Train Resistance: A Consideration of Its Elements and a Discussion of Experiments Made With the University Dynamometer Car (Classic Reprint)

This book is an in-depth exploration of the different forces that contribute to railway train resistance, a previously unexplored and ambiguous subject. The author approaches the complex subject by dividing it into component parts which are then examined in turn. The author examines the historical evolution of railway technology, with a focus on changes in equipment and road conditions. Within this context, he reviews formulas that were developed to calculate train resistance. He then argues that these formulas are inadequate because they fail to account for the cumulative effect of the individual elements of resistance. The book concludes that train resistance is not solely dependent on journal friction, but rather a summation of parameters including: the effects of velocity, grade, rolling resistance, track curvature, and the cumulative effect of mechanical vibrations. The author’s findings draw a more complete picture of train resistance and provide new insights for engineers seeking to further advance the energy efficiency of railways.