ECONOMICS OF RAILROAD AUTOMOBILE RACK CAR AERODYNAMIC DRAG

A program was established to evaluate in detail the causes of the excessive aerodynamic drag of automobile rack cars discovered by the New York Central System (now the Penn Central) and the economics of drag-reducing design modifications. The program consisted of a series of wind tunnel investigations conducted by the Naval Ship Research and Development Center, full scale aerodynamic drag tests conducted by the C and O/B and O Railroads, an analysis of the costs associated with excessive aerodynamic resistance, and an analysis of the savings that could be generated by design modifications to existing railroad auto rack cars. The first part of the program is covered in PB 180 198. The remainder is the subject matter of this report. The full-scale tests confirmed the wind tunnel test results. The economic analysis showed savings could be obtained by the addition of side and end curtains and the removal of the bridge plates. However, these savings are rather low and are quite dependent upon the actual train make up and movements involved. Consequently, the decision to modify car design must be based on the particulars of a railroad's operation and their cost of making modifications. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with C and O and B and O Railroads.
• Corporate Authors:

  OFFICE OF HIGH SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION

  WASHINGTON,    
• Authors:
  • LUEBKE, R W
• Publication Date: 1969-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile rack cars; Drag; Economic analysis
• Subject Areas: Economics; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039198
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 1973 12:00AM