V/Line WOLO sensors

wongm · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:46 pm

Over the past few months some new sensors have been popping up along the Regional Fast Rail lines.

From what I have heard these sensors will let V/Line monitor the temperature and stress of the rail from a remote location, and only apply WOLO speed restrictions when a measured threshold level is reached, rather than slow down trains whenever the temperature is forecast more than 'x' value.

The first are 'rail stress gauges' placed in the rail itself. They popped up on the Geelong line back in July, one at North Shore, one at Lara, and 2 more elsewhere:

A more recent appearance is these compounds trackside. They have a weather station, and two short lengths of track at right angles, fitted with more sensors. This one is near Lara, I have also seen two of these compounds on Ingleston Bank:

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TE2815 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:50 pm

Be interesting to see if sections of track that short are suitable enough to give an accurate reading.

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FieldShunt74 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:11 pm

Is the "speed restrictions in hot weather due to possible continuous welded rail misalignment" thing called WOLO in Victoria too?

574M · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:57 pm

FieldShunt74 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:51 pm

That's cool. No, wait, hot. No, wait...

That's unusually magnanimous and non-parochial for interstate relations, isn't it? It's good, but. Plus it's a great 'word' to use. WOLO, WOLO, WOLO... Lotsa fun.

Cool

kuldalai · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:14 pm

With the fenced compounds it is likely that what is being measured is the core temperature of the rail, rather than the amount of expansion as the expansion is both lengthwise and crossways and no doubt heightwise too .

The circular device would be to measure wind speed, not to generate power as that would be from available underground power on RFR lines.

KEG · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:44 pm

It appears to have a solar panel to provide power..

A4000Bear · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:29 pm

There is one of those fenced compounds on the Bendigo line, about a kilometre or two on the down side of Macedon. Its interesting to note it coincides with a long section of old wooden sleepered track that never got upgraded with the RFR.

Xiphias · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:27 am

The Vinelander · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:15 am

Fireman Dave · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:54 am

RM22 · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:50 am

WOLO
Speed restriction notice applies for one day. When predicted temperature 36 degrees or higher. Prepared by Rail Safety Manager. Sent to Metrol, Centrol, Train Crew Allocation Officer, Outstations, Rail Operators, Train Controllers and Signallers. Speed Limit Max. 90km all lines from 1200 to 2000 unless otherwise stated. When informed of a Wolo, driver must contact the Train Control (Metrol) and fill out Wolo Form. Cancelling - Maybe cancelled by rail safety manager but only 2 hours after a cool change. Signaller to advise drivers of cancelled Wolo.

RM22

NR77 · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:56 pm

What does WOLO mean?

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574M · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:36 pm

Some say:

W in WOLO stands for Welded Rail;

others say:

Warning of Low Overhead (which I suspect is a mischief definition)

still others say WOLO means

Warning of Line Overheat (which is fed to Cityrail staff, and is not an invention of my own; we have reports of this being fed to the learned at Petersham);

Others tell us that WOLO does not apply on sections on line where concrete sleepers are in use;

Other authorities say WOLO is for heat-based speed restrictions irrespective of whether the rail is welded or not.

On this page, http://www.railpage.org.au/telecode/ (which is the Victorian Railways Telecode Book) the term WOLO does not appear.

Some say "WOLO is certainly used for speed restrictions enforced over 36 degrees.... "

NSW has WOLO boards, which provide for reduced speed in declared conditions. In NSW, WOLO means 'Welded track - restrictions on speed of Operation of LOcomotives'

Generally, you can say it is for heat based speed restrictions. However, my research is unable to find any official definition for Victoria.

Fireman Dave · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:07 pm

How many times does it have to be said? The term WOLO means absolutely nothing. It is a NSW railways telegraph code used for the introduction of heat related speed restrictions. 4 letter codes were used for all sorts of things and I believe none of them have any specific meaning.

Dave Malcolm
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