Issues and Dimensions of Freight Car Size: A Compendium

This report has yet to be scanned by Contrails staff

Report Number: FRA/ORD-79/56
Author(s): Nayak, P. R., Palmer, D. W.
Corporate Author(s): Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Corporate Report Number: ADL-80589-11
Date of Publication: 1980-10
Pages: 299
Contract: DOT-FR-74261
DoD Task:
PB Number: PB81116998
Identifier: PB81116998

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, nominal weight capacity, and length. A key finding is that, historically, the use of 100-ton capacity 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.

Provenance: S. Kumar

Other options for obtaining this report:

Via the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC):
A record for this report, and possibly a pdf download of the report, exists at DTIC

Via National Technical Report Library:
The NTRL Order Number for this report is: PB81116998
A record for this report, and possibly a pdf download of the report, exists at NTRL

Indications of Public Availability
A PB Number, PB81116998 , exists for this report, indicating public availability of the report at time of publication

No digital image of an index entry indicating public availability is currently available
There has been no verification of an indication of public availability from an inside cover statement



Export