Introduction
For effective and economical railway operation, important tribological issues must be addressed at the
wheel/rail interface, within the engines of locomotives and, for electric trains, at the current collection
point (Figure 34.1). In this chapter, the authors present the background to these issues and follow this
with a brief discussion of some recent developments in wheel/rail tribology and related research. Important
tribological issues also affect other systems involved in rail transport, and some of these aspects are
discussed toward the end of this chapter.
34.1.1 Historical Background
Long before railway transport developed into the effective and complex system as generally understood
today, rails were used to guide horse-drawn vehicles (Wickens, 1998) and by 1767 iron rails had been
Introduction
For effective and economical railway operation, important tribological issues must be addressed at the
wheel/rail interface, within the engines of locomotives and, for electric trains, at the current collection
point (Figure 34.1). In this chapter, the authors present the background to these issues and follow this
with a brief discussion of some recent developments in wheel/rail tribology and related research. Important
tribological issues also affect other systems involved in rail transport, and some of these aspects are
discussed toward the end of this chapter.
34.1.1 Historical Background
Long before railway transport developed into the effective and complex system as generally understood
today, rails were used to guide horse-drawn vehicles (Wickens, 1998) and by 1767 iron rails had been
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