Locomotive's Wheel's Start Slipping | Struggling On Rusty Wet Rails |

Locomotive&Wheel&Start Slipping | Struggling On Rusty Wet Rails | Locomotive wheelslip is an event that affects railwaymotive power usually when starting from stationary, but can also affect an engine in motion. The greatest effort is required from a locomotive when starting. At this time, if the engineer applies too much power to the wheels (i.e., for a steam locomotive, he opens the regulator too far) the turning force applied to the wheel will greatly exceed the opposing frictionforce affected by the surface of the rail, and the wheel will turn without being able to move the train forward. If the engineer does not take quick corrective action (i.e. by closing the regulator) the locomotive can end up stationary with its wheels spinning: this can damage both the locomotive drive mechanism, through running too fast, and the rail surface, which, in extreme cases, can be left with a dip where the spin took place. (Such a dip is dangerous if not repaired subsequently.) Some locomotive types were more prone to this phenomenon than others. Also, the effect is much more likely to occur with a heavier train or where the rail surface is compromised, for example, during wet or icy weather, or when there is oil or leaves on the track. Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might...