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Wheelclimb Derailment Processes and Derailment Criteria

The most widely accepted criterion for wheelclimb derailment defines an upper limit for safe operation on wheel/rail contact forces on the climbing wheel, with the limit varying with time duration of the forces. For dynamic wheelclimb processes with significant lateral velocities, lateral forces...

Amtrak/Knorr Disc Brake Study : Volume 1 - Final Report

This report describes the Amtrak/Knorr Disc Brake Study which was developed: (1) To evaluate candidate replacement disc brakes for the Knorr discbrakes presently in use on Amfleet and Turboliner cars. (2) To explain the cause of the loosening of the attaching pins and the excessive wear...

Amtrak/Knorr Disc Brake Study : Volume II - Appendices A through I

This volume contains the following appendices to Volume I, Final Report: Appendix A - Wheel Condition Effects Appendix B - Effects of Cyclic Loads on Pin Wear Appendix C - Over-the-Road Test Acceleration Data from the Boston Run Appendix D - Over-the-Road Test Acceleration Data from the...

Brake System Design Optimization- Volume II: Supplemental Data

This report presents supplemental data which support Volume I, A Survey and Assessment, DOT-TSC-FRA-78-1,I,FRA/ORD-78/20,I, dated June 1978, 140 pages. A detailed description of the functional performance of each freight car air brake system component is provided. This is followed by a discussion...

Wheel Unloading of Rail Vehicles Due to Track Twist

An analysis is presented describing the effect that track twist has on the loads carried by the wheels of a rail car. Wheel unloading is determined as a function of the difference in cross level between the truck centers of the car. The different vehicle characteristics that affect a car's reaction...

Tunnel Safety Analysis

In May 1987, a New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, Inc., passenger train, en-route from New York City to New Jersey, pulled the catenary down behind itself and came to a stop in the North River Tunnel under the Hudson River. After a delay, some 700 passengers were evacuated from the train, led for...

Maglev Cost Estimation: Annual Operating & Maintenance Cost Elements

This report describes a proposed cost estimating approach and presents annual operating & maintenance (O&M) cost factors for use in conjunction with VNTSC's Scenario Assessment Models for planning and evaluating super-speed (250-33mph) magnetic levitation (maglev) transportation systems...