Hi everyone

I had a member ask a few months back about measuring wheel thicknesses and also ask what was passing/failing. I showed the member CFR 49 Part 229.73 & 75. My question is does anyone have a good tutorial on measuring wheel wear that I might be able to send to the member, maybe including a picture of a good wheel vs a bad wheel. This would be great for training purposes. Thanks!

I recall from my days working on the railroad (Narragansett Pier RR in the mid-late 60s) that there was/is a measuring gauge with which one measured the several critical dimensions of a wheel to determine whether it was OK or the wheel set needed replacing. I believe this was a brass or steel thing that had various uses such as measuring distance between coupler knuckle and the coupler, depth of flange, wheel wear, etc.

I recall using this tool on interchange cars.

Thanks!

I would suggest looking on ebay for a past issue of the AAR Interchange Rules. Anything for the last two or three years will show you the most up to date requirements on freight car wheels and gauges. The book has photos that will show the use of the condemning gauge. A copy of the AAR Wheel and Axle Manual will also show the use of the "finger" gauge. Condemning limits vary between AAR and FRA. They will also vary between locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars. Some railroads may also impose more stringent requirements for passenger cars before they will move them on their lines. There are some wheel basics that apply to every wheel and then there are particulars that might apply in one situation. I deal with all of this in my job on a daily basis and can answer specific questions if you have them.

Instructions for using the wheel gauge when inspecting or turning wheels.

http://www.railroadgage.com/drawings.htm

Thanks so much for the information. I think the most interest is in interchanging locomotives.

For those in the interurban area and are interested in a possible wheel measuring tool
attached is a blueprint that may be of some use?

A bad wheel is usually pretty easy to identify. If the flange "looks" tall, the tire may be badly dished. Of course a badly dished wheel will be obvious. Somewhere I have some photos of bad wheels and if I can find them I'll share.


Try checking this out for using the finger gauge:

http://www.railroadgage.com/drawing3.htm

And for other information check out there main drawing page:

http://www.railroadgage.com/drawings.htm


Good luck!
Johnathon Kruger
Mechanical Department
Pacific Locomotive Association

Be sure to ALSO show him 49 CFR 229.3, "Applicability". That is essential to understanding the reg and its ... well, applicability. Unless revenue freight is being delivered between Glen Mills and West Chester, I believe you are categorized as "inside an installation not part of the general system of transportation". Hence exempt from 229 entirely.

In that category, you must still inspect your equipment and keep records of these inspections. This comes from Federal Law, 49 USC 20something. FRA can exempt you from FRA's own regulations, but a law is made in the fires of Congress, and only there can it be unmade. The law says nothing about HOW you inspect. FRA expects you to work out what is reasonable for you given your circumstance. What that means to your wheel is that if you're going 60 mph maybe you should follow close to AAR/FRA standard... but if you are going 10 mph maybe a thin wheel is not that bad.

And that is fairly typical of how Federal regs go. THAT requirement comes from Congress: 49 USC 20103(f).

I notice on your line a number of catenary hangers continue to be present. Are they all present? Or just a minority?

I will show them the Applicability section. Mostly the questioning about wheel thicknesses is not due to operating trains on our system, but interchanging locomotives with SEPTA and others, as well as excursions off our railroad, which happen every few years.

Most cat hangers are still present, but slowly vandals are stealing them because of the copper. Its a shame the great lengths thieves go through to steal a small amount of copper. Thanks for the info.

I can't find a copy of it online, but Amtrak has a GREAT book called "The ABC's of Wheel Defects", or something similar. I studied it when I was learning to be a carman, and it served me quite well. It includes definitions, rule numbers, photos of certain defects, and how to gauge defects.