1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164 
Advanced Ideas in
Page 88
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MIXED-FLEET
THEideal fleet of motor vehicles—ideal from many points of view, but chiefly from that of effective and economical maintenance—is that in winch all the units are of a similar type. This end is, for many reasons, rarely attainable. Amongst them may be cited the conditions involved in such work as falls to be done by a railway company's fleet. How the problems of maintenance of a mixed fleet are met and solved is well illustrated by the example of the Great Western Railway Co., maintenance for which is the responsibility of Mr. W. Chas. 13olton, A.M.I.T.A. .
There are over 500 mechanically propelled .vehicles in Mr. Bolton's charge, as well as 200 trailers and 600 horsedrawn carts.
The system of installation, maintenance and overhaul is controlled, so far as office records are concerned, by a scheme in which each vehicle is given a dossier. That dossier is complete in every detail, commencing from the moment when the vehicle is received from the manufacturers and continuing without intermission.
So soon as delivery is taken, the vehicle is checked over in every detail as regards equipment, as well as with reference to chassis and bodywork. At the same time, records are made of all such data as index mark and number, references. to licensing, both Road Fund and Road and Rail Traffic Act, and the consecutive number which is allotted to the vehicle. All this information is embodied on one whita sheet, the first in the dossier.
Next, the position of the vehicle in the general scheme of transport is recorded—the area in which it is to work. This is indicated on a board by means of a disc. It is also allocated an appropriate period for "S.P." and "L.P."
The system of maintenance comprises three classifications known as " L.P.," " S.P." and " E." " L.P." means long period. It refers to a thorough and complete overhaul, to which every vehicle is subjected at periods of approximately two years. " S.P." means short period. Every vehicle is brought in at intervals of six weeks and given a dock overhaul. This is what is meant by "S.P." "E." means emergency, and is the equivalent of first-aid. It applies to any running repair which becomes necessary during the six-weeks' interval between dock overhauls.
. Complete detailed records are kept of all the work carried Out either on "S.P." or "LP" The forms on which these records are kept are similar, except as regards the colour of the paper used, which is buff for "SP" and white for "L.P." There is provision for notes relating to every chassis item on one sheet and of every item of the bodywork on another. There are four columns in addition to that in which the item is enumerated, a fairly wide one for " rernarks " and three narrow ones headed: " O.K.," " Immediate " and "Next Time."
Under the last-named column, references are made to certain parts which, as is disclosed by examination, will need renewal or repair on the occasion of the next "S.?.," but c30 which can be passed as satisfactory for another six weeks' running. Incidentally, this method affords an opportunity of ensuring that any new part which is likely to be wanted is available, for components are ordered forthwith on being referred to in the column "Next Time."
The work is divided up as follows:—The principal repair depot is at Alfred Road, Paddington, which is equipped to carry out " L.P.," " S.?." and "E." There are also a service depot at Paddington for goods and parcels vehicles, one at South Lambeth, and at Paddington for platform trucks, Smithfield, Acton, Southall and Hayes.
Each sub-area carries out one "S.P." per day, except that at South Lambeth, where four per day are completed. Each has one maintenance vehicle per &P.," so that there is always a spare vehicle available to replace any which is undergoing its dock overhaul. These machines are permanently on that duty and are marked with an "in." There are three foremen at Paddington service station, working the whole 24 hours between them. Each makes a daily report, so that there is, in effect, a report on the position every eight hours. On each report are entered particulars of any vehicle undergoing "S.?." or with a note of the maintenance vehicle used in substitution, A complete programme is drawn up for" L.P." overhauls to cover 12 months ahead. Vehicles are selected according to type, so that only a certain number of each type is in the shops at any time. Generally, matters are arranged (as at the time of writing) so that there are eight vehicles simultaneously undergoing "L.P.," four " heavies " and four light machines. Heavy vehicles are those of 4-ton load. capacity and upwards.
For the organization of the " S.P." overhaul, the period of six weeks is divided—A, B, C, D, E and F. So soon as delivery is taken, the vehicle is allotted its appropriate week and day for "S.P." The reference CS, for example, would mean that the lorry or van is due for "S.P," on the third day (Wednesday) of the third week.
The appropriate letter and figure is entered on the first record sheet in the dossier. It is always possible, by reference to the dossier, to ascertain when a particular vehicle is due for its next " In the event of any small derangement appearing, it can be decided, by looking up the " S.P." date, whether that fault should be attended to as " E.," or whether it can safely be allowed to go unrepaired until the "S.?." date.
Repairs outside the above scheme are those which become necessary as the result of an accident. This may be a " public" or " home " occurrence. In the case of the former, a separate order is made out, to which all labour and replacements are debited to serve as a basis for making out a claim. " Home " repairs are those resulting from accidents which occur in the yards or depots, or between.