Testing the adhesion of railway wheels and rails on gradients up to 125‰ is conducted in Switzerland by the narrow-gauge railway operator Zentralbahn (ZB) in collaboration with the Institute of Railway Transport and Transport Systems (IFS), this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Testing the adhesion of railway wheels and rails on gradients up to 125‰.

Simulation has indicated that safe operation on such gradients is possible without the use of a cogwheel rail, by combining pneumatic and magnetic rail brakes.

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Currently, a railcar equipped with magnetic rail brakes and measuring instruments, the Be 4/4 (manufactured by Swiss FFA in 1985), is undergoing testing on a section with a gradient of up to 105‰.

A shunting locomotive is employed for supplying electricity and air to the braking system.

Further tests are planned after processing and analyzing preliminary results.

If successful, ZB aims to eliminate cogwheel rails on certain sections, reducing expenses on rolling stock procurement and track maintenance.

Photo: Ernst Rota/fokus-oev-schweiz.

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