Tractive
energy is required to drive any train.
This can be provided electrically
as in the case of most transit or
commuter rail systems, or electrically
generated from diesel fuel as in the
case of freight locomotives. In either
case a large amount of energy is used
to drive trains. This translates into
very large costs. For example, North
American freight railroads are among
the largest users of diesel fuel on
the continent. While many factors
affect the energy consumption of a
railroad (e.g. grade, loads etc),
the frictional characteristics at
the wheel / rail interface have a
large effect.
Reducing the top of rail friction
to an intermediate level will substantially
reduce the rolling resistance in tangent
track, and hence the energy used.
Reducing top of rail friction in curves
will also reduce curving forces, which
again will reduce the energy required
to drive the train. An optimum coefficient
of friction on the top of the rail
is around 0.35 as measured by a push
tribometer.
Effective lubrication
at the flange / side of rail interface
is also important to minimize energy
consumed. Energy lost to friction
when flange contact occurs is directly
related to the coefficient of friction
at this interface.
Fuel Consumption
/ Green House Gas Emission Solutions
Top of
Rail Friction Control
 
Freight
Intelligent
Trackside/Wayside Top-Of-Rail Friction
Control System
 Kelsan®
KELTRACK® Liquid
Top-Of-Rail Friction Modifier
Portec Rail Protector®
IV Trackside
Top-Of-Rail Application System
Freight
Locomotive Mounted
Intelligent
Freight
Locomotive Mounted Top-Of-Rail Friction
Control System
Kelsan®
KELTRACK® Liquid
Top-Of-Rail Friction Modifier
Lubriquip TrackMaster
LLIC ™ Locomotive
Mounted Top-Of-Rail Application System
Freight
Car Mounted
Intelligent
OnBoard Freight Car Top-Of-Rail Friction
Control System
Kelsan®
KELTRACK® Liquid
Top-Of-Rail Friction Modifier
Kelsan® AutoPilot™
Car Based Top-Of-Rail Application
System
 
Freight
Locomotive Mounted
OnBoard
Freight Locomotive Gauge Face Lubrication
System
Kelsan®
LCF (Low Coefficient of Friction)
Solid
Stick Gauge Face Lubricant
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