Trackstand

Of the seven events, the trackstand is the most demanding of the team as a whole. This event involves setting up and tearing down a five-metre section of track, including sleepers, rail, connecting plates and bolts. During this event, only four of the five members physically lay the track, with the fifth member acting as a coach.

The event starts with all team members and equipment behind a starting line. Upon the starting call of the judge, the four-team members begin setting the track, which must be connected to an existing two-metre section. After the sleepers are laid, and the rails spiked and bolted, all team members will cross the line and time will be called. The judges will then inspect the track and assess time penalties for rail spacing, spike and sleeper gape, and bolt tension.

After inspection is complete, the time will be restarted and the team must tear the track down. Time is again called when all track components, tools and persons are across the finish line. The judges will then again inspect the area, assessing penalties for any equipment or hardware left on the field. The lowest overall time wins the event.

Trackstand, like so many of the other events, has slowly been phased out of commercial mines, due to the demise of rail networks on mines and more importantly to the increasing role of mechanisation to build railways.