Recent introduction of a number of new freight car truck designs has prompted the railroad industry to reexamine the standard three-piece freight car truck. The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) responded to this interest by launching the Truck Design Optimization Project (TDOP), with the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) as the prime contractor during the first phase, and then with Wyle Laboratories of Colorado Springs (teamed with the Union Pacific Railroad) as the second-phase prime contractor. The conclusions from these studies were that indeed there are roles for an improved truck design -- particularly for high-mileage, dedicated-service cars, e.g. unit coal trains or intermodal service. This conclusion was largely based on the economics of improved rail wear, though savings in car maintenance, fuel consumption, lading damage, and derailments were also considered.
Rail Wear Economic Analysis for Type 2 Trucks
1982
310 pages
Report
No indication
English
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