Advances in rail welding

摘要

AAR, with the help of suppliers and TTCI, is researching ways to improve rail welding techniques without increasing cost or track time. The Association of American Railroads, with the assistance of several manufacturers, is now conducting several research projects to improve weld products used today. Orgo-Thermit, Inc., and the Railroad Tools Division of The Stanley Works have been assisting Transportation Technology Center, Inc., with thermite evaluation projects. Additionally, alternative field welding methods are being evaluated to determine performance and applicability in the North American heavy-axle-load environment. Continuous welded rail reduces both wheel impacts at joints and the associated rail batter at those locations and is important to the rail infrastructure, not only here in North America but also around the world. Rail welding is done in the field (welding in track or alongside track) and in the shop (welding of rail at a fixed location and then transporting this rail to needed locations by rail trains).