LOCOMOTIVE DERAILMENT STUDY--PART ONE ANALYSIS OF FOUR YEAR LOCOMOTIVE DERAILMENT SAMPLE

Recent mainline derailments of diesel electric locomotives on the C&O-B&O System were attributed to excessive lateral thrust. Evidence gathered at the time of each occurrence indicated that the track structure failed to absorb and dissipate forces exerted by the locomotives, and that physical movement of the track structure tool place. Further, it was conjectured that these forces were influenced by operation of locomotives having three axles per truck (herein designated 6-axle type locomotives). To investigate locomotive lateral thrust phenomena, a three-part research program was initiated. Part One is an analysis of a sample of locomotive derailments by cause, and by types and models of derailed locomotives. Part Two centers on a detailed correlation analysis of those locomotive derailments where excessive lateral forces or dynamic wheel-load reductions occurred during the most ideal conditions available for locomotive operation. Part Three, instrumented locomotive field testing, is tentative depending on whether conclusions of Part Two show the need for collecting additional lateral force data. This report summarizes the findings of Part One of the study. It was found that in general, 6-axle type units exhibited higher derailment rates than 4-axle types. The several lateral force studies referenced in the Introduction of this report developed that 6-axle locomotives exert lateral loads of up to 30% higher magnitude than 4-axle units. Low horsepower units (less than 2200) exhibit a greater derailment rate than high horsepower units except for one replicate in the 6-axle category. The analysis shows that interactions among several derailment factors are likely to be of more importance than any single factor contributing to locomotive derailment. Derailment causes due to lateral loads exerted by locomotives are important. However, of much greater importance is the factor of questionable train and locomotive handling as the major cause of locomotive derailments.

• Corporate Authors:

  Chesapeake and Ohio Railway

  Terminal Tower, PO Box 6419
  Cleveland, OH  United States  44101

  Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

  Baltimore & Ohio Building, 2 North Charles Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21201
• Authors:
  • Ellsworth, D H
• Publication Date: 1971-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Derailments; Diesel locomotives; Electric locomotives; Locomotives; Motors; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lateral dynamics; Lateral loads
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040453
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 71-120 Tech Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 1974 12:00AM