Influence of leaves on the adhesion between wheel and rail

Abstract

Idling and sliding of wheels caused by fallen leaves in autumn often occurs on sloping sections of railway lines located in mountainous areas, which disrupts train operations. Countermeasures such as spraying sand and ceramic particles onto the wheel /rail contact zone are not sufficient. In order to find more effective solutions, it is necessary to clarify the mechanisms whereby fallen leaves cause loss of wheel /rail adhesion. The authors conducted running tests on a test track and investigated the influence of leaves on wheel/rail adhesion to gain insight into this problem and formulate practical counter measures. This paper introduces the characteristics of adhesion in powering and braking and insight into why fallen leaves decrease adhesion.