Permanent Monitoring Systems of the Contact-Wire of Railroad Catenary: the Main Tasks of Implementation

Technical condition of major and auxiliary sites of transportation infrastructure, including railroad branch, must be determined on time and hidden defects should not cause to failures which impede technological schedule fulfillment. Well timed definition of sophisticated railroad structural technical elements status quo is impossible to complete by means of maintenance specialists only, but permanent monitoring performance is essential to achieve the required task. The aforesaid is the issue for the railroad catenary as well. Permanent monitoring of supporting structural elements of railroad catenary is being conducted via railway-laboratory vehicles as well as by means of maintenance workers in accordance with available manuals and instructions. Well known permanent monitoring systems are being applied within many countries. As for the Russian Federation, for the term of permanent monitoring stage the above systems were not being implemented, but experimental researches are being conducted. It is worthy of note that authors of present paper were pioneers of those systems for Russian Railroad Network. Our system is considered as universal one and may be suitable per any type of railroad catenary including tackle gear compensation devices. Vast experience of authors concerning design and services of the abovementioned systems as well as catenary kit itself, helps us to take a look in nearest future of permanent monitoring systems. Our present paper is aimed at this important factor highlighted.