EFFECT OF HEAVY AXLE LOADS ON BRIDGES

It is estimated there are 3500 miles of bridges on American railroads; replacement cost is estimated at $10 billion. The problem is not the spectacular, long-span steel bridges, but the many structures built many years ago for much lighter loading. As reconstruction is deferred, more speed and weight restrictions will have to be imposed; modern equipment may have to be prohibited from many lines. With scarce capital it will be many years before the frail steel spans of 1880-1900 are replaced. The Cooper E-60 rating permitted by the AAR Mechanical Division does not produce cars capable of unrestricted operation over the rail network. Timber trestles are particularly vulnerable to closely spaced axles.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the 12th Annual Railroad Engineering Conference held at Pueblo, Colorado, October 23-24, 1975. The complete volume is RRIS 02 132958, Pricing is for the complete volume: Repr. PC $6.75, Microfiche$2.25, NTIS PB-252968/AS.
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Railroad Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Noyszewski, M
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the 12th Annual Railroad Engineering Conference held at Pueblo, Colorado, October 23-24, 1975. The complete volume is RRIS 02 132958, Pricing is for the complete volume: Repr. PC $6.75, Microfiche$2.25, NTIS PB-252968/AS.
• Publication Date: 1975-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 133-138

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle loads; Bridge design; Bridges; Decision making; Freight cars; Reconstruction; Speed limits; Structural design; Vehicle design; Wooden bridges
• Old TRIS Terms: Axle loadings; Cooper ratings; Freight car design
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00132974
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA OR&D 76-243
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 5 1976 12:00AM