The Archives
For ease of use, our archives are arranged chronologically. To find articles on a patricular subject use the search function for a complete listing of related stories.

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July, 2010

Rail Grinding Strategy
Successful Grinding: Starting with the Basics
(Part 2 of 2)

Rail Grinding on Union Pacific
A Measured Approach to Improvements in Rail Grinding

Wheel/Rail Interaction on Transits
Engineering the Wheel/Rail Interface for Rail Transit

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January, 2010

Rail Grinding Strategy
Successful Grinding: Starting with the Basics
(Part 1 of 2)

Wheel/Rail Interface Management
Management of the Wheel/Rail Contact Interface in Heavy-Haul Operations
(Part 2 of 2)

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October, 2009

Wheel/Rail Interface Management
Management of the Wheel/Rail Contact Interface in Heavy-Haul Operations
(Part 1 of 2)

Rail Materials
What Kind of Rail Materials Will Survive in Heavy-Haul Service?
(Part 2 of 2)

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July, 2009

Stress Reduction
Reducing the Stress State on Canadian Pacific’s Western Corridor

Rail Materials
What Kind of Rail Materials Will Survive in Heavy-Haul Service?
(Part 1 of 2)

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April, 2009

Performance-Based Assessment
Using Performance-Based Assessment of Reserve Gauge Strength to Enhance Tie-Replacement Planning
DOWNLOAD THIS FEATURE AS PDF FILE (3.01 MEG)

Contact Mechanics and Rail Stresses
Understanding the Effects of Track Gauge, Wheel/Rail Geometry and Friction on Stresses at the Wheel/Rail Interface

TTCI Technology Overview
Meeting the Industry’s Technology Goals

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January, 2009

Rail Cant
Rail Cant Measurement of Concrete Crossties (part 2 of 2)

Rail Seat Abrasion
Rail Seat Abrasion: In-Track Repair

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October, 2008

WRI '08 Seminar Overview
Wheel/Rail Interaction ’08: Data to Information (part 2 of 2)

Curving Resistance
Assessing the Effects of Coupler Force and Train Speed on Freight Car Curving Resistance

Rail Cant
Rail Cant Measurement of Concrete Crossties (part 1 of 2)

Out-Of-Round Wheels
Identifying Causes of Out-of-Round Wheels: Measuring Field Experience Against Simulations

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July, 2008

WRI '08 Seminar Overview
Wheel/Rail Interaction ’08: Data to Information (part 1 of 2)

Rail Grinding
Target Profiles for Rail Grinding: A Never Ending Story

Technology
Implementing Wheel/Rail Measurement and Analysis Technology

Mass-Spring Systems
Using High-Performance Mass-Spring-Systems to Reduce Noise and Vibration in Track

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April, 2008

Friction Modification
Top of Rail Friction Modification in Tough Terrain

Reducing Derailments (part 2 of 2)
Reducing Broken Rail Derailments in Dark Territory

124-Pound Rail
Examining 124-Pound Rail

Quality Concepts (part 3 of 3)
Applying Quality Concepts to the Wheel/Rail Interface

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January, 2008

Reducing Derailments (part 1 of 2)
Reducing Broken Rail Derailments in Dark Territory

Rail Transit
Managing Wheel/Rail Interaction on Rail Transit Systems

Wheel/Rail Strategies (part 2 of 2)
Wheel Re-Profiling and Rail Grinding Strategies on Wiener Linien

Quality Concepts (part 2 of 3)
Applying Quality Concepts to the Wheel/Rail Interface

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October, 2007

Quality Concepts (part 1 of 3)
Applying Quality Concepts to the Wheel/Rail Interface

Suspension Imbalance (part 2 of 2)
Effects of Secondary Suspension Imbalance on Wheel-Climb Derailment

Wheel/Rail Strategies (part 1 of 2)
Wheel Re-Profiling and Rail Grinding Strategies on Wiener Linien

Girder Rail
Testing Girder Rail on the MBTA

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July, 2007

Wheel/Rail Interaction
Tuning in to the Systems Approach

Interface Optimization
Tools and Techniques for Optimizing the Wheel/Rail Interface

Suspension Imbalance (part 1 of 2)
Effects of Secondary Suspension Imbalance on Wheel-Climb Potential

Rail Grinding
Specification and Documentation of Rail Grinding Work in Europe

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April, 2007

Wayside Load Detection (part 2 of 2)
Using Wayside Load Detectors for Preventive Vehicle Maintenance

Rail Stresses (part 2 of 2)
Understanding Stresses in Rails

Rail Profile Optimization
Profile Optimization in the Urban Rail Context

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January, 2007

Wayside Load Detection (part 1 of 2)
Using Wayside Load Detectors for Preventive Vehicle Maintenance

Rail Stresses (part 1 of 2)
Understanding Stresses in Rails

Maintenance Rules
New AAR Maintenance Rules for Freight Car Trucks

Friction Control
Controlling Friction on Rail Transit Systems

Wheel Noise
Tuning Mass Dampers to Reduce Squeal

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October, 2006

Derailment Prevention (part 2 of 2)
Inspection and Analysis of Switch Derailments

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July, 2006

Grinding Quality Index
Using Real Time Quality Control to Manage Rail Grinding

TOR Friction Control
Quantifying the Benefits of Top of Rail Friction Control

Specialized Grinding
Economic and Operational Benefits of Rail Grinding on the MBTA Green Line

Coverage of the Interface/ARM 12th annual whel/rail interaction seminar
Using Wayside Load Detectors for Preventive Vehicle Maintenance

Derailment Prevention (part 1 of 2)
Switch Point Derailments: Is it the point or the wheel?

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March, 2006

Low-Floor Vehicles
Introducing Low-Floor Vehicles into Older Transit Systems

Vehicle Testing
Testing Railway Vehicles to Improve Vehicle/Track Interaction

Book Review: Rail Grinding
The What, Where, Why and How of Rail Grinding

Heavy Axle Loads
How heavy can freight cars get? (Reprinted courtesy of TRAINS)

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January, 2006

Curve Superelevation
Curve Superelevation: Problems and Solutions

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October, 2005

High Cant Deficiency
Operating at High Cant Deficiency

Truck Bolster Bowl
The truck bolster bowl: Is it a bowl or a bearing?

Seasonal Low-Adhesion
Addressing Seasonal Low-Adhesion Issues

Wheel Shelling
Implementing an Anti-Shelling Wheel Profile

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July, 2005

Constant Contact Side Bearings
Making the Case for Long Travel Constant Contact Side Bearings

Wayside Detection Systems
Wayside Detection Systems Move to the Forefront of the Stress State Landscape

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May, 2005

FRA R&D
FRA Initiatives: Dr. Magdy El-Sibaie, Chief of FRA's Track Research Division

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April, 2005

Specialized Grinding
Specialized Rail Profile Grinding on MBTA

Practical Rail Grinding
Practical Rail Grinding

Side Bearings
Vehicle Side Bearings: Function, Performance and Maintenance
(Part 2 of 2)

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March, 2005

Side Bearings
Vehicle Side Bearings: Function, Performance and Maintenance
(Part 1 of 2)

Track Buckles
Preventing Track Buckles

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February, 2005

Rock and Roll
Rock 'til You Drop: Starting and Stopping Harmonic Rock and Roll

Friction Control
Drilling Down to Top-of-Rail Friction

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January, 2005

Noise and Vibration
Reducing Noise and Vibration on NYCT

Rail Fixation Reduces Vibration

Wide Gauge
Effects of Wide Gauge on Derailment Potential (Part 2 of 2)

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December, 2004

Flange Climb
Flange Climb and Independently Rotating Wheels

Wide Gauge
Effects of Wide Gauge on Derailment Potential (Part 1 of 2)

Monitoring and Detection
Designing Amtrak's Wayside Train/Track Interaction Detection System

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October, 2004

Rail Transit
Examining wheel/rail interaction on rail transit systems

Truck Warp
Truck Warp: Causes and Cures (Part 2 of 2)
see Truck Warp Part 1 in the September 2004 archive below

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September, 2004

Optimization
Optimizing Wheel and Rail Profiles on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor

Asset Management
Developing an Enterprise Asset Management System for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor

Truck Warp
Truck Warp: Causes and Cures (Part 1 of 2)
see Truck Warp Part 2 in the October 2004 archive above

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August, 2004

Friction Control
Controlling Top-of-Rail Friction

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July, 2004

Rail Cant (Spanish version CLICK HERE)
Effects of Rail Cant on Wheel/Rail Forces and Derailment Potential

Track Geometry
Moving from Exception- to Performance-based Track Geometry Monitoring Systems

Network Rail
Transitioning from Reactive to Proactive Track Management on Network Rail

Grinding
The European Approach to Quality Control in Rail Grinding

Vehicle Suspension
Improving Truck Designs to Reduce Forces Transmitted to Track

Design Considerations to Meet the M976 Specification

Finance
Wheeling and Dealing

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