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Issues and Dimensions of Freight Car Size: a Compendium

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Issues and Dimensions of Freight Car Size: a Compendium U *W fkrBf-ioJ ^ S ’ & ) - Report No. FRA/ORD-79/56 ISSUES AND DIMENSIONS OF FREIGHT CAR SIZE: A COMPENDIUM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Office of Research and Development Washington, D.C. 20590 ehicles fit cs Front Cover: An illustration of the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) at DOT'S Transportation Test Center in Pueblo, Colorado. This joint government and industry re­ search project provides valuable insight into the behavior of both track and rolling stock. Back Cover: The Rail Dynamics Laboratory (RDL) at DOT'S Transportation Test Center provides controlled dynamic wheel- set inputs for investigations of the dynamic behavior of rolling stock. This photograph shows a flat car with two attached highway trailers undergoing a test on the Roll Dynamics Unit (RDU) within the RDL. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report N o. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FRA/ORD-79/56 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date ISSUES AN D DIMENSIONS OF FREIGHT CA R SIZE: October 1980 A COMPENDIUM 6. Performing Orgomxotion Code 8. Performing Organization Report No. 7. Author's) P.R. Nayak, D.W. Palmer ADL-80589-11 9. Performing Organisation Name and Address 10 Work Unit No (T R A IS ) Arthur D. Little, Inc. 20 Acorn Park 11. Controct or Grant No DOT-FR-74261 Cambridge, MA 02140 13. Type of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Nome and Address U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Federal Railroad Administration Office of Rail Safety Research 14. Sponsoring Agency Code _Washington, D C 20590 15 Supplementary Notes This report augments the results of a study mandated by Public Law 95-574. 16. Abstract An investigation is made into the effects of the size, weight, and length of freight cars on the safety and efficiency of U.S. rail transportation. A review is made of the historical and present population and usage of the U.S. freight car fleet. Distinct trends toward the purchase of larger, heavier cars and the subsequent effect on the fleet are shown. Several data bases are used in a novel fashion to provide actual derailment rates for the fleet by car-miles and ton-miles as functions of various parameters, including car type, nomi­ nal weight capacity, and length. A key finding is that, historically, the use of 100-ton capac­ ity freight cars, in itself, has not been detrimental to the safety of U.S. rail transportation. An overview of current analyses of the causes of derailments is given, with special considerations to tank car accidents and grade-crossing accidents. Based on these analyses, technical measures for improvement are outlined. In culmination, a series of options available to the government and industry is given, with consideration to technical, regulatory, and economic impacts. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Freight cars, vehicle design, derailment, Document is available to the U.S. public hopper car, tank car, economics, safety, through the National Technical Information high-capacity car, high axle load Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Clossif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this poge) 21. No. of Poges 22. P rice 299 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized PREFACE The following is extracted from Section 10 of Public Law 95-574, dated November 2, 1978: Section 10. (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study and evalua­ tion concerning the safety and efficiency of rail transportation. Such study and evaluation shall include — (1) A determination of the relationship of the size, weight, and length o f railroad cars (other than those contained in unit trains) to the safety and efficiency of rail transportation; and (2) a determination of the effect of the exclusive ownership and control of rights-of-way by individual railroads on the safety and efficiency of rail transportation, considering, among other things, whether or not such rights- of-way might be better employed under new structures of ownership or other conditions for joint usage. (b) Within one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete the portion of the study described in subsec­ tion (a)(1) of this section. (c) Within two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete the portion of the study described in subsec­ tion (a)(2) of this section and submit a report to the Congress setting forth the results of such study, together with recommendations for such legislative or other action as the Secretary deems appropriate. As a result of this mandate, a study was conducted. The italics designate the portion of the mandated study that this report addresses. iii METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS ■ruinate Conversions to Motrie Msssurts Synhi Tea boss Maltiyty hy To Fio4 Syoikol C l LENGTH mches •2.5 centimeters cm cm tMt 30 centimeters km 0.9 meters m ■tiles 1.0 kilometers km AREA cm2 t*mre i i d m 6 3 square centimeters cm2 m m2 •quart <Mt 0.09 square meters m2 km2 •qua* y i r t i 0 3 square meters m^. iqiiare miles 2.6 square kilometers km2 MM 0.4 hectares ha MASS (m ight) < MMM 28 grams g g pounds 0.45 kilograms bo short tons 0.9 formas t 12000 (b) VOLUME ml teaspoons 5 milliliters ml tablespoons 15 milliliters ml I fluid ouness 30 milliliters ml I cups 0 34 liters I I pints 0.47 liters I quarts 0.96 liters I «e gallons 3.8 liters I cubic feet 0.03 cubic meters m3” cubic yards 0.76 cubic meters m3 > TEMPERATURE (exact) shrenheit 5/9 (after " Celsius °c temperature subtracting temperature 32) <* tithe* exact ctmvetsmits anti mure detailed tables, see NBS Mist. Putii. 238. 3 u«es, Price S2.25. SD Catalog No. Cl 3.10:286. & aui Approximate Conversions from Metric Meosnres il When Vov Kama Multiply by Ta fm< Symkal LEHGTH millimeters 0.04 inches centimeters 0.4 inches meters 3.3 feet meters 1.1 yards kilometers 0.6 miles AREA square centimetors 0.16 square inches •S. E •S. square meters 1.2 square yards square kilometers 0.4 square mi les hectares (10,000 m2} 2.6 acres MASS (woigkt) grams 0.035 ounces kilograms 2.2 pounds tonnes (1000 kg) 1.1 short tons VOLUME milliliters 0.03 fluid ounces fl 01 liters 2.1 pints pt liters - 1.06 quarts qt liters 0.26 gallons gal cubic meters 35 cubic feet It3 cubic meters 1.3 cubic yards *d3 TEMPERATURE (exact) Celsius 9/5 (then Fahrenheit temperature add 32) temperature - °F °F 32 98.6 212 200 1 - 4 0 0 80 . 120 160 H 1 -■ "T — V - t 1 I* .*1' 1 1 1 » 100 - 4 0 -2 0 , 0 20 40 60 60 °C 37 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The following groups contributed to this report through compilation of data, analysis of data, review of plans or reports, or suggestions for study improvements. The support of all who contributed is greatly appreciated. Arthur D. Little, Inc. Association of American Railroads: Economics and Finance Department Operations and Maintenance Department Research and Test Department Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Ballistic Research Laboratory Battelle Columbus Laboratories Cranston Research Inc. Dynamic Sciences Dynamic Science Inc. Dynatrend, Inc. Federal Railroad Administration: Office of Policy and Program Development Office of Research and Development Office of Safety Office of the Chief Counsel , Illinois Institute of Technology IIT Research Institute Interstate Commerce Commission National Transportation Safety Board A. Stucki Co. Systems Technology Laboratory, Inc. Transportation Research Board Transportation Systems Center United Transportation Union U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of Programs and Evaluation U.S.S.R. Technical Information Exchange In addition, we would like to thank the brake manufacturers, the major tank car owners, and member railroads of the Association of American Railroads for their contributions. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Abstract................................................................................1-1 • 1.2 Introduction..........................................................................1-3 1.3 History......................... 1-4 1.4 Is There A Safety Problem?.................. 1-7 1.5 Is There An Efficiency Problem ?............................................... 1-20 1.6 The Future.................... 1-25 1.7 Options ................. 1-26 1.8 C on clu sion s ............... 1-34 2 INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES 2.1 Introduction.................................................. 2-1 2.2 Surveys............................................. 2-1 2.3 Statistical D a ta ........ .............................................................. 2-1 2.4 Research and Testing......................... 2-2 2.5 Data Analysis Procedures .......................................................... 2-2 2.6 Comparison of Accident Statistics........... 2-7 3 FREIGHT CAR FLEET CHARACTERISTICS 3.1 Abstract...............................................................................3-1 3.2 Introduction.......... 3-1 3.3 Current Car Populations......................................... 3-2 3.4 Historic Trends in Car Fleet Population and Capacity ...................... 3-16 3.5 History of Tank C a r s ............................................................. 3-25 3.6 Current Tank Car Fleet ......... 3-26 3.7 Operating Practices............................................ 3-28 3.8 Sum m ary ........................................................................... 3-28 4 CAR SAFETY RECORDS 4.1 A b stra ct.................. 4-1 4.2 Accident Data .......................................................................4-2
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