Railhead Swab Kits

This suite of analytical tests conducted by ESG will help to identify whether the contamination was caused by such material as:

• Environmental contamination (e.g. leaves or neighbouring activities)
• Oil or lubricant leakage from the train
• Cargo or other contamination from the train ahead

ESG can also develop bespoke analysis of the samples to determine the presence of specific contamination, such as sugar contaminating the rails from a sugar refinery. Many factors reduce wheel-rail adhesion and it is vital that all risks are investigated, analysed and plans made to avoid a recurrence of the incident.

Rail Incidents and SPADs (Signals Passed At Danger) usually happen at the most inconvenient times and locations, and the equipment to take railhead swabs to investigate the incident is not always to hand.

Railhead Swab Kits
Every time there is an incident on the railways or a train passing a signal at danger (SPAD), an incident investigation team is dispatched to find out why it occurred. ESG have put together a kit that contains everything you could need to take investigative samples including: filter papers, pipettes, scalpel, latex gloves, sample bottles, identifying labels, along with full instructions and an order form for laboratory analysis. The kit is packaged in a durable plastic tub that can be kept on a shelf ready to be used at a moment’s notice. The investigators using the Railhead Swab kits all have to be fully trained to use them effectively. ESG undertakes many training courses throughout the year to ensure that investigators are using the swabs properly. Once samples have been collected from the incident zone, they can be dispatched to ESG using the reply paid envelope included in the kit.

Analysis of the samples will help identify the presence of material that could have had an effect on the loss of wheelrail adhesion and provide vital information to help prevent a similar incident occurring. Analysis includes Microscopy examination, X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), Gas Chromatography utilising Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).

For further information, contact us.