Wheel/Rail Interface: What the Experts Say

AB This article describes the Wheel/Rail Interaction ’07 seminar held in Chicago, and discusses various ways in which safety, fuel efficiency and service life can be improved by focusing on the dime-sized area where a train’s wheel meets the rail. A number of individuals from a variety of related backgrounds describe wheel/rail interface solutions including rail grinding, improved spiral track geometry, top-of-rail lubrication, the effects of air brake usage and heavy sanding, train speed and superelevation. Representatives from the Austrian Federal Railways discussed out-of-round wheels and how to model the dynamics of wheel/rail contact. The article includes a graphic design of safety studies supporting higher cant deficiency operations.