PRELIMINARY TEST TO CORRELATE PASSENGER RIDE COMFORT ON CURVED TRACK WITH LATERAL ACCELERATIONS

A description and results of tests made on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to obtain data for re-examining the present practice of establishing maximum comfortable speed on curved track on the basis of 3 in. unbalanced elevation was given. Accelerometers were applied to the Chesapeake & Ohio track inspection car on a regular inspection run. Measurements were obtained on sections of the L & N main line containing many curves of various degrees of curvature. Twelve observers rode in the test car and recorded their impressions of the riding conditions on each curve. These observations were correlated with the measured lateral acceleration and calculated unbalanced elevation for each curve. This was a preliminary test with the objective of establishing methods of measurements and correlation of ride impressions to form the basis for securing more extensive measurements. The important conclusions are: 1) The 3-in. unbalanced elevation gives a very satisfactory riding condition. 2) The tests demonstrated that the amount of tilting of the car body on the springs is a very important factor because it reduces the effectiveness of the elevation and increases the acceleration on the passenger. 3) The tests have greatly clarified the future course that needs to be followed to establish a satisfactory method of speed limitation based on scientific measurements.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1951

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 576-588
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 52
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Accelerometers; Curves (Geometry); Passenger comfort; Ride quality; Train track dynamics
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052438
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM