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Freight car air brake system performance in cold temperatures

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AuthorSearch for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3599-0724; Search for: 1; Search for: 1; Search for: 1
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. Automotive and Surface Transportation
FormatText, Article
ConferenceCCRC 2024, 2nd Canadian & Cold Regions Rail Research Conference, April 9-10, 2024, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Abstract
This paper presents results from controlled laboratory testing of the operational performance of 23 service worn and 21 refurbished freight car brake systems at temperatures ranging from +10°C to -40°C. The 44 systems were tested using service brake applications, and emergency brake applications from brake pipe pressures of 75 psi and 90 psi. Forces after 10 minutes are compared for service brake applications, forces after 10 and 90 minutes are compared for emergency brake applications. Air flow demand is compared. Findings are that service worn brake systems require up to 5 times more air at -40°C compared to a new brake system at the same temperatures; service worn brake systems demonstrate degraded performance at colder temperatures. The brake force degradation, both in maximum achieved peak force and the length of time the force is held has implications for rail operations during service braking, emergency braking, and during the recovery from emergency brake applications.
Date published
PublisherUniversity of Alberta
In
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifierd16ef978-327c-4429-b8a6-94dc76c1ea8c
Record created2026-07-16
Record modified2026-07-16

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