Passenger Ride Quality of a Span Bolster Car with Freight Trucks

A test was performed to measure the ride quality of an eight axle Span Bolster Rail Car with freight trucks. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) felt it necessary to examine the use of freight trucks and Span Bolsters on passenger cars because the Peacekeeper Rail Garrison cars, which were to carry people, were designed for the use of Span Bolsters and freight trucks. Vibration levels were measured on a DUPX 29769 Span Bolster Tank Car and the ASFX 1965 Passenger Car. The test was performed while the tank car was in revenue service from Beaumont, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina, and back over two railroad lines. Vibration levels were compared to !SO specifications for personal ride quality with respect to the fatigue and decreased proficiency limits. It was found that the combination of Span Bolster and freight trucks produced a higher level of vibration than that of a passenger car, which corresponded to a low allowable exposure limit as dictated by the fatigue and decreased proficiency limit. This meant that personnel will experience fatigue in a usual eight hour shift.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16580#p1_z25_gD_lRT_y1990
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads

  Transportation Technology Center, 55500 DOT Road
  Pueblo, CO  United States  81001

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Martin, Robert
  • DiBrito, Dominic
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 174p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car trucks (Railroads); Fatigue (Physiological condition); Passenger cars; Passengers; Personnel; Ride quality; Tank cars; Vibration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Span bolsters
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01666272
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-90
• Contract Numbers: DTFR53-82~C-00282, Task 40
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 18 2018 5:06PM