This report describes the performance tests conducted on a pair of prototype radial axle trucks developed by GSI. The trucks tested were purchased from GSI by Amtrak and tested by FRA as a joint FRA/Amtrak project. The results of this test show that, as configured for this test, the trucks negotiated curves very well but did not have adequate high speed stability. The truck ran in curves up to 7.5 degrees with near zero wheel to rail angle-of-attack and exhibited no flange wear. Conventional trucks incurred significant flange damage from the constant operation at speeds above the balance speeds for the zero degrees 50 minutes curves on the test center RTT track. The radial trucks appeared to have adequate stability at speeds up to 120 mph when the wheels were new but the wheel profiles deteriorated within 10,000 miles. Wheel wear caused deterioration in the stability resulting in severe oscillations of the axles.
Radial Axle Truck Test Results Report
1982
99 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Radial axle, single-truck car seating forty-six passengers
Engineering Index Backfile | 1909
Engineering Index Backfile | 1943