India's railways can't move enough coal

[greyhounds]

For a 5' 6" gauge railway, they sure seem to use small capacity cars.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/coal-clogs-up-indian-ports-as-railways-car-shortage-slows-deliveries/articleshow/65252629.cms

 

[BaltACD]

greyhounds

For a 5' 6" gauge railway, they sure seem to use small capacity cars.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/coal-clogs-up-indian-ports-as-railways-car-shortage-slows-deliveries/articleshow/65252629.cms

If the statement is correct that coal is hauled in 60 car trains of 4000 tons of coal that is only 66+ tons of product per car.

[usmc1401]

It could be that the couplers that are used will not take bigger loads.

[dehusman]

Could be couplers, could be siding length, could be unloading facilites, could be locomotive capacity, could be some arbitrary "we've always done it this way", could be some reglatory or rate issue.

Reading some other articles on the Indian railroads it appears that there have been many projects that were started and never finished and they are struggling with a lot of deferred maintenance.  Those things tell me that adding more cars really won't help the situation very much.

[blue streak 1]

Do not remember the source or time but read somewhere that Indian RRs have  unique train make up problems.

1.  Some cars are tightlock couplers ( type & strength unknown ) and others are the European screw type ?  Locos were stated able to connect to either type coupler but cars cannot be mixed in a train ?  There was nothing that I recall stating if buffers were used on all cars or not ?

2.  Brake systems are of 2 types - first somewhat similar to US RRs ?  Second vacuum brakes ? .  Again cars cannot be mixed but some locos equipped for both types ?  Not knowing about vacuum brakes does that system limit train length and / or number of cars  ?

If this is correct cannot imagine the logistical problem of assembling  4 different types of non compatible cars into a train ?  Not to add the problem of assigning a properly equipped  loco ?  Can we assume new cars are of what type ?  If someone could access new car specs ? 

We need an Indian RR expert to step forward ?  

EDIT   Is there a track guage difference as well ?

[blue streak 1]

Follow on.  Found this from Indian RRs.  Most new cars now are either single line or dual line air brakes.  Second line types are used to recharge the air resevior quicker.  Direct release is used as well.  If you go to the Vacuum brake section you will see that trailing ton limitations are high and get more limiting the steeper the grade is. 

https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-stock2.html#brake 

EDIT  Also noted the new car couplers are AAR type "E"  did not have time to find out draft gear limits ?  

[greyhounds]

blue streak 1

Do not remember the source or time but read somewhere that Indian RRs have unique train make up problems. 1. Some cars are tightlock couplers ( type & strength unknown ) and others are the European screw type ? Locos were stated able to connect to either type coupler but cars cannot be mixed in a train ? There was nothing that I recall stating if buffers were used on all cars or not ? 2. Brake systems are of 2 types - first somewhat similar to US RRs ? Second vacuum brakes ? . Again cars cannot be mixed but some locos equipped for both types ? Not knowing about vacuum brakes does that system limit train length and / or number of cars ? If this is correct cannot imagine the logistical problem of assembling 4 different types of non compatible cars into a train ? Not to add the problem of assigning a properly equipped loco ? Can we assume new cars are of what type ? If someone could access new car specs ? We need an Indian RR expert to step forward ? EDIT Is there a track guage difference as well ?

I'm not an Indian RR expert.  But I did deal with Indian RR personel when I was with RoadRailer.  I gave tours of a Thrall railcar factory, bought them a good dinner, and took them to see how a RoadRailer train was put together.   All part of the life of a marketeer.  We never made a sale to India.

Yes, there is a gauge difference.  India is primarily a 5' 6" gauge system with some meter gauge lines added in.  They've been trying to replace the meter gauge for a while, but it's still active.

They've got a population of 1.35 billion people and an economy that can grow to meet the needs of those people.  Heck Fire, India can even export food from time to time.  But to have a decent life their population needs electricity.  You know, things such as refrigeration for food, artificial light at night, heating, cooling, medical equipment, etc.  Coal generation is an important part of providing that electricity.  

And they just ain't gonna' meet those needs with 4,000 ton coal trains.  A long, long time ago it was determined that the most efficient way to move coal by rail was in unit trains.  These trains need not be compatible with other equipment.  They don't mix with other equipment.  What they need are 15,000 ton trains powered wih DPU.

My limited experience dealing with Indian Railways convinced me that they are one big government bureaucracy that resists change to the extreme.

But hey, I bought several of them a nice dinner and gave 'em a tour.

 

 

 

 

[SD70Dude]

India might not have the right cars for North American-style unit trains, but they have the right power.  These are SD70MAC's under the hood:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7M0fvQQ3JWQ

According to Wikipedia there are over 1,000 of them in India.