SPEEDS OF TRAINS THROUGH TURNOUTS

This work was done to develop and recommend a formula to give the maximum comfortable train speed through turnouts, particularly with respect to the switch point angle and length of point. Two three-way ride recorders were placed in roomettes at each end of a regular Pullman car on the rear of the Santa Fe Chief on the regularly scheduled run between Chicago and Kansas City. The recorders made a continuous record of the fore-and-aft, vertical, and lateral accelerations. The results of these tests indicate that the recommended comfortable speed through turnouts may be established on the basis of the following criteria, whichever gives the lower speed: 1) the calculated lateral acceleration for a curve having a long chord or length equal to the truck wheel base and a central angle equal to the switch point angle plus the degree of curvature of the switch point, if curved not to exceed 0.22g or 7 ft per sec.; 2) the calculated unbalance of the lead curve not to exceed 3 inches.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1961-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 67-78
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 63 N
  • Issue Number: 566
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Curves (Geometry); Railroad trains; Railroad turnouts; Speed control; Switches (Railroads); Tachographs; Train track dynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Switch points; Train speed recorders
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052320
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM