Trains.com

Zero Weight Transfer (ZWT) trucks...

3266 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Zero Weight Transfer (ZWT) trucks...
Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 10:18 AM

Could anyone explain to me how ZWT trucks work..how they differ from other trucks like the Blomberg truck and their advantages and disadvantages?

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
Posted by bubbajustin on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 7:26 PM

I think that this is a hi-adhesion truck that Alco used. Smile Anything else I 'm not for sure.

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 8:29 PM

Yes, I beleive you're right about that. I was reading an article yesterday about the MLW M420 and it mentioned the Zero Weight Transfer Trucks. I googled ZWT trucks which got me nowhere.

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 9:06 PM

Ulrich

Could anyone explain to me how ZWT trucks work..how they differ from other trucks like the Blomberg truck and their advantages and disadvantages?

 

My understanding was that trucks had a tendency to slightly unload one axle, similar in concept to an automobile lifting its front end under heavy acceleration.  Obviously then one of the axles would be likely to slip prematurely, since with less weight bearing on the rail its adhesion would be less.  And when one axle slipped, with the older technology power was reduced to all four axles.  By some ingenuity in design of the suspension this weight transfer was supposedly eliminated.  A downside was that ZWT and ride quality were somewhat incompatible.

Perhaps someone else can comment with more experience and authority.

 John

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy