left on or off (points left isolated or live) once your train has gone through the points.

The procedure:

Step 1

Advise passengers:

If PA system available, advise passengers of the action you are taking and that there will be a short delay

If no PA system available, assign Pass-Ops to walk through the train and advise the passengers of the action you are taking and that there will be a short delay

Try to avoid using railway jargon (instead of saying hand winding points, say I need to confirm that the points are in the correct position for our train to safely pass over)


Step 2

Get ready:

Put on your high-visibility garment

Get a portable radio from train (so you can keep in direct contact with Locomotive Engineer /Signaller)

Ensure you have your AS key (automatic signalling key)

Check surrounding before disembarking from the train

Agree on the procedure for progressing through the points and pick up location

Exit train and proceed to the points that are farthest away

!Do not jump from the train - turn and face the train and use the steps


Step 3

Check the points for obstructions:

Look for stones, cans/other obstructions in the points and blades

If there is an obstruction

Step 4

Remove obstruction:

Call the signaller and request them to set the points to the opposite position so the obstruction can safely be removed

Use an implement to remove the obstruction

Check the other points for potential obstructions (e.g. A, B or C set of points)

Setting points to the opposite position removes tension from the blade and allows the obstruction to be safely removed with an implement

!Do not remove obstruction until tension has been removed from

the blades

!NEVER, NEVER use hands or feet to remove any obstruction – always use an implement


If there is no obstruction or when the obstruction has been cleared and this has not fixed the problem

Step 5

Handwind the points:

Identify the type of points that you are dealing with:

o Crank handle: M3

o Detected crank

handle: Nippon

o Lever: M5, M23A

MKII

M3

M5

M23A MKII

Nippon

Handwind the points as per the procedure for that type of point (procedures are set out below)

Wind points to opposite position and then back to the original position

This ensures the locking pins are engaging/disengaging

KiwiRail 7s

7 winds to unlock points

7 winds to move blade

7 winds to lock points

If required, then wind points to the correct position for your service

Repeat this process for each set of points

Check with the signaller if you are unsure of the correct position for the points

!

Before handwinding points, make sure the power has been turned off (Points have been isolated)


Once the points have been manually set

Step 6

Bring train through the points:

Confirm with signaller that points have been set:

o which points have

been manually set

o what position they are

in

Also confirm whether the signaller wants the points left isolated or the power restored once the train has gone through

Locomotive Engineer to obtain required authority to pass the associated signal at stop.

After train has gone through the points

Step 7

Complete final actions and re-join the train:

For crank handle operated points

Return crank handle to its appointed place


For detected crank handle operated points

If told to put power back on, ensure crank handle is correctly placed in its frame

If told to leave points isolated, ensure crank handle is put back in the box, but not in the frame

For lever operated points

Place lever in a meshed position

For all types of points

Lock cabinets and replace storm covers

Join the train as agreed with the LE

NIPPON


How to handwind M5 (lever operation) dual control

Key points about the M5

Power is isolated by reversing the selector lever.

The M5 is fitted with two levers having two positions each:

Selector Lever (used to isolate the power from the motor)

o Motor Operating Position

o Hand Operating Position

Hand Throw Lever (used to hand operate the points after the power is isolated)

o N = Normal

o R = Reverse

Under normal power operation - the Selector Lever is locked in the Motor Operating Position using an AS padlock.


Procedure for handwinding the M5

Step 1

Check that the hand throw lever is moved to the position corresponding to the position the points are in

For example, if the points are at normal, and the Hand Throw lever is at R, move the Hand Throw lever to normal (N engraving facing upwards) before starting hand operation

Step 2

Unlock the Selector Lever by removing the AS padlock

Step 3

Move the Selector Lever 180 degrees so that the Hand Operating Position engraving is facing upwards

Step 4

Throw the Hand Throw Lever to wind the points

Step 5

If points are to be left isolated:

Put the Selector Lever into the Hand Operating Position and secure with padlock


Step 6

If the points are to be restored to normal operation:

Return points to the same position they were in before manual operation with the Hand Throw Lever

Move the Selector Lever back to the Motor Operating Position. Lock in this position with the AS padlock

Step 7

Should points fail in the midway position (because of an obstruction in blades):

Operate (meshing) both levers to allow the obstruction to be cleared

Move Selector Lever toward hand operating position until it stops

Lift Hand Throw lever slowly towards the other position until it stops

Operate both levers together until the selector lever can be moved to the Hand Operate Position



Step 8

To restore the points to normal after meshing the reverse order must occur:

Start with the Selector Lever and move it toward the Motor Operating Position until it stops

Lift Hand Throw Lever slowly towards the other position until it stops

Operate both levers together until the selector lever can be moved to the Motor Operating Position


How to handwind M23A MKII dual control

Key points about the M23A MKII

Equipment consists of a short lever, long lever, two spring loaded foot operated securing latches and Normal /Reverse markings on the sleeper.

For normal operation the Short Lever is locked with an AS padlock in the motor operating position.

The short lever has motor facing upwards stamped on the lever when in the normal position and hand facing upwards when in the isolate position. This lever is used to isolate the power from the motor.

The Long Lever is lettered N ‘normal’ on one side and R ‘reverse’ on the other. This lever is used to operate the points after the power has been isolated.

Note: When the M23A MKII motor points are isolated, the short lever must be held firmly, as the lever is tensioned and will spring with some force.

Short Lever “Hand” or

“Motor” position

Long Lever “N” (normal)

or “R” (reverse) position

Spring loaded foot operated

securing latches


Procedure for handwinding the M23A MKII

Step 1

Unlock the AS padlock and push the latch down with your foot

Step 2

Move the short lever to the hand position

Ensure the short lever locks into position on that end by the latch closing

Step 3

Use the long lever handwind the points as required

Step 4

If points are to be left isolated:

Move the short lever so that the hand label faces upward and lock the lever in that position with the AS padlock


Step 5

If the points are to be restored to normal operation:

Push latch down and move the long lever to N position

Move the short lever to the motor position and secure with the AS padlock

Ensure the short lever locks into position on the opposite end by the latch closing


Step 6

Should points fail in the midway position (because of an obstruction in blades):

Unlock the AS padlock push the latch down with your foot

Move the short lever to the hand position

While moving the short lever to the hand position a loud click may be heard this is normal

Ensure the lever locks into position on that end by the latch closing

Move the long lever until the gearbox mechanism engages and the blades move, then clear the obstruction

Step 7

If requested to restore the points to normal operation see above

When the power is restored and the motor moves for the first time a loud click will be heard this is normal



How to handwind M3

Key points about the M3

Retrieve crank handle from crank handle box.

Power is isolated by unlocking then lifting crank handle cover.

This allows a spring loaded plunger to come out and the isolation switch to open.

Remove weather proof cap to insert crank handle.

If points are to be left isolated, replace weather proof cap only.

Lock padlock on clasp which will prevent the isolating arm from closing and pushing in plunger.

Return crank handle to crank handle box.


How to handwind Nippon

Key points about the Nippon

Detection is lost by withdrawal of crank handle from its detector holder in crank handle box.

Power is isolated by unlocking, then lifting the weather cap then moving aside a guard ring, (as shown) which will enable the crank handle to be inserted.

The crank handle can be used to slide the guard ring across

If points are to be left isolated, leave guard ring on points motor in Hand Operating Position.

Weather cap can only sit across opening lock padlock to the points and place crank handle in bottom of crank handle box.

Do not place in detection holder.

To restore power is the reverse process.


Yard points

Spring points (Wynn Williams levers)

Spring points (Wynn Williams levers) are used in non-interlocked areas (e.g. depots, marshalling yards, storage yards etc).

They are all hand operated (not motor operated), and cannot be set or detected remotely.

It is only possible to determine their position by looking at the position of the blades.

A Train Manager may be required to operate these for stabling services in Paekakariki or Upper Hutt.

Warning: Points controlled by Wynn Williams levers can be set in a half-cocked position either by a movement trailing through them or by incorrect operation of the lever. Therefore it is imperative to check that they are correctly set for every movement.

When a movement is straddling the points they must be checked to see they are correctly set for the next intended movement.

Do not assume that running through trailing points will correctly set them.


Procedure to set Wynn Williams points

Step 1

Stand in front of the lever on the wooden boards

Step 2

Grasp lever with both hands and pull the lever towards you with a sharp motion

The blades will move to the new position with a loud clunk (this is normal). If they do not clunk, it may indicate they have not functioned correctly

Step 3

Place the lever back into the rest position

Step 4

Check the blades to ensure they are set in the correct position

On wet or frosty days the wooden boards may be slippery !

!Execute the action using your arms and legs to protect your back


Are these facing or trailing points?


REMEMBER: The wheels will go in the direction where the point’s blades are open

Points Handout A5 booklet

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