Abstract :
The question of maintenance is approached from the point of view trying to determine what are the basic principles which should govern the methods and standards of maintenance. It is evident that if sufficient care has been given to the design, then only those parts of the equipment which are subjected to fairly heavy stresses should require examination. Most of the main wearing parts can be changed or reconditioned at the running sheds, and it should be possible to maintain the locomotive efficiently without major works overhauls, except at long intervals. The need to bring the locomotive into the works should be determined by the necessity to give attention to those parts which cannot be dealt with at the sheds, such as crankshaft grinding, which should only occur at ten-yearly intervals. It is stressed that maintenance cannot be considered as an isolated problem, but it is closely associated with design and operating conditions. There should be an organization whereby all these aspects are co-ordinated, in order that development may proceed along the right lines. Reference is made to the maintenance of main-line Diesel locomotives, but experience here is not extensive.
