Title - The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU : Golden Rock workshop to manufacture frameless tank wagons soon

Prototype BTFLN wagon used for carrying petroleum products
: Diversifying its activities, Golden Rock Railway Workshop here will soon embark on the task of manufacturing Bogie Frameless Tank Wagons (BTFLN) meant for transporting petroleum products.

Production of the first prototype of BTFLN wagon is expected to start this month end once the tank barrel manufactured by Braithwaite & Company Limited, a Government of India Undertaking, is supplied to the workshop.

Engaged in a myriad of works, including manufacture of steam locomotives and container wagons besides conversion of in-service metre gauge diesel engines to broad gauge shunting locos, the workshop has been given an order by the Railway Board to manufacture 50 BTFLN wagons.

The BTFLN is a unique type of tank wagon without full structure of under frame throughout the length of the barrel.

First time

This is the first time that the over 80-year-old workshop will manufacture BTFLN wagons which will be of special type in line with the design of Ukraine tank wagons.

As part of the production process, the workshop will make frameless wagons, air brake, bogies and other necessary paraphernalia needed for manufacturing the BTFLN wagons which will be wholly used for railway requirements.

The capacity of each BTFLN wagon would be 76,000 litres.

Special type of steel has been imported for its manufacture, say workshop authorities adding that all materials required for prototype production had been kept ready.

The calibration of tank, filling and discharge systems, and valve fitting would all be done at the workshop.

The workshop plans to manufacture a total of six prototypes of BTFLN wagons for conducting tests before going in for mass production subsequently.

Officials from the Lucknow-based Research Design and Standards Organisation would inspect the prototype and carry out the tests.

Tenth rake

The authorities say the 10{+t}{+h}rake of Bogie Low Platform Long (BLL) container wagons would be dispatched to the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) by October.

The BLL wagons are slightly longer than the Bogie Low Platform Container Flat wagons also known as BLC wagons which are also supplied to the CONCOR by the workshop.