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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Locomotive Crash Energy Management Train-to-Train Collision Test

Document Series
Technical Reports
Author
Federal Railroad Administration
Report Number
DOT/FRA/ORD-23/22
Office
RDI-22
Subject Rolling Stock
Keywords
Impact test, crash energy management, CEM, occupant protection systems, transportation safety, passenger car safety

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored MxV Rail to conduct a collision test using both a moving and a stationary three-car consist. The moving consist included an EMD F40 passenger locomotive equipped with crash energy management (CEM) components backed by two M1-series passenger cars. The M1 passenger cars were also equipped for three occupant protection experiments using wheelchairs and anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs). The stationary consist included a conventional F40 passenger locomotive backed by two empty freight cars. The impact test was performed on August 11, 2022, at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The moving consist impacted the stationary consist at 24.3 mph. The impact initiated deformation of the anti-climber, activated the push-back coupler, and broke all the shear bolts. The occupant experiments were all successful in that the wheelchair securement devices retained their structural integrity, remained attached to the carbody, compartmentalized the ATDs, and resulted in injury values that were likely survivable for an occupant.


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Last updated: Monday, August 21, 2023