Slinger 5 makes succesful debut during Spalding blockade
The Jarvis Rail and Network Rail London North East Integrated Management Team (IMT) was first to utilise Fastline’s fifth track renewals system (TRS or Slinger). Slinger 5 was deployed by the Peterborough team during a successful two week blockade at Spalding in Lincolnshire in February 2007.
Now in its fifth generation, the latest Slinger delivers enhanced efficiencies and improved safety due to a number of innovations including greater use of hydraulics. The support arms are now fully hydraulic and only one person is now needed to release the machine’s safety mechanism and engage the arms, significantly reducing the risk of working at height.
During the Spalding blockade the Peterborough IMT team utilised Slinger 5 to deliver 3,083 yards on the down track at Brewery Lane, 3,008 yards on the down track at Maltings Lane and 3,560 yards at Blotoft, as well as successfully completing the conventional renewal of 1,606 yards on the up line track at Mill Green.
Jack Forrest Jarvis Rail’s project manager at the Spalding Blockade, said: “The Spalding blockade was a real team effort and a great success. As well as the conventional renewal at Mill Green the team worked through the night on three occasions using Slinger to deliver approximately 3,836 sleepers in each 18-hour period. This is nearly double the amount that could be laid in that time using traditional methods. We were impressed with the enhanced efficiencies and improved safety provided by the Slinger.”
“Throughout the blockade the team successfully renewed more than 30,000 composite yards of track and worked hard to ensure that the project was completed safely and handed back on time at line speed within the 14 day time period. This total contributed significantly to the overall outstanding performance of the LNE IMTs in safely delivering around 63,000 composite yards of track renewals in a four-week period.”
Developed in-house by Jarvis Rail and Fastline, the first Slinger was introduced to the rail industry in July 2002 on a renewals project at the Swaithe Viaduct, near Barnsley. Originally developed to deliver steel sleepers, each wagon could deliver 28 per drop and had 3.5 tonne cranes capable of delivering sleepers to an ajacent track with a ‘six foot’ measurement of 6’6”.
Slinger 2 had the same basic design as its predecessor but had 5.3 tonne cranes with a reach of 6’ 6” allowing it to take 15 concrete sleepers or 28 steels. At the same time, support arms were also developed to further improve stability whilst sleepers were being unloaded.
February 2003 saw the introduction of Slinger 3 which was specifically enhanced to allow it to take more concrete sleepers. Now with two 7.5 tonne cranes with a ‘six foot’ reach of 8’ 6’’ it was able to take 30 concretes or 28 steels. Another enhancement meant that the slingers support arms were now stored inwards rather than away to the bulkheads. This not only enabled the longer reach, but demonstrated Slinger’s ability to lift, carry and replace track panels up to 240m in length.
Further innovation saw Slinger 4 launched in February 2004. It was able to carry and deliver up to six 216m lengths of new Continuous Welded Rail as well as the requisite number of steel or concrete sleepers. As with Slinger 3, it could also handle long track panels.
And now, the fifth generation of Slinger has been developed to reduce significantly the risks associated with Working at Height by making the system function hydraulically as much as possible. Jarvis Rail and Fastline’s research & development teams are already working on further improvements.
All five generations of the Slinger are available for hire from Fastline, with the opportunity for the customer to choose the machine most appropriate for the needs of a particular project. Fastline will assist and advise if required. The rates have recently been lowered making the machines the ideal track renewal solution in terms of safety, yardage delivery and cost efficiency.
Alan Addison Research and Development Manager at Jarvis, said: “The Slinger has revolutionised track renewal, and we have every intention of continuing to develop it so that we can deliver even greater levels of safety and efficiency. The fifth generation of Slinger performed well at the Spalding Blockade, and we are confident that it will prove hugely beneficial to other organisations involved in track renewal. However, we do not rest on our laurels and we are already working on further improvements to the functionality of Slinger.”