REPORT NO. MR-439 ECONOMIC SURVEY OF AXLES WITH OVERHEATED JOURNALS

In order to determine the economics involved in this subject, a survey was made in the main wheel shop on five large railroads in the United States, covering the following items: (Item 1) How many axles are scrapped due to all causes except those handled for overheated journals? (Item 2) How many new axles are now being used as replacements for axles which are scrapped due to condemning limits for wear on wheel seats, journals or uncorrectable defects such as cracks? (Item 3) How many axles are now being used to replace axles which were overheated and badly scored and gouged? (Item 4) How many axles are considered useable, machined and then tested and found to be defective and subsequently scrapped under present Interchange Rules? (Item 5) What is the approximate expense of reclaiming by turning, magnetic particle testing for cracks, and placing axles in condition for use under current Interchange Rules? The data thus obtained was analyzed and these conclusion were reached: The adoption of a ruling to arbitrarily scrap all axles which had an overheated journal will not eliminate broken journals from other causes, or affect the number of hot boxes; The principal cause of the greater number of all broken journals is burn-offs as a result of being continued in operation without being detected while overheating; Further reduction in the number of hot boxes will most effectively reduce these incidents; The net annual material and labor costs of arbitrarily scrapping axles having overheated journals which are presently reconditioned for further service under current Interchange Rules, based upon the secondhand value of the replacement axles, is estimated to be $403,752.13.

Media Info

  • Pagination: 12 p.

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00033239
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: MR-439 Report
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM