Citation

Heyns FJ. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. 2006; 106(12): 793-798.

Affiliation

African (PTY) Ltd., Pretoria

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To date, the construction and maintenance of underground railway tracks in the mining industry hi South Africa have been done on an ad hoc basis without proper standards and guidance. The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate recently issued a requirement to all underground mines to compile a 'Code of Practice (COP) for Underground Railbound and Transport Equipment'. The paper briefly illustrates the life cycle costing of railway tracks and the importance of defining and measuring the track geometry of an underground railway system. The importance of maintenance on an underground railway track system is illustrated and typical underground railway track maintenance activities are listed. Underground railway track construction methods and quality have a significant effect on ultimate railway track quality. Many of the underground railway track geometric deficiencies occurring are built into the track during construction. A construction method should be adopted to ensure the best track geometry results. A summary of some of the most important incorrect construction procedures currently used at some of the mines is listed.

Language: en