Categorizing Track Mud Spot Risk by Measurement of Vertical Track Deflection
Mud spots are a common problem faced by railroads where water, through capillary action, is “pumped” from the subgrade into the ballast by ties that move downward and upward under passing axle loads. When mud is mixed in with the ballast, several problems can occur which can increase the risk of derailment due to increased vertical track deflection. Maintenance crews typically know the location of their mud spots, and in general, perform repetitive, expensive, track time consuming maintenance to fix the symptom and not the root cause of the problem. If the level of risk for each mud spot were quantified, maintenance could be prioritized, whereby high-risk mud spots are addressed first, while low risk mud spots are monitored in the event their situation worsens.
- Record URL:
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
Harsco Rail
1960 Old Cuthbert Road, Suite 100
Cherry Hill, NJ United States 08034Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Washington, DC United States -
Authors:
- Hartsough, Christopher M
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0000-0003-0320-3818
- Palese, Joseph W
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0000-0003-3946-3777
- Kelly, James P
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0000-0003-0207-011X
- Publication Date: 2021-8
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Edition: Final Report; Technical Report
- Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 53p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Deflection; Maintenance of way; Mud; Railroad tracks; Risk management
- Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01780870
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-21/24
- Contract Numbers: DTFR5316C00016, Task # 1 & 2
- Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
- Created Date: Aug 30 2021 3:43PM