Author: PlyWoody

Do you know that measurement between the back of wheels call “back to back measurement” of 53” only has an allowance of ¼” and then the wheels are condemned? Why does every railroad install two guard rails next to every frog? Guard rails are required to touch the inside of a wheel to line it over so the other wheel’s flange will not hit the point of the frog. The profile of the flange must be a proper thickness to have that guard rail work its job. If the back to back measurement is less than 53” the wheel will not fit over the two guard rails (one in the frog) and roll through the frog properly. If the wheel has greater back to back measurement than 53 ¼” the guard rail will not touch the inside of the wheel and the other wheel might hit the point of frog and ride up and derail.

Track gauge can vary in many cases over 1/2” or more and not affect any safety until over 1” wide gauge. The speed is varied to fit the class of track based on the variation of gauge of that track but there is no adjustment of speed for out of gauge wheels.

For nearly two hundred years the shape of the curves and thickness of the flange has been experimented with and designed by many railroads to find what worked best. Then the entire railroad industry got together with a study group of Master Mechanics and designed the best profile from every one design. The proper shape of the wheel and size of flange is called the Master Car Builder Profile. Every railroad wheel made in the last 100 years has this shape, even to the extent of every narrow gauge wheel, and every wheel on work equipment regardless of diameter. Smallest diameter wheel are on spacer bars for track tamper that hold laser light a long distance from the tamping machine
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So right now the manufacture of wheels for the expanding rail bike business has all kind of sizes of wheel totally in violation of any of these experiences learned for the shape and design for making wheels. You now find wheels with vertical flanges, thin flanges, non tapered wheels, totally in disregard of the back to back distance of 53 inches. And they derail when riding over switches and hits the point of the frogs.

This is not a government issue because there is no interstate commerce involved, and only a State could require a standard be applied for use in any state. Rail bikes do not have 8 wheels so the Safety Appliance Act is not involved and the FRA has shied away from any involvement in Rail Bikes other than see that they have qualified employee to maintain safe isolation from any interstate or intrastate commerce trains. It is a learning issue of what is right.