By Jeff Tuzik Sometimes it’s easy to tell that a rail needs maintenance. Excessive rail wear, surface damage, profile degradation, and other issues are unsubtle, if severe enough. But knowing that rail grinding is in order isn’t the same as knowing where to start. Developing and implementing a grinding program …
by Jeff Tuzik Some information in this article has been updated since the original publication date. Internal rail flaws and defects are an unfortunate but unavoidable part of railroading. All railroads have them. All railroads have to repair them. Defect remediation, which involves cutting out the affected rail and replacing …
by Jeff Tuzik Squats and studs (squat-type defects) are a topic of discussion and debate in the world of wheel/rail interaction. Their similarity in appearance leads many experienced track people to misidentify them, and the urgency with which they need to be addressed. As previously reported in Squats & Studs: Emergent …
Rail grinding has evolved significantly since the 1980s, with preventive grinding becoming key for rail maintenance. Eric Magel shares insights from global experiences, highlighting failures due to improper grinding methods and the importance of maintaining optimal rail profiles. Recent advancements in technology and strategies continue to alter rail grinding practices for efficiency and effectiveness.
Stuart Grassie discusses rail corrugation, a prevalent issue in rail systems, highlighting advancements in understanding its causes and mitigation strategies over 45 years. Key mechanisms include P2 resonance, trackform-specific resonance, pinned-pinned resonance, and rutting. Successful corrugation management was achieved on Kuala Lumpur’s Kajang Line, marking a significant milestone.
Transverse defects (TDs) pose significant challenges for freight railroads, causing 31% of broken rails. CSX has enhanced its rail grinding program since 2016, reducing non-testable locations by 98% and TD occurrences by 37%. Effective grinding mitigates the risks of TDs, improves ultrasonic detection, and balances defect removal with rail profile maintenance.
By Jeff Tuzik The unforgiving environment of the wheel/rail interface creates many damage mechanisms. These manifest in defects as varied as corrugations, rolling contact fatigue, and gage-corner cracking, to name only a few. Among the most vexing defects that commuter, transit and high-speed rail lines contend with are squat-type defects …
by Jeff Tuzik In order to solve a problem, you have to be able to measure it. And while there are generally no new problems in railroading, tools and techniques of measurement continue to evolve. Over the years, engineers at the Union Pacific Railroad have noticed a deficit in traditional …
by Jeff Tuzik Preventive rail grinding is a well-established practice for extending rail life. And by optimizing wheel/rail interaction and controlling the development and growth of surface damage like rolling contact fatigue, rail grinding has proven itself to be one of the industry’s best tools for managing one of its …
By Jeff Tuzik Railroads around the world have many standards for wheel and rail hardness, with varied theories regarding the interaction of harder and softer steels. And while it is intuitively apparent that harder materials should wear less, last longer and generally provide a net benefit to systemic resilience, the …