Современные условия работы железнодорожного транспорта характеризуются оперативным изменением структуры грузооборота и расширением спектра эксплуатационных нагрузок, воздействующих на подвижной состав. При этом возрастает число владельцев и арендаторов грузовых вагонов, увеличивается количество предприятий - производителей.
Все эти факторы обусловили необходимость сокращения сроков создания новых вагонов, проведения переоборудования или модернизации существующих вагонов эксплуатационного парка. Это, в свою очередь, требует исследования возможности использования вагонов для перевозки грузов, которые не предусматривались при его проектировании, проведения уточненной оценки конструктивных параметров проектируемых конструкций и прогнозирования их живучести в период всего жизненного цикла.
Качественное выполнение этих работ невозможно без развития методов проектирования, расчета и испытания, на основе применения современных средств вычислительной техники, проведения большого числа расчетных экспериментов, использования баз данных, в которых сосредоточены опыт и статистические данные, накопленные при создании и эксплуатации вагонов.
Выбранная тема очень актуальна, так как при рыночных отношениях повышается заинтересованность в увеличении объема перевозок. Высокое качество транспортного обслуживания становится условием экономического благополучия и нормального технического развития железных дорог.
SUMMARY DESIGN OF A FREIGHT CAR TRAIN
Modern railway transport conditions are characterized by rapid changes in the structure of cargo turnover and expansion of the range of operational loads affecting the rolling stock. At the same time, the number of owners, tenants of freight cars and the number of manufacturing enterprises are increasing.
All these factors led to the need of reducing the time of creation the new cars, the conversion or modernization of existing cars. This requires studying the possibility of using cargo wagons that were not provided for its design, an updated assessment of the design parameters and forecasting their survivability during the entire life cycle.
Qualitative performance of these works is impossible without development of design methods, calculation and testing, on the basis of application of modern means of computer equipment, carrying out a large number of settlement experiments, use of databases in which experience and the statistical data saved up and operation of cars are concentrated.
The chosen topic is very relevant, as market relations are very interested in increasing the volume of traffic. High quality of transport service becomes a condition of economic well-being and normal technical development of railways.
Key words: railroad, freight transportation, security and emergency, optimization, car train, train design.
Summary includes: volume – 14 pages, references – 7 sources, list of terms – 302 words.
INTRODUCTION
The freight car has a long and fascinating history, tracing its heritage to England's primitive railroads of the 1820's. The earliest devices were made of wood, traveled on tramways pulled by horses/mules, and carried coal or quarried stone. The railroad gained acclaim in the United States soon after the Granite Railway entered service. The first freight cars were simple flatcars. As shippers requested specialization to handle specific products new types were born such as the boxcar, gondola, hopper, and tank car.
The use of railway cars is an effective method for transporting commodities. It is commonly a faster form of land transportation, compared to truck transportation. A single freight train is also capable of transporting a much greater cargo than a single truck. This gives it a significant advantage of trucking, because the larger scale results in decreased transportation costs, as there is less work force and energy required to haul the same amount of cargo.
Most modelers don't need to be rivet counters or fully versed in how trucks are equalized to build accurate models or enjoy their layouts. But some basic knowledge of what different cars are used to haul and when major new designs and technologies were introduced can go a long way towards building a credible model railroad.
I. FREIGHT CAR TRAIN AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
A freight train uses freight cars to transport goods or materials – essentially any train that is not used for carrying passengers. Much of the world's freight is transported by train, and in the USA the rail system is used more for transporting freight than passengers.
Under the right circumstances, transporting freight by train is highly economic, and also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road. Rail freight is most economic when freight is being carried in bulk and over long distances, but is less suited to short distances and small loads. Bulk aggregate movements of a mere 32 km can be cost effective even allowing for trans-shipment costs. These trans-shipment costs dominate in many cases and many modern practices such as container freight are aimed at minimizing these.
The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility. For this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are now trying to encourage more freight onto trains, because of the benefits that it would bring.
There are many different types of freight trains, which are used to carry many different kinds of freight, with many different types of wagons. One of the most common types on modern railways are container trains, where containers can be lifted on and off the train by cranes and loaded off or onto trucks or ships [1].
In the US this type of freight train has largely superseded the traditional boxcar type of freight train, with which the cargo has to be loaded or unloaded manually. In Europe the sliding wall wagon has taken over from the ordinary covered goods wagon.
II. DESIGN OF A FREIGHT CAR TRAIN
Freight cars are an important part of any railroad - prototype or model. While locomotives tend to get most of the attention and glory, there is a lot to learn about the freight cars, which carry the loads. Whether you are a modeler or just interested in technology and engineering, the history, design, and evolution of freight cars is a fascinating study.
Most modelers don't need to be rivet counters or fully versed in how trucks are equalized to build accurate models or enjoy their layouts. But some basic knowledge of what different cars are used to haul and when major new designs and technologies were introduced can go a long way towards building a credible model railroad.
The links ahead will dive into major freight car types in greater detail as well as covering some universal basics and general modeling tips to help your freight trains the best they can be the first car to the caboose [3].
Boxcars are one of the oldest and most common designs of freight car. Until the 1960s, they represented the overwhelming majority of freight cars on most railroad rosters. Even today as more specialized cars and intermodal traffic have taken away many boxcar loads, the basic boxcar remains an important part of the railroads' rosters.
Seemingly simple and standardized in design, boxcars actually come in many variations. Even in the most basic "no frills" general service variety, cars feature a number of sizes and construction patterns.
Boxcars are commonly modified with special doors, vents, interior dividers and load restraints, insulation and even roof hatches to help haul specific goods. Some of these features are easily modeled, others may only be known by the markings on the sides of the cars.
CONCLUSION
The use of railway cars is an effective method for transporting commodities. It is commonly a faster form of land transportation, compared to truck transportation. A single freight train is also capable of transporting a much greater cargo than a single truck. This gives it a significant advantage of trucking, because the larger scale results in decreased transportation costs, as there is less man power and energy required to haul the same amount of cargo.
There are a number of different types of railcars, which are each designed for a different type of cargo. Trains can be used to either transport containers or bulk cargo.
A hopper car is a freight car that is used to transport dry bulk cargo. The most common type of commodities transported in hopper cars are grains, coal, ore, sugar, and fertilizers. Depending on the cargo a hopper car can be covered to protect the cargo against weather conditions. A hopper car is designed to be able to unload its cargo through doors on either the bottom or sides of the freight car.
A gondola is different type of railcar used to transport dry bulk cargo, mostly used in the steel industry. They are commonly used to transport high-density bulk such as steel pipes, coils and plates. They are lower than hopper cars because they are not designed to unload their cargo through bottom hatches.
Boxcars are closed railcars which are used to transport commodities that need to be protected against weather conditions. They have one or multiple side doors for loading the goods. The most common type of cargo are paper and lumber, but other commodities may be transported this way. The use of boxcars is becoming less-used due to the advantages of containerized transport.
There are railcars specially designed to transport international transport containers. These containers can be easily loaded onto the railcars, for quick and safe transportation of the cargo. In some countries it is even possible to load two containers on a single railcar. This makes rail transport even more effective.
