Gary Wolf
Wolf Railway Consulting, LLC
Abstract:
Origins, Causes, and Prevention of Wide Gauge Derailments
“Wide gauge” is the most used cause code in the FRA derailment database, yet it is likely the least understood. This paper will present how “wide gauge” develops both progressively and catastrophically. Wide Gauge can be caused by track geometry perturbations, wheel/rail mechanisms, mechanical conditions, and operating practices. The author will explain how to determine the true root cause of a “wide gauge” derailment, and recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrences.