Recent developments to improve cane railway operations

As sugar factories strive to become more efficient, demands are being placed on train operations staff to minimise locomotive running times. Delays which occur at mainline junctions, passing loops and catchpoints where trains have to stop so crews can operate turnout switches must be minimised. The biggest delays occur when the driver's assistant has to walk the length of the train to the locomotive after returning the turnout switch blades to the normal position, as must be done at catchpoints. It is common practice at many mills to leave junction and passing loop turnouts set in one particular position. As canefield locomotives have increased in mass and power, trailing loads have increased and trains have become longer. Delays caused by the driver's assistant walking the length of the train have increased. Three developments aimed at reducing delays at turnout switches are discussed.