Lubricant influence on flange wear in sharp railroad curves

Since the middle of the 1970s, lubrication of the high rail flange has been used to reduce wear rates. Field tests have been taking place since 1997 to evaluate the differences in wear characteristics between mineral oil based grease and new environmentally adapted greases. The field tests have also investigated whether the addition of graphite contributed to reduced flange wear. The wear reducing effect of trackside lubrication as a function of distance from point of application of the grease was also investigated. The field tests showed that environmentally adapted greases can be used without risk of increased rail wear and that the addition of solid lubricants, such as graphite, has no significant effect on the rate of wear. The highest wear rates were found during winter months when active lubrication stops due to problems associated with the sub-zero temperatures common in northern Sweden. Year-round lubrication would be expected to decrease wear rates significantly.