scope:

Introduction

This Track Work Instruction covers how to maintain a sand drag.

The purpose of a sand drag is to slow down a train that has over run a signal and has been diverted through a set of trap points.

A sand drag is basically a set of rails enclosed in an open top box, the sides of which extend above the height of the rails. Contained within the box and covering the rails, is sand or chippings. The depth of sand and length of the sand drag is pre-determined dependant on the type of rail traffic on the route and the line speed.

Sand drags are usually positioned at locations where, if there were no sand drag, the consequences of a train running through a signal set at danger could be catastrophic.

There are many patterns of sand drag on the network; they all have the same purpose.

Some sand drags are within the four foot - there being only a set of switches. Other sand drags are located beyond the crossing of a lead.

See also the separate instruction:

TWI 2G071 How to maintain buffer stops