Engineering to help keep the wheels turning on Australia’s railroads

Prime-Engineering-Case-Study---Train-Axel-feature-image-1200x628

OUR EXPERIENCE
Trans-Australian Railway Axels and Bevel Gear

Axles are one of the most important parts of a train as they bear the weight of the entire load of the carriage. Australian trains carry a wide range of heavy goods interstate, including coal, iron ore and timber. In fact, trains carrying iron-ore in Western Australia are some of the heaviest in the world, reaching 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes!

Australia’s rail transport network is the 7th longest in the world. It makes sense, considering how large our continent is, and the fact that we lay claim to the longest straight stretch of railroad in the world.

This is a section of the Trans-Australian Railway that spans 478 KM and runs straight through the centre of the desert, crossing the Nullarbor Plain. The Ghan is also a famous historical passenger train that has run from Adelaide to Darwin on a 2979 KM stretch through Australia’s red centre since 1929. Needless to say, Australia has a rich history in rail transport, and these trains require expert engineering to be able to confront such long journeys.

Sturdy parts for sturdy trains

Axles are one of the most important parts of a train as they bear the weight of the entire load of the carriage. Australian trains carry a wide range of heavy goods interstate, including coal, iron ore and timber. In fact, trains carrying iron-ore in Western Australia are some of the heaviest in the world, reaching 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes! The Axles need to be designed with the maximum load that the track can hold in mind. If the maximum axle load is exceeded, it can permanently damage the tracks.

The Challenge:

Recently, a client came to Prime Engineering with an odd request. Their train axle and bevel gear had been delivered to them by the original equipment manufacturer without the holes or bolts to join them together. It was Prime’s job to drill these holes with precision and care, and manufacture matching bolts to join the parts.

What we did:

1

We drilled and reamed the holes in the gear.

2

We did the same to the flange on the shaft.

3

We manufactured from scratch, special shoulder bolts.

4

We joined the two together.

The Results:

The end result was a perfectly workable train axle! .

Do you need train parts manufactured or modified? Contact us today for all of your precision machining and fabrication and welding needs.

CASE STUDIES

VIEW ALL CASE STUDIES

Got a project?
We deliver big
engineering solutions
Australia-wide.
Tell us what you need.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Projects

PTO Housing

Prime Engineering, BOP, annular, oil and gas machinery, engineering solutions, machining tools, machinery repairs, blow out protector device,

Machining Blow Out Protector & Annular

Refurbishing an Ebara Centrifugal Split Case Pump

Refurbishing an Ebara Centrifugal Split Case Pump