Technical Reports

Development and Testing of a Stuck Brake Detector for Wayside Inspection of Railroad Cars

Stuck brakes and unreleased hand brakes can cause the wheels of moving trains to overheat and develop thermal cracks. A method of detecting stuck brakes by direct measurement of rail forces is described. An alarm criterion for longitudinal rail forces is discussed. The design and calibration...

Operational Parameters in Acoustic Signature Inspection of Railroad Wheels

A brief summary is ,given of some prior studies which established the feasibility of using acoustic signatures for inspection of railroad wheels. The purpose of the present work was to elucidate operational parameters which would be of importance for the development of a prototype system....

Improved Passenger Equipment Evaluation Program - Methodology Used in the Train Reviews

A number of new passenger train systems have been developed throughout the world and are now, or soon will be, available. They represent technology that is available for possible use in the United States. Starting in early 1977, the Improved Passenger Equipment Evaluation Program (IPEEP) initiated...

The Aerodynamics of Vehicles in Finite Length Tubes

High speed vehicles may operate in tunnels or tubes to minimize impact on the surrounding environment. Operation in tunnels or tubes minimizes the impact of surface obstacles, high noise levels, weather constraints and street congestion in metropolitan areas. The performance of these vehicles is...

Dual-Mode Locomotive Systems Engineerings Volume I: Summary

This report, Volume I, provides a summary of the systems engineering study undertaken as Phase I of a proposed five-phase program. The intent of the overal I program is the development, in-service demonstration, and ultimate deployment of dual-mode locomotives. This study has confirmed the...

High Speed Rail Tilt Train Technology: A State of the Art Survey

This report presents an assessment of the technical and operational features of existing and proposed tilt-body rail passenger vehicles.

Experimental Investigation of Gauge Widening and Rail Restraint Characteristics

Gauge widening resulting from a loss of adequate rail restraint is one of the major track failure modes and the cause of a large number of derailments. A recent field and laboratory test program conducted by the Transportation Systems Center aimed at the determination of minimum rail strength...

Overview of Railroad Bridges and Assessment of Methods to Monitor Railroad Bridge Integrity

This report provides background information on the numbers and types of railroad bridges existing in the U.S. The risk to these bridges is discussed including the initiating causes of accidents and their physical effects on bridges. Examples of railroad bridge train accidents are briefly...

ICE/U.S. Demonstration Vehicle Dynamics Tests Test Report

This test report documents the procedures events, and results of vehicle dynamic tests carried out on the German ICE trainset in the U.S. during July 1993. These tests, sponsored by Amtrak and supported by the FRA, were conducted to assess the suitability of the ICE trainset for safe operation at...

Validation of A 70-Ton Higher Speed Freight Truck Design for Operations of up to 125 Mph—Higher Speed Freight Truck Vehicle Dynamics Analysis

Previously, Sharma & Associates, Inc. (SA) developed a higher speed freight truck design under sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration. Under the current contract, SA was tasked with developing performance requirements for higher speed freight trucks, as well as conducting structural...

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Technical Reports