TM 5-628/AFR 91-44
CHAPTER 1
INTENT AND APPLICATION
and the criteria presented herein must supplement
1-1.
Introduction.
each other in the application of these standards. *
a. The Army*s and the Air Force*s railroad
system is a critical asset for both peacetime and
1-4. Track categories.
mobilization missions.
All Army and Air Force track shall be maintained in
b. The standards contained herein are promul-
accordance with one of the following categories:
gated to protect investments in track maintenance
Track
and rehabilitation and to ensure that Army and Air
Category
Types of Track
Force track is maintained at the level needed to
A
Active main lines
support mission requirements.
Any track where the operating speed exceeds 10 miles
per hour (mph)
c. Simply meeting the minimum standard re-
quired herein is not necessarily the best, most cost
Track (both active and inactive) required for mobi-
effective, long-term maintenance policy. The fre-
lization and where the operating speed will exceed 10
miles per hour (mph)
quent occurrence of substandard or restricted con-
ditions indicates the need for a comprehensive track
B
Active passing tracks, loading tracks, classification yard
evaluation to determine if major repair or
tracks, and storage tracks
rehabilitation is warranted.
All other tracks (both active and inactive) required for
mobilization that are not previously identified as
1-2. References. Appendix A contains a list of
Category A track
references used in this document.
Tracks having an occasional use or a foreseeable need
1-3.
Intent.
C
Inactive track with no current mission requirements
a. These standards define the minimum required
1-5. Application.
condition levels for Army and Air Force railroad
a. Requirements versus recommendations. In
track. For Army railroads, these standards shall be
this manual the words "shall" and "is required"
used for the inspection and routine maintenance of
indicate requirements of the standards which must
Army railroad track by in-house or contract
be met as prescribed by Army AR 420-72 and this
personnel as prescribed in AR 420-72. For Air
AFR. Recommendations are indicated by the words
Force railroads, these standards shall be used for the
"may", "should", and "it is recommended that . . .".
inspection and routine maintenance of Air Force
These
recommendations
represent
good
railroad track by in-house* or contract personnel.
maintenance practice.
b. Condition levels. These standards establish
b. These standards are not intended for, and
four levels of track condition. These condition levels
shall not be used as specifications for new con-
indicate relative seriousness of defects, allow
struction or major track rehabilitation. The guid-
comparison of different types of defects, and pro-
ance given in TM 5-850-2/AFM 88-7, Chap. 2 and
vide a means for prioritizing repair work. The four
the American Railway Engineering Association
track condition levels are as follows:
(AREA) "Manual for Railway Engineering" and/or
(1) Full compliance--Track that meets all
host nation industry/government standards will
the requirements of the standards. Track at this
continue to aply to new construction and to the
level has, at most, only minor defects and should be
complete reconstruction of segments of existing fa-
fully capable of handling all train operations within
cilities.
the operating rules of the installation. Routine
c. Should the commercial carrier serving the in-
stallation require a more restrictive standard or
__________
criteria not included in these standards, the instal-
* For Air Force users: throughout this regulation, substitute
lation track shall be maintained to meet the carrier*s
"qualified track inspector" where the text reads "certified track
requirements.
inspector." The Air Force has not established a training and certification
d. The judgement of the certified track inspector
program at this time. See paragraph 2-1 for details.
1-1
Previous Page
