Train wheels and brakes

[KeithW]

Hello all,

I saw something I hadn't seen before today. At first it looked like your normal load of railroad wheels and axles on a flatbed semi. Then I noticed that each axle, along with the wheels, had two huge disk brake rotors. I've never heard of trains having disk brakes. Is this something new or have I just not been paying attention lately?

keithw

[George Andreasen]

Trains have had disc brakes on passenger units for some time now, although the old shoe types are still used on most freight cars. I think they are all convering over though due to the improved control and stopping power.

[MoRo]

What did the "discs" look like? If they had cogs on them, they're not railcar wheels, they're drive axles for locomotives. The traction motor drive engages these cogs.
Wish I could have seen 'em.

[KeithW]

They looked like ventilated disk brake rotors, holes in the rim. Had not thought about how the engine would drive the wheels but these were not gears. Now I'll have to start looking at trains for missing brake shoe assemblies indicating inboard disks.

keith

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by KeithW

Hello all,

I saw something I hadn't seen before today. At first it looked like your normal load of railroad wheels and axles on a flatbed semi. Then I noticed that each axle, along with the wheels, had two huge disk brake rotors. I've never heard of trains having disk brakes. Is this something new or have I just not been paying attention lately?

keithw

European trains have had disc brakes for 10-15 years now, unusual to come across wheel rim brakes although they are still around on older rolling stock and preserved railroad stuff.

Peter

[Thumper]

I think what you saw were passanger car wheels. Either Amtrak, BART, or other for light rail passanger car aplication. Disc brakes on Rail cars and semi trucks have been around for years.