Optimizing the system on CPR's BC South Line: Despite the use of premium components and a high level of maintenance, wear and degradation on the line persisted - Canadian Pacific Railway - Statistical Data Included

Railway Track and Structures, July, 2001 by Mike Roney, Dave Meyler, Eric Magel, Peter Sroba

The effort to optimize wheel/rail interaction clearly has paid off. Future initiatives may include the adoption of improved wheel and rail steels, effective top-of-rail friction management and tighter control of wheel (and rail) wear through the introduction of tighter tread-hollowing limits. These, and other modifications, will further the continuous improvement process at CPR.

Mike Roney is general manager services and systems and Dave Meyler is general manager technical support, at Canadian Pacific Railway. Eric Magel and Peter Sroba are senior engineers with the National Research Council of Canada's Centre for Transportation Technology.

References

(1.) Kalousek, J. and Sroba, P., "Loram rail grinding gauge, The BAR track manual for corrective, maintenance and preventive grinding cycles," Loram Maintenance of Way, 1994

(2.) Devries, R. and Sroba, P., "Preventive grinding moves into the 21st Century on Canadian Pacific Railway," to be presented to the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, September 2001.

(3.) Kalousek, J. and Magel, E., "Learning From the CRC: Refining Wheel/Rail Interaction on a Closed-Loop System," Railway Track and Structures, April 1998.

(4.) Meyler, D., Magel, E. and Sroba, P., "Reduced operating costs through improved wheel performance on Canadian Pacific Railway," to be presented at the 13th International Wheelset Congress, Rome, September 2001.

5. Roney, M., Daskho, R. and Sroba, P., "Canadian Pacific Railway's 100% Effective Lubrication Initiative," to be presented to the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, September 2001.