Lubricants for rolling stock itself, such as axle box grease, are usually fixed by the railway's or the equipment maker's specification. A depot, though, is full of plant equipment that is lubricated like any factory: air compressors, wheel lathes, overhead cranes, lifting jacks, track machines and the transformers that feed them. When one of these stops, trains wait. A written depot lubrication schedule prevents most of those stops.
Run depot equipment on a written schedule: compressor oil checked and condensate drained daily, hydraulic oil on jacks, lifts and track machines kept clean and at level, EP gear oil in crane and lathe gearboxes, grease on crane and machine bearings at set intervals, and transformer oil tested on a schedule. For rolling-stock items, use exactly the product the railway or equipment specification names, and keep the specification with the lubricant.
| Equipment | Point | Lubricant | Routine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air compressors | Crankcase or sump | Compressor oil of the maker's grade (ISO VG 100 for many reciprocating units) | Daily level check and condensate drain; oil change by hours or condition |
| Wheel lathes | Hydraulics, slideways, gearboxes | Anti-wear hydraulic oil, slideway oil, EP gear oil as specified | Levels weekly; slideway lubricator daily |
| EOT and gantry cranes | Gearboxes, wheel and drum bearings, wire ropes | EP gear oil (VG 220–320 as specified), EP grease, wire rope lubricant | Gearbox levels monthly; ropes when dry |
| Lifting jacks, bogie drop tables, lifts | Hydraulics, screws, nuts | Hydraulic oil as specified; grease for screw jacks | Before each use: level, leaks, screw condition |
| Track machines (tampers, ballast cleaners) | Hydraulics, gear units, vibrator bearings | Hydraulic oil HLP 46 or 68 as specified; EP gear oil; EP grease | Daily checks in the field |
| Traction substations | Transformers | Transformer oil to the specified standard | BDV, moisture and acidity tests on schedule |
| Ventilation fans, pumps, workshop machines | Bearings, belt drives | Long-life bearing grease; V-belts | Grease by the plate; belt tension at PM |
Brake testing, pneumatic tools and cleaning all depend on compressed air. Three habits keep depot compressors healthy:
Overhead cranes in a depot lift bogies and heavy components. Their gearboxes need EP gear oil of the grade the maker specifies, their ropes need a wire rope lubricant, and their wheel and drum bearings need regular greasing. Wheel lathes combine hydraulics, slideways and gear drives; each needs its own lubricant, and slideway oil should never be replaced by hydraulic oil.
Tampers and ballast cleaners work in dust, heat and rain, often far from the depot. Hydraulic failures are the most common stoppage:
For axle boxes, traction motor bearings, gear cases and similar rolling-stock items, the railway or equipment specification names the product. Do not substitute a "similar" grease or oil, do not mix greases of different thickeners in one bearing, and record batch numbers where the procedure asks for it.
Traction substation and depot transformers depend on their oil for insulation and cooling. Test breakdown voltage (BDV), moisture and acidity at least once a year, and more often for critical units. Our transformer oil BDV test guide explains the test and common limits.
Store each specified lubricant with a copy of its specification reference and a clear label, in a separate rack from general plant lubricants. Most substitution mistakes happen when containers look alike.
Ventilation fans, pumps and workshop machines run on V-belts and grease-lubricated bearings. Use the right grease quantity per bearing (our bearing regreasing guide gives a simple formula), check belt tension by measurement (see the V-belt tension guide), and replace multi-belt drives as matched sets.
For the full range of depot and rolling-stock lubricants, see our page on railway lubricants.
Can depot equipment use the same lubricants as a factory?Yes for plant equipment such as compressors, cranes, lathes and fans, using the grades their makers specify. Rolling-stock items must use the product named in the railway or equipment specification.
Who decides which grease goes into axle boxes?The railway's or the bearing and equipment maker's specification. Use exactly that product and do not mix greases.
How often should depot compressor oil be changed?At the running hours the compressor maker specifies, or earlier if oil condition tests show it. Drain condensate every day.
How often should traction transformer oil be tested?At least once a year for BDV, moisture and acidity, and more often for critical units.
Running a railway workshop, metro depot or rolling-stock maintenance contract? Send us your equipment list or indent, and our team will map each line to the right Banesto grade with data sheets.