The European Approach to Quality Control
in Rail Grinding
(continued)
Unlike North American railroads,
which typically employ top-of-rail lubrication to reduce the
high coefficient of friction of freshly ground rail, European
railways typically specify finish roughness standards of 10
micrometers or less. Hand-held meters are used to measure the
roughness of ground rail over a distance of 5 mm to ensure
that it meets specification. Surface conditions are inspected
visually, Schoech said. "There should be no blue or irregular
facets, with no excessive roughness or scratch marks on the
running surface." The effective width is typically defined
as no more than 5 mm at the gauge corner, for example. Any
remaining defects are visually checked and documented on the
data report.
And as more responsibility for the finished result rests with
the grinding contractor, documentation has become more important. "Delivery
with documentation and payment against certification assures
consistently good results," Schoech said. "It also
gives insight into the development of rail surface irregularities
and profile changes, and permits improved grinding strategies
and methods."
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