OPTIMUM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHEELBASE AND LENGTH OF TWO- AXLED GOODS WAGONS WITH AUTOMATIC DRAW-AND-BUFFING COUPLINGS. RUNNING TESTS ON DB TRACK

The present Interim Report includes results obtained from running trials with 2-axled goods wagons whose wheel-bases, spring suspension, and transverse play were adjustable. The purpose of the tests was to assess the running properties of vehicles whose running gear dimensions failed to conform with the Specification in UIC Leaflets 571-1 and 571-3, and had a greater a/1 ratio. Vehicles of this type would react more favourably to high, longitudinal compressive forces when equipped with automatic couplings. Vehicles with rectangular shackles did not give a clear picture in previous tests. Two of the vehicle types (SNCF and DB) were shown to have considerably poorer running properties when tested at speeds above 85 km/hr when using the longest wheel-base as the most favourable for this arrangement. In the maximum speed range, these vehicles were defined as "unacceptably poor". The other two types continued running satisfactorily even at high speeds. In the case of the OBB wagon, this seems due to the very long wheel-base of 10.15 m, which is not practicable for other reasons. In the case of the SNCF wagons, the reason for the good behaviour has not yet been found; further investigations are necessary. Vehicles equipped with double-shackle running gear proved that satisfactory running properties were possible even with great a/1 ratios of up to about 0.8 at speeds up to 130 km/hr. This means that wagons with a longer wheel-base and shorter overhang than the previous wagons corresponding to UIC Leaflet 571-1 and 571-3, can be operated without ill-effects on their running properties. However, these results should be confirmed by tests on SNCF track, which will be discussed in a later interim report.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1967-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices;
• Pagination: 17 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Derailments; Freight cars; Length; Prevention; Stability (Mechanics); Two axle cars; Vehicle design; Wheel base
• Old TRIS Terms: Automatic coupling; Freight car design; Freight car length; Question b93; Running stability
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052927
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: B93/RP 1/E Intrm Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 1977 12:00AM