LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF TWO FAILED JOURNALS SUBMITTED BY NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY

Two failed journals caused derailment of a loaded hopper car in Minnesota in February 1969. These two failures can be attributed to an excessive heat input resulting from high frictional forces. The high frictional forces on covered hopper car could have been the result of: unequal load distribution on the bearing and journal; the lack of journal stops on the journal box allowing longitudinal displacement of the journal bearing wedge and journal bearing; the lack of a real oil seal on the journal box; plus such factors as lack of lubrication and poor pad condition. High frictional forces on flat car KDTX 324 resulted in four secondary heat patterns which indicates that this journal was heated above the crtical temperature and cooled four different times. Chemical analysis and spot test showed the presence of copper, which possibly resulted from the journal having turned on the bearing back after the lining metal had melted.

• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads

  Research Center
  Chicago, IL  United States 
• Authors:
  • Wisnowski, M J
• Publication Date: 1969-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Derailments; Freight cars; Friction; Hopper cars; Journal boxes; Lubrication; Railroad cars; Technology; Vehicle maintenance
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037668
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MR-455
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 6 1973 12:00AM