BEHAVIOUR OF PANTOGRAPHS AND OVERHEAD EQUIPMENT AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 160 KM/H. TUNNEL TESTS CARRIED OUT ON THE FS

In 1967 the FS conducted tests aimed at assessing the effects arising during tunnel entry and passing of two trains within a tunnel at speeds up to 200 km/h. Factors measured were quality of current collection, aerodynamic upward contact force and air pressures on the windows. The tunnel used for the tests had the following measurements length 5,366 m, cross section 48.15 sq m, distance between track centres 3.55 m. Results showed that, up to the maximum speeds reached during tests, i.e. 200 km/h on entry and 360 km/h (relative) during passing, no phenomena occurred to endanger window or passenger safety. The main effect of the tunnel was to impart a sudden and appreciable increase in the aerodynamic upward force (approximately 38% to 24% for test speeds from 170 to 200 km/h); however, neither tunnel entry nor train passing were shown to have any noticeable effect on current collection. Finally, results of the tests proved that runs of up to 200 km/h in very long tunnels presented no major problems.

• 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: 1968-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Air pressure; Electrical conductivity; Pantographs; Railroad electrification; Wind tunnels
• Identifier Terms: Ferrovie dello Stato
• Old TRIS Terms: Conductor collector dynamics; Question a84
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052715
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: A84/RP 8/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM