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.
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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.
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Corporate Authors:
Federal Railroad Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Noyszewski, M
- Conference:
- 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