Preparation of Patrol Charts – Short Note

Preparation of Patrol Charts –

(1) The Divisional Engineer will prepare patrol charts for each of the sections where monsoon patrolling is required to be done, taking into consideration the train timings of the time table in force during this period. The principles governing the preparation of patrol charts shall be -

(a) Ordinarily patrolling will be carried out by a single patrolman, but in regions where danger from wild animals, dacoits and other risks as in ghat sections exist, patrolling in pairs may be introduced with the approval of the Chief Engineer.

(b) All trains carrying passengers between sunset and sunrise get the maximum protection possible.

(c) As far as possible, each block section will be treated as a unit and the length will be divided into equal beats. The length of each patrol beat should not normally exceed 5 km. Where the block section is more than 10 km. an intermediate flag station, if any, or any other suitable point may be fixed as intermediate station, to keep the length of beat at about 5 km.

(d) The walking speed of a patrolman may be taken as 3 km. per hour.

(e) The maximum distance covered by a patrolman should not normally exceed 20 km. in a day.

(f) A period of at least half an hour rest is desirable between consecutive beats.

(g) If the frequency of train services is high, and one set of patrolmen is not able to cover all the trains in the section, a second set of patrolmen may be introduced to reduce the interval.

(h) For giving better protection to all passenger trains, between sun-set and sun-rise it would be advantageous to plot the scheduled paths of all passenger trains and then plot the patrol movement in such a way, so as to minimize the time interval between patrolling of the beat and passage of train.