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Welded track and steam operations
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Having been a part of the locomotive crew on AWP 290 when in operation in the mid-1990's I can say from personal experience that CWR gives a much better ride than jointed rail, especially at speeds over 30-40 mph. <br /> <br />However, that is not an indicator of the kind of wear that is occurring at rail level. The dynamic augment (the pounding that occurs to the rail) occurs with all steam locomotives with side rods and pistons varies based on cylinder bore diameter, steam pressure, side rod weight, and counterbalancing combined with the overall weight of the locomotive applied to the drivers. Some locomotives were easier on rail that others due to lighter reciprocating forces or better counterbalancing. Also, dynamic augment was largely something that occurred at different rates at different speeds, again varying from one locomotive to another. Heavier rail would naturally withstand the effects of dynamic augment better than lighter rail; CWR would not have the inherant weaknesses that jointed rail possess, no matter what the effects of dynamic augment. <br /> <br />One other area of wear that occurs to rail is in curves. In the days of steam the roadbed was super-elevated in the curves, that is the outside rail of the curve was elevated higher than the inside rail, much like the banked turns of a race track. While there is still some superelevation used today, it was greater in the days of steam on most US mainlines. The present track dynamics used for todays diesels would need to be changed to reduce wear in the curves if steam were still in wide use. This would be due to the longer continuous wheel base of steam as compared to diesel. <br /> <br />Essentially, there will be wear to the rail and to the wheels of all locomotives over time. CWR at the present standard of around 130 to 136 lbs would have improved wear over the jointed rail of equal or lesser weight. More modern steam would undoubtably have improved the overall nature of the characteristics of dynamic augment by using stronger and lighter materials for the side rods and pistons along with better technology of steam utilization combining the relationship of bore, stroke, driver diameter, cutoff, and steam pressure. <br /> <br />Bill
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