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The Journal of Wheel/Rail Interaction
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Wheel/Rail Interaction

New Approaches to Dynamic Wheel Force Measurement – Part 1

March 29, 2024 | Filed under: Measurement Systems, Vehicle/Track, Wheel/Rail Interaction, WRI Conference

by Jeff Tuzik The mechanics of wheel/rail interaction are in many ways at the core of railroading and the defining characteristic of how a train gets from here to there. Because rail typically represents a railroad’s largest financial asset, track-related issues are often front and center, even when it comes …

Mitigating Rolling Contact Fatigue: An Overview for 2023

March 5, 2024 | Filed under: Friction Management, Rail Grinding, Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Jeff Tuzik Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) affects railroads and transit systems globally. The effects of RCF damage range from poor ride quality and excessive noise, to shelling and spalling so deep and widespread that rail sections must be replaced. Over time, the railroad and transit industries have developed tools …

MRS Logística: A History of Innovation and Optimization

November 8, 2023 | Filed under: Heavy Haul, Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Jeff Tuzik Some challenges in the railroad industry are local, some are universal. Brazil’s MRS Logística has met its share of both. Their efforts to maintain, modernize, and optimize their network over the past 30 years highlight the importance of approaching all challenges from a system-wide perspective, and of …

Quantifying Rail Life Extension with Infinite Rail Grinding Pattern Control

September 7, 2023 | Filed under: Wheel/Rail Interaction

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 …

Gary Wolf is the recipient of Wheel Rail Seminars’ 2023 Worth Award

September 3, 2023 | Filed under: Gary Wolf, Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Bob Tuzik Gary Wolf, president of Wolf Railway Consulting, is the recipient of the 2023 Worth Award. The award, presented by Wheel Rail Seminars at the annual Wheel/Rail Interaction conference in June, is named for Art Worth, who was Manager of Standards and retired as Senior Manager – Advanced …

Instrumented diamond with UTPs

Under-Tie Pads: Resilient Materials Make an Impact

September 2, 2023 | Filed under: Heavy Haul, Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Jeff Tuzik Areas of track that are subject to high impacts and dynamic loadings, such as turnouts, diamond crossings and other special trackwork, bridges and bridge approaches, high-degree curves, and highway/rail grade crossings are challenging to manage. Maintenance requires attention, resources, and significant ongoing investment. With more than 30,000 …

Managing Slack in Trains with Cars Equipped with Hydraulic End-of-Car-Cushioning Devices

July 24, 2023 | Filed under: Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Jeff Tuzik Among the most significant forces that freight railroads contend with in daily operations are buff and draft (or compressive and tensile) forces between cars within train consists. These forces are mediated by various damping technologies, braking and acceleration practices, and by train make-up. When these forces aren’t …

Sound Transit Studies Wheel/Rail Interaction Differences Between Vehicle Types

April 23, 2023 | Filed under: Rail Transit, Vehicle/Track, Wheel Maintenance, Wheel/Rail Interaction

by Jeff Tuzik Seattle’s Link Light Rail, operated by Sound Transit, is a fairly young system. And by most standards, a small system. But it’s also a sophisticated system, and it’s growing fast. The system currently operates 25 miles of track and is in the midst of expanding to 50 …

Joe Kalousec (left) and Gordon Bachinsky (right)

Steel Hardness and Wear at the Wheel/Rail Interface: Perception vs Reality

February 6, 2023 | Filed under: Heavy Haul, Rail Maintenance, Wheel/Rail Interaction

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 …

Maintenance Optimization and The State of Good Repair

December 16, 2022 | Filed under: Wheel/Rail Interaction

By Jeff Tuzik The State of Good Repair is a goal, but it’s also a process. It’s achieved through a series of instruments and instrumental decisions that aim to report on the health of a system from the most granular component level, to the broadest holistic overview. This Part 2 …

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