Podanur rail workshop turns 60

The workshop had manufactured various mechanical signalling components like control panels, level frames and level lock circuit controllers to begin with.

The workshop was also engaged in overhauling and repair of reversers, single line block instruments, control phones and selectors. 

An experienced officer, who gained knowledge of the erstwhile S and T workshop by word of mouth from his seniors, recalled how the workshop had only a small laboratory attached to undertake development activities.

The face of the repair workshop changed from repair and overhauling to manufacturing, gradually between 1968 and 1977 with the expansion of infrastructure and in-house development of new signalling equipment like electrical signal machine and line block instrument. 

During the transition phase, the workshop partnered with London-based M/s Westinghouse Brake and Signal for technology transfer to manufacture ‘Q’ relays and M/s Indian Telephone Industries in Bangalore to manufacture shelf-type relays. 

From a 60-staff repairing workshop, the institution became a supplier of vital signalling relays to the entire Indian Railways. The workshop grew further to produce electronic axle counters a year later in 1978.