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FAST/HAL Turnout and Frog Performance Tests

Turnouts on the High Tonnage Loop were monitored for component failures and maintenance demand during 160 MGT of Heavy Axle Load operation at the Transportation Test Center, Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST), Pueblo, Colorado. A "frog farm" was included to increase the scope of the...

FAST/HAL Track Loads Evaluation

The FAST/HAL Track Loads Evaluation was conducted to quantify vertical and lateral forces at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing, Transportation Test Center, Pueblo, Colorado, under 33- and 39-ton axle load cars. Vertical rail forces beneath the 39-ton axle load cars were found to be 25...

FAST/HAL Tie and Fastener Experiments

The objective of the Fast Accelerated Service Testing Heavy Axle Load Tie and Fastener Experiments was to quantify the performance of wood and concrete ties and associated fastening systems under the FAST Heavy Axle Load (HAL) train. The experiment was conducted on the 5- and 6-degree curves of the...

FAST/HAL Rail Performance Experiment and Overview

The Rail Performance Experiment, conducted at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing, Transportation Test Center, Pueblo, Colorado, was performed to evaluate the effect of increasing axle loads, from 33- to 39-tons, on the fatigue and wear performance of rails, ground rails, and welds. Four...

FAST/HAL Mechanical Component Performance Test

The Association of American Railroads and the Federal Railroad Administration conducted a research program to investigate the implications of operating Heavy Axle Load (HAL) freight cars using a controlled consist of locomotives and fully loaded HAL freight cars equipped with conventional three-...

FAST/HAL Ballast and Subgrade Experiments

The ballast and subgrade experiments were conducted during the first 160 MGT of Heavy Axle Load (HAL) traffic to determine if the increase in axle load, 33-ton to 39-ton, generated a measurable difference in the performance of the four selected ballasts and the typical subgrade found at the...

Test of Alerter/Emergency Braking System

The purpose of this alerting device test program was to obtain a base of data that can subsequently be used to determine the effectiveness of the tested equipment. The approach for accomplishing this was to use the Research and Locomotive Evaluator/Simulator (RALES) full-scale locomotive simulator...