The Project Gutenberg EBook of Transactions of the American Society of
Civil Engineers, Vol. LXX, Dec. 1910, by Beverly S. Randolph

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Title: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. LXX, Dec. 1910
Locomotive Performance On Grades Of Various Lengths, Paper No. 1172

Author: Beverly S. Randolph

Release Date: July 3, 2006 [EBook #18747]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

INSTITUTED 1852

TRANSACTIONS

Paper No. 1172

LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE ON GRADES OF
VARIOUS LENGTHS.

BY BEVERLY S. RANDOLPH, M. AM. SOC. C. E.

WITH DISCUSSION BY MESSRS. C. D. PURDON, JOHN C. TRAUTWINE, JR.,
AND BEVERLY S. RANDOLPH.

In the location of new railways and the improvement of lines already in
operation, it is now well recognized that large economies can be
effected by the careful study of train resistance due to grades and
alignment, distributing this resistance so as to secure a minimum cost
of operation with the means available for construction.

While engaged in such studies some years ago, the attention of the
writer was attracted by the fact that the usual method of calculating
the traction of a locomotive--by assuming from 20 to 25% of the weight
on the drivers--was subject to no small modification in practice.

In order to obtain a working basis, for use in relation to this feature,
he undertook the collection of data from the practical operation of
various roads. Subsequent engagements in an entirely different direction
caused this to be laid aside until the present time. The results are
given in Table 1, from which it will be seen that the percentage of
driver weight utilized in draft is a function of the length as well as
the rate of grade encountered in the practical operation of railways.

In this table, performance will be found expressed as the percentage of
the weight on the drivers which is utilized in draft. This is calculated
on a basis of 6 lb. per to