EFFECT OF LUBRICATION IN PREVENTING FROZEN RAIL JOINTS

Rail joint lubrication service tests on the Illinois Central Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad were covered. Various types of lubricants or rust preventatives and methods of application were tested to determine more satisfactory and lasting treatment of rail joints and to prevent stripped joints and damaging corrosion during the life of the joint bars. A description of the test installations was given. Test measurements and data were described for the Illinois Central installation. No important conclusions as to the relative effectiveness of the rust preventatives were justified for this service test of one year. It was evident that the heat in the joint left from the rail end-hardening was detrimental to most of the sections greased with a brush coat. In tests on the Burlington rail joint gap and joint bar pull-in measurements were taken. Inspection of dismantled joints was performed. It was concluded that in general the several kinds of lubricants were not effective in reducing joint wear or pull-in to a significant amount. The greatest benefit derived from these was in the arresting of corrosion and the prevention of hard rust slabs forming in the lower rail fillets at the ends of the joint bars.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1952

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 800-837
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 53
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Lubrication; Rail joints
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052433
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM