Slip Slidin' Away: Locomotive Sand and Wheel Slip RR101

Slip Slidin’ Away: Locomotive Sand and Wheel Slip RR101 SESSION 702 John Byrne – Cyclonaire Corporation Carl Belke – Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad

Why apply sand? • FRA regs require:   

Sand applied at the lead axle in direction of travel Sand applied upon emergency brake application Sand applied on detection of wheel slip

• Improved tractive effort • Reduced locomotive wheel wear

• Reduced rail wear • Improved fuel utilization

What kind of sand? •

AAR has a specification to guide you: M-916—51 

Clean silica sand free from clay, loam, mica and other foreign



Must pass a caking test



Must meet gradation requirements – Sieve Test



Best solution – buy “locomotive sand”

• Tractive Effort – the “Wheel-Rail Interface”

• Improved tractive effort 

Tractive effort is the force actually applied to the rail by the driving wheels – Starting, Continuous, Maximum



Rain, leaves and grease can reduce traction.



Some railroads are experimenting with crushed glass



Some railroads use “Sandite,” a sand-gel mix



Many commuter railroads use special trains with scrubbers or water jets

• Tractive Effort Curve

• Reduced locomotive wheel wear

• Reduced rail wear

• Really reduced rail wear!

• Improved fuel utilization 

Reach lower throttle position faster



Gain advantage of momentum



More forward motion = less trip time