Walter Rosenberger
Norfolk Southern Railway
Abstract:
Challenges of Handling Multilevels and Other Long Cushion-Equipped Cars
NS experienced a number of significant derailments over the past year that had a common characteristic: Multilevels, positioned at the head end of the consist and ahead of significant trailing tonnage, derailed as a result of a high longitudinal force event. Several of these derailments will be examined. Train consists, event recorder data and track profiles will be reviewed, as will the TOES modeling results that were produced from these inputs. The presentation will include modeling results from alternative train handling and train consists, the effect of end-of-car cushioning units, and other railroad’s train handling practices. How all of these factors have shaped NS’s operating decisions will be explained.