SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY – HUBLI VITAL STATISTICS

1 36 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY HUBLI VITAL STATISTICS 1. Sanctioned Strength 3618 2. On Roll Strength 3170 3. No. of Officers 9 4. No. of Supervisors 240 5. Total Area 105200 6. Covered Area 39625 7. Township Area -- 8. Power Consumption 151406 units/month 9. Water Consumption 4950 KL/month 10. Annual Budget Cr. MAIN ACTIVITIES S/N. Activities Outturn 09-10 Target 10-11 1. BG AC Coach POH 110 120 2. BG NAC Coach POH 864 924 3. BG Wagon rebuilding -- 600 4. Wagon Production 182 160 BRIEF HISTORY OF HUBLI WORKSHOP Loco, Carriage and Wagon workshop at HUBLI was established in 1885 under Southern Mahratta RAILWAY (SMR) headquartered at Dharwar for maintenance of meter gauge locos, coaches and wagons. In 1919, Madras & Southern Mahratta RAILWAY (MSMR) was formed and the workshop was brought under the jurisdiction of MSMR.

2 The workshop continued with periodic overhauling activities of MG rolling stock. On reorganization of the Railways after independence, six zonal Railways were formed and in 1951, HUBLI workshop was brought under the control of During this period, IRS type rolling stocks were introduced and therefore, new facilities were added in the workshop under modernisation plan taken up by SR during the period 1960-66 at a total cost of about Cr. Under the plan, a new complex with EOT crane for repair of steam locomotives was set up and a 100T traverse was installed. POH of passenger class YP 4-6-2 and goods class YG 2-8-2 configuration steam locomotives and YD 2-8-2 dual class steam locomotives used on steep gradients were carried out by Erecting Shop and Boiler shop.

3 Erecting shop used to first separate the tender and engine and thereafter from the engine, boiler was separated after cutting the saddle plate, breather plate. Boiler was then sent to boiler shop for overhauling of boiler elements, smoke tubes etc. MG IRS type coaches were wooden body mounted on metal under frame. A full fledged saw mill was functioning under Carriage shop comprising various wood working machines such as log band saw, vertical band saw, planning, drilling and boring machines. The workshop also manufactured wooden body 37 inspection carriages, narrow gauge coaches and horse vans during this period. MG wagons having riveted construction were repaired in wagon shop. In recognition of the commendable work done by the workshop, the first MG diesel locomotive rolled out from Diesel locomotive Works, Varanasi in 1961 was aptly named as HUBLI .

4 Later in 1966, another reorganization of Railways was undertaken and 3 more zones were carved out of the existing zones, SOUTH Central RAILWAY (SCR) was formed by merging HUBLI and Vijayawada divisions of SR and Secunderabad and Solapur divisions of Central RAILWAY . Thus, on Gandhi Jayanti day of 1966, the workshop was taken over by newly formed SCR. In 1969, entire repair work of meter gauge rolling stocks of Central RAILWAY portion which was previously done in Lallaguda workshop was transferred to HUBLI workshop. In 1969, the workshop was adjudged the best RAILWAY workshop on Indian Railways for achieving productivity improvement in excess of ten percent. The financial award was utilized to set up a community hall on Club Road. Diversification of activities As part of diversification process, in 1987, the workshop commenced manufacture of fabricated UIC bogies for BOX wagons.

5 However, the UIC bogie manufacturing activity was discontinued in 1995 due to phasing out of BOX wagons on Indian Railways. The BOX wagons have been replaced by technologically superior higher capacity BOXN wagons. Furthermore, in 1990 the workshop commenced manufacture of fabricated bogies for ICF type coaches. During 1989, under SCR, the second modernisation plan was undertaken at a total cost of about emphasis on introduction of new machinery and plant along with material handling facilities. In 1993, with the end of steam traction, periodic overhaul of MG locomotives was discontinued. In the following year, periodic overhaul of MG coaches and wagons was also discontinued due to gauge conversion. The gauge conversion work from MG to BG was taken up during 1995-96 at a total cost of about Cr.

6 And finally, with the formation of Rly., the workshop is now part of SWR from 1st April 2003. HUBLI workshop thus forms the backbone of SWR for maintenance and repair activities of rolling stock and its components. An iron foundry shop which used to manufacture cast iron brake blocks was closed in 2003 due to technological switching over to composite brake blocks. Similarly, brass foundry which used to cast suspension bearings and bimetallic journal bearings has also been closed. Ever enterprising and highly motivated staff was redeployed in other areas of manufacturing activities by providing necessary training inputs at Basic Training Centre of the workshop. As part of the future plan of action, a detailed estimate for modernisation & upgradation project of workshop at a total cost of Cr.

7 Has been sent to RAILWAY Board for sanction. Work has to commence soon for drainage, sewerage and road networking, industrial flooring and pathway, demolition of old dilapidated sheds and structures and construction of new sheds and gantry etc. in addition to procurement of new state-of-the-art machinery & plant and material handling facilities.