Demonstration of the coast-down technique for determining train resistances

Full-scale measurement or validation of the various factors of train running resistance is an essential step in decreasing train energy consumption. Such a measurement capability would enable railroads to evaluate the cost benefits of operational and train consistent configuration changes, and new vehicle and truck designs for decreasing aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. A decrease in the rolling resistance affects more than just a decrease in energy consumption; it also will result in decreased mechanical wear, hence less wheel and rail maintenance and replacement costs. A demonstration of a simple coast-down technique (based on computer-reduction of distance history) was accomplished using specially configured trains on main line rail provided by the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railway Co. This demonstration test shows that this distance-history coast-down technique for trains is easy to execute in the field. The total running resistance history was accurately determined and subsequently separated into rolling resistance (mechanical friction) and aerodynamic drag.