Development of a Railroad Track Maintenance Management System for Army Installations: Initial Decision Report

摘要

This report assesses current Army railroad maintenance and repair (M&R) management practices, and suggests methods and procedures to solve problems created by lack of standardized track management practices. Large and small American railroad companies were surveyed to determine if a complete maintenance management system already existed which the Army could adapt. No complete track maintenance management system was found which could be readily adapted to Army use. The most efficient way of providing a track maintenance management system is to design one specifically tailored to the Facility Engineer's system of operations. This report outlines such a complete track maintenance management system. The proposed systems which has been developed would incorporate the following procedures: 1. Objective, uniform track inspection methods; 2. A standardized track condition rating and evaluation system; 3. A database for storing and retrieving track inventory information; 4. Guidelines and standards for determining the most viable M&R alternatives; 5. Procedures for performing life-cycle project cost analyses; 6. Budget planning and project prioritization procedures; and 7. Efficient work reporting methods.