Sidings:
Sidings in station section & block section:
- Sidings in station section, depending upon requirement, shall be
- Stabling Siding, for stabling of the defective /damaged wagons,
- Trap Siding, leading to private siding into private/government sidings organizations campus,
- Stabling Siding, for holding train rakes,
- Washing Siding,
- siding to be kept clear to be used as Overlap,
- Siding For Shunting purposes, and
- Goods Wharf.
Siding outside station section shall be:
- Catch Siding
- Slip Siding
- Siding taking off from the block section
Siding in station section:
Stabling Siding, for stabling of the defective /damaged wagons: On its run, sometimes a coach or a wagon of a train, which may get damaged due to hot axle or any other reason and cannot be carried any more ahead with the train, is detached from the train and shunted into the siding, installed for the purpose. Such sidings are installed on almost all roadside stations to avoid situations to block the running lines for long periods.
Private Trap Siding:
Some private company or government organizations require material to be shifted to their campus/factory/powerhouse/defense/quarry for commercial/defense/for the purpose to generate electricity, through the train, usually full trainload.
The nearest station is connected with the campus/factory/powerhouse/defense/quarry, by laying track between any of the running lines, except the main line, connecting through a derailing switch/trap point, to maintain isolation between the campus/factory/powerhouse and the station section.
Stabling Siding, for holding train rakes:
On stations where trains terminate and originate, siding long enough to accommodate the train rake is provided, isolated with any running line, through trap point.
Washing Line Siding:
On stations where trains terminate and originate, and its maintenance/washing is also to be carried out, a siding equipped with washing facilities is provided. Such lines are isolated with running lines of the station section, through trap point.
Long Siding for Overlap:
Owing to sections which are busy and simultaneous reception & despatch is essentially required to save operational time, the overlap is set towards a long siding, long enough to accommodate prescribed length for overlap, which shall always be kept clear, instead of setting points towards the main line up to the last stop signal. Sometimes a siding meant for shunting is also combined with the overlap-siding and is kept clear of any vehicle or loading unloading of material up to the trap point placed at the given length, required for the overlap, between the signal and the trap point. The rest of the siding beyond trap point is used for shunting purposes, usually protected by a Shunt Signal.
Siding for shunting purposes:
As discussed in preceding paragraph, the siding for the purpose of shunting only shall be provided independently of a combination of overlap and siding for shunting. Such siding is isolated from the running line from which it is taken off through the trap point and is controlled by Shunt Signals on either side of the trap point.
Goods Wharf:
Stations, where goods’ booking is also done, a siding dedicated for the goods wharf is provided and taken off from and connected to running the line through hand operated points interlocked with the controlling Cabin/Station Master’s interlocking frame/electrical/electronic interlocking. The arrangement is for the reasons of economy, as such in case frequent operation of points connecting goods wharf is required to be done, these points may be operated directly from the lever frame/Control cum indication panel/VDU, through electric point machine.
Direct reception and dispatch to & from a siding are not allowed. The train shall first be received on the running line using running signal and thereafter shunting shall be performed using Shunt Signals. Similarly, the rake of the train shall be placed on the running line and then be dispatched therefrom.
Siding taking off from the Block Section:
Sometimes when a siding is required to be taken off from the main line in the block section and either the loco going inside block section for transfer of/picking up wagons into/from the siding may be required to come back to the originating station or moving ahead to the next station, the advanced starter/last stop signal shall be interlocked with the key for controlling the siding.
Catch Siding:
Whenever gradient is more than 1 in 80 falling towards the station within 45 meters beyond the outermost points at either end at the station, a Catch Siding shall be provided to entrap the wagon(s)/train that might get delinked from the Loco/running train in the block section, the same shall be lead to the Catch Siding rising towards a high altitude so as to enable it to stop of its own moving against gravity, without entering into station section.
The point provided to connect the Catch Siding is with the main line, spring loaded and is normally set to connect block section. As a train enters into the block section from the station, it shall trail through the spring loaded point and allow the train to enter into the block section without any hindrance.
Slip Siding:
Whenever gradient is more than 1 in 100 falling away from the station, within 45 meters beyond the outermost points at either end, a slip siding shall be provided to entrap the wagon(s)/train that might get delinked from the train/loco, standing/running at the station, the same shall be lead and rolled down to the Slip Siding rising towards a high altitude so as to enable it to stop of its own moving against gravity, without causing an accident, to avoid entry of the wagon(s)/train into the block section.