INDUSTRY COMES TO SEE IMPORTANCE OF TRACK/TRAIN DYNAMICS

The AAR has contracted with Southern Pacific for development of a description of a national research program on track/train dynamics. Railroad suppliers and government are cooperating in developing a research program to give a better understanding of train/track dynamics. Six technical aspects of the technical problem must be considered: Angle of attack between wheel and rail, Vertical unloading of wheel due to track irregularities, Lateral wheel loading due to severe slack run-in, Gage widening, Maintenance of truck components, and Overspeed. Southern Pacific formed a task force to investigate the dynamics of locomotive and car wheels against the rail, due to several unexplained derailments. The Southern has been using a caboose fitted with a strain-gage coupler to devise methods of train handling which minimize forces that can cause train separations. The Canadian National has put into service a new dynamometer car capable of measuring and recording drawbar pull and buff, speed, throttle position, sanding wheel slip, mileage and other factors. Westinghouse Air Brake has developed a computer simulation of train braking performance. For nominal charge, programs can be run on specific railroad operating problems - retardation, stop distance, signal spacing and train dynamics.

• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  P.O. Box 350
  Bristol, CT  United States  06010
• Publication Date: 1972-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 8-13
• Serial:
  • Railway Locomotives and Cars
  • Volume: 146
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brakes; Derailments; Simulation; Strain measurement; Train track dynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Braking systems; Research vehicles
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00047968
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 4 1974 12:00AM